Emotional Literacy - A Big Future Starts With Little Feelings
Help your children develop social-emotional skills with kid-tested, psychologist and parent-approved, tiny-knee-slapping stories from Zoy, a story app for kids.
The Magic of Stories and Quality Time
Why build a story app for kids?
As parents, no matter how busy we are, there’s something magical when it’s just us, our children, and a bedtime story to explore together.
Our parent-led team understands how hard it can be to carve out quality time. That’s why we offer a simple way to bring the magic home with our SEL reading app. Our relaxing bedtime stories for children promote literacy, mental health, and emotional intelligence. But, more than that, they bring families together!
Building Social-Emotional Skills With Stories
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is how children learn to understand and positively engage with themselves, others, and the world around them. SEL includes essential skills such as building empathy, managing emotions, and growing relationships.
Extensive research shows that strong SEL skills are linked to improved mental health, academic performance, and other positive life outcomes. Recent studies also show that reading and listening to stories are some of the best ways to teach SEL. Our read-aloud stories on the new Zoy app provide the perfect opportunity to help your child build these crucial skills.
Hear From Parents Like You!
What Zoy Can Offer Your Family
Storybook App
The Land of Zoy is a magical place where kids and caregivers can dive into the fun together! Our read-aloud stories build social and emotional skills through engagement with relatable characters and unique plots with an undercurrent of humor.
Make sure to look out for our mascot – a silly baby elephant who’s learning these skills herself!
Need to Calm Down?
Take a break from the excitement and visit our Calm Corner, a huge bonus feature for subscribers, where you’ll find relaxation stories from our certified clinical hypnotherapist.
Need to Calm Down?
Explore the Magical World of Zoy
Every story at Zoy is created by our team of writers and illustrators, then given to our educators, mental health professionals, and parents to ensure that it’s fun, engaging, and effective in teaching essential SEL skills and concepts. Here are some examples of the books you can find in our reading app:
A Welcome Message From Our
Founders
The idea of crafting stories with a message is something near and dear to our hearts and home, and we’re excited to help you build this space for your family as well. Zoy - From Our Family to Yours!
Zoy - From Our Family to Yours
As parents of two boys, our founders Afshin and Sahar are no strangers to the importance of developing emotional literacy and their positive impact on a child’s life.
Reading bedtime stories as a family has always been a highlight of their day. They realized that even five minutes of dedicated time before bed allowed them to connect and bond. Through years of exploring bedtime stories with their children, Afshin and Sahar have seen the power that stories hold as a learning tool and are excited to provide a platform that combines their love of bedtime stories with the skills kids need to thrive.
The development of these social-emotional skills and mental health go hand-in-hand.
Meet Zoy’s Team of
Experts
Carrie Turner
Carrie is a children’s author and editor who’s written over 2 dozen children’s books and edited many more. After studying Child and Family Development at Stephen F. Austin, she taught for seven years before launching into writing and editing. She is passionate about creating stories that empower children to grow in their social-emotional skills while having fun.
Ashley Bugge
Ashley Bugge is an award-winning author and K-12 educator, who utilizes her training and expertise in the subjects of human behavior and leadership to create authentic and transformational material for Zoy. Her hope is to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders by supporting their emotional intelligence, all starting with social and emotional learning from a young age!
Elena Gjorgjevska
Elena Gjorgjievska is a fine artist, painter, and illustrator living in Bitola. Love drawing and painting since an early age. She has an MA degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Skopje, North Macedonia. She has more than a decade of experience as a fine art teacher. She’s also a game designer and children’s book illustrator.
Katy Crawford
Katy holds a Master’s Degree in Education with over ten years of special education classroom experience focusing on behaviors. Katy has a passion for social-emotional learning and has put her methods to the test both in and out of the classroom. She utilizes movement, dance, yoga, mindfulness, and, most importantly – fun – in all of her content.
Mary Beth Bass
Mary Beth Bass is an award-winning fiction writer with a side of teaching and theatre. She’s also written about life-changing food, far-off places, silly kids, and big secrets! She loves bad weather, punk rock, octopuses, and the Oxford Comma.
Richard Anderson
Richard Anderson is a comedy writer who grew up in Boulder, Colorado, where he fell in love with Dr. Seuss and other whimsical storybooks. After graduating from the University of Colorado, he moved to Chicago to study comedy and writing at The Second City. After thirteen years of writing, directing, and performing in comedy shows for all ages, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued his journey in storytelling.
