A Wanderly racer sitting quietly near a campfire in Thimblewood woods, looking thoughtful under a star-filled sky
A warm forest clearing at night with a glowing campfire, tall trees, and a cozy camping scene from the Wanderly story A Night in Thimblewood
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A Night in Thimblewood

One night in the woods, and the friend who spoiled it does not even know. Can your racer find the right words to make it right?

Relationship SkillsConfidenceFriendshipRubberdale

About This Story

What your child will experience

Your child picks one of Wanderly's racers and steps into a night at Thimblewood, where a friend accidentally does something that stings — and doesn't even know it. Over the story, your child builds a three-part message in their own words: "I feel ___ when you ___. Next time, can you please ___?"

They choose the feeling, name what the friend did (as a fact, not a verdict), and make a real request. A helper friend asks three questions — no advice, no opinions — just space to think it through. Your child also picks what worry is holding them back, and decides whether they're ready to say it that night or need until morning. Both choices are honored equally.

Why this approach helps

This story is built around a core CBT-informed skill — the "I statement" — but your child discovers it by doing it, not by being taught a rule. That order matters. Research on emotional communication in early childhood shows that kids retain tools they construct themselves far better than ones explained to them.

The story also makes space for "not yet." Waiting until a feeling cools down before speaking is framed as a genuine skill, not a failure. Over time, repeated practice builds emotional vocabulary, confidence in repair, and the habit of separating what someone did from what kind of person they are.

What to notice as a parent

  • The feeling your child picks may reflect emotions they're carrying in real life right now.
  • The worry they choose ("They'll be mad," "It wasn't a big deal," etc.) is often the real barrier — a gentle follow-up like "Do you ever feel that way?" can open a lot.
  • Whether they say it that night or wait tells you something about their current comfort with direct conversation — neither answer needs correcting.

For more on supporting emotional communication at this age, Zero to Three is a trustworthy starting point.

Personalize This Story

Make this story truly special by adding these details:

  • ✓Pick a racer.

Story Questions

Questions your child may be asked while creating this story:

  1. How did the main character feel?
  2. What did the main character say their friend did?
  3. What did the main character want to happen instead?
  4. What was the main character worried about?
  5. What the main character say about their friend's sorry?
Create This Story

Loved by Families

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“At first I thought it was one of those bedtime ploys to stay up later, but when the request came again first thing in the morning I realized it was just genuine excitement about Wanderly. My two kiddos - ages 7 and 8 - had a blast selecting their adventure pals (they have the cutest "pets" that go on the adventure with them) and choosing the direction of the story every step of the way. I turned up the reading level today and it was neat to see my son work through a few new words and stick with it because he was so excited about his story.”

— Taryn S

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— Sebastian

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— Matt

“Ok, so I installed this yesterday, and I've already read 5 stories with my 4 year old. That's over an hours worth of time. Today he tried to negotiate to have me read 4 in a row... He's fully engaged, and takes his time over the choices - I think that and the funny moments in the stories are what have him hooked. He lost it when our cat (yes, you can include your pet in a story!) turned into a elephant. As a parent, it's whimsical and a welcome change from the regular books in rotation. I was initially unsure about using my phone to engage him during bedtime, but he entrallment quickly overcame that. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to others.”

— Simon

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— Shayla

“My dyslexic 4th grader struggles with reading and comprehension. She is finally excited to read using Wanderly!”

— Bill

“As an lifelong educator, I give this app an enthusiastic 5 stars+. With opportunity to choose and name characters, type of story and plot ... what could be more creative? What could be a more productive use of screen time? I love that this app was created and is carefully monitored by a Mom of young kids. She also happens to have technical/AI chops ... she was a Google Product Manager in their Education Products sector. The graphics are quite lovely, the story lines are fun and age-appropriate.”

— Helen

“I'm very impressed with the ease with which I was able to write a fun (and colorful) story. I wrote one for my grandchild and can't wait to share it with her.”

— Bill

“My son is 6.5 yrs old and has been able to read for about a year but, prior to Wanderly, he would never choose to read on his own. The first time he discovered Wanderly he read for two hours straight. My husband and I were honestly shocked because he's always struggled to stay engaged in independent activities. He was really drawn in by the opportunities to create/shape the characters and narrative and he continues to use the app regularly. We love it!”

— The lyttlest

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