Stroud-based harp maker and teacher Morwenna Rose is making waves in children’s entertainment as one of the first authors featured on Yoto’s innovative new Creators platform for independent artists.
The multi-award-winning screen-free audio company has launched a pilot program, showcasing original content from talented storytellers like Morwenna, offering them the opportunity to have their stories selected, published, and sold as Yoto cards on the Yoto website.
Morwenna, a mother of two boys from Stroud, has captivated young listeners worldwide with her epic four-part adventure series The Book of Arralan. Her unique approach to storytelling, born from her experiences as a dyslexic creator, has resonated with children and parents alike.
“I have always enjoyed telling stories and had a soft spot for the art of storytelling,” Morwenna explains. “If it wasn’t for my dyslexia, I think maybe I would have become a children’s author. But now I want to be the first ‘Audthor’ (audio-only author) to inspire other dyslexic people to find a way.”
Morwenna’s journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown when she started creating daily audio episodes for her sons and their friends. Her improvised storytelling method, where she develops the narrative as she records, has become a hallmark of her work.
“The story is as much an adventure for me as it is for the children,” Morwenna shares. “We are genuinely discovering these wild adventures together.”
As an advocate for screen-free childhoods, Morwenna sees her partnership with Yoto as a natural fit. “We love the Yoto Player in our house! It allows children to truly enter their imagination. We are a screen-free household with only one night a week when we watch something together, so it’s amazing to have a gadget that is helping, not hindering, this effort.”
“Childhood is so precious,” she continues. “Children’s imaginations are the jewel of the younger years. I hope that Arralan will draw children and families back to imaginative play.”
The Creators program offers a unique opportunity for independent artists like Rose to reach a global audience and sell their content on the Yoto website for the first time. Tom Ballhatchet, VP Creative, UX and Innovation at Yoto, emphasises the company’s commitment to supporting independent creators: “Audio makers can now publish their content on printed Yoto cards, sold on the Yoto Store, or even sold through a creator’s own channels. We’re really excited about how it can help us find and support the talent of tomorrow, and bring fresh new voices to Yoto families everywhere.”
With the launch of 32 new Creator-made Yoto cards from 24 different artists from around the world, including Morwenna Rose’s The Book of Arralan, this initiative promises to bring fresh, original voices to young listeners while supporting independent talent. Other stories include The Cat-astophe! by Hefty Cat, which is an interactive adventure where kids choose what happens next, with 49 different endings possible (also available in Spanish); new music comes from Creator Courtney Lee whose card Music for kids! involves a visit to the ice cream shop, travel to space, and so much more – all through different musical styles including pop, acoustic, rap, and Latin jazz. The full Creators collection can be found on the Yoto card store.
David Thair, Community Manager at Yoto, is keen to hear more from budding Creators out there: “Creators who want to get involved can visit the ‘Publish’ section on our community site Yoto Space to learn more about how to make a great Yoto card. They’ll find Creator Guidelines as well as handy resources to learn about what makes the Yoto format unique, and how to create a really engaging and successful title that children will love. If you’re just starting out, you might choose to share your audio for free, and start your Creator journey by building an audience in the ‘Open Mic’ area on Yoto Space. We look forward to seeing you there!”
Morwenna Rose’s The Book of Arralan series is available to buy now at https://uk.yotoplay.com/ for £9.99 per card.