Saskia Helen
Saskia Helen is a former educator and SEL specialist who now provides countless families and classrooms with essential tools for building relationships, supporting and uplifting children, and helping them to develop crucial life skills – all through her work with Zoy!
David Tate
David has a background in more traditional literature for older audiences, but after writing his first children’s book a few years back, he fell in love with the idea of expressing complex ideas in a simple manner for children to enjoy and learn from.
Dr. Sabahat Shah
Bibi Sabahat Shah is a therapist and child development expert who works with children and families. Her goal is to help families nurture what is most important for healthy minds and hearts: connection, presence, and social-emotional skills that will last a lifetime.
Natalia Hartono
Natalia is an illustrator based in Indonesia. She has loved illustration and character design (and cute things!) since childhood. She currently works on children’s book illustrations and character design for video games.
Mariia Shabadash
Since childhood, Mariia was interested in painting and was charmed by how every painter depicted their vision of the world. Having become an illustrator of children’s books, Mariia obtained an opportunity to make unique stories embodied.
Enghel Garcia
Enghel Garcia is a psychometrician turned graphic illustrator who has been drawing since she was 5. She loves watching animated series. After having a Psychology Degree and becoming a Psychometrician, Enghel started working in the industry. After working for some time, she had an epiphany where she wanted to pursue her dream of working in the art industry while spreading mental health awareness. Being a Children’s Book Illustrator made her proud that she could share it with children and can empower and guide them through purposeful stories.
Olena Danilchenko
Olena is an award-winning, proactive growth-minded strategic marketing leader with diverse experience in global marketing and consulting roles. Olena has over 25 years of experience developing new go-to-market strategies and targeted marketing programs as an internal entrepreneur, digital agency leader, or consultant to growing companies. Olena passionately innovates customer-centric solutions, integrates omnichannel strategies, and helps ensure efficient and flawless execution.
Education Center
Zoy is much more than just social-emotional learning activities for kids. Parents and caregivers can easily find various resources from quick, skim-friendly blogs to more in-depth articles.
Can’t get enough of this SEL stuff? Neither can we! New resources are added each week.
Building Social-Emotional Skills Through Stories
Zoy’s Sticky Thanksgiving
- Relationship Skills Self-Management Social Awareness
Zoy isn’t feeling very thankful this Thanksgiving. In fact, it seems like just another day to her. That all changes when Zoy meets a new friend with a different perspective. Can Zoy learn to be grateful for what she has?
Without Poobie
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Awareness Self-Management
Ruben takes his blanket with him everywhere. After a while, his blanket gets too dirty and needs a wash. How will Ruben get through laundry day without his beloved blanket?
Why The Long Face?
- Self-Awareness Self-Management
Pretzel Sticks is a horse who’s sick of eating the same old thing, but when he tries to eat an apple, he faces obstacle after obstacle! How will he deal with the disappointment? Maybe with the help of some friends he meets along the way…
Two Homes for Gnaomi
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Gnaomi’s father is a gnome and her mother is a fairy. She loves getting the best of both worlds! But when her parents tell her that they’re going to separate, she has to come to terms with what “the best of both worlds” really means.
Three Goodnights
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Hazel and her trusty sidekick Dogfish are feeling sad that Daddy is going away on a three-day trip. Hazel tries to stop Daddy from leaving, but nothing works! How will Hazel get through three goodnights without Daddy?
The New House
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Selena is sad and angry about moving away from her old house and everything she knows and loves. Everything about the new house feels bad and wrong. Will a new friend help change the way she feels about it?
The Hole Story
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Social Awareness
Huey the hole is the only hole in the field that Farmer Al doesn’t plant with corn. Huey is worried that he’ll be alone forever, but a new friend helps him learn that being unplanted isn’t his hole story.
The Big Hill
- Self-Awareness Self-Management
It’s snowing! Daisy’s brother, Collin, can’t wait to sled down the Big Hill, but Daisy’s scared. Can Daisy find the courage to speak her mind and face her fears?
The Big Goof
- Self-Awareness Self-Management Social Awareness
When Sonia tries to hide a goof she made, the goofs keep piling up until everything around her is one big goof! How’s Sonia going to find her way out of this mess? Will she learn that it’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help?
Sunny and Nimbus
- Relationship Skills Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management
Mother Earth loves her two children, Sunny and Nimbus. But Sunny and Nimbus are always fighting! Can one little flower bring these rival siblings together?
Snow Bunny and the Big Move
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
When Gordo’s parents tell him they’re moving to the desert, his snow bunny heart is broken! As he adjusts to his new desert life, Gordo meets new friends and might even discover some unexpected surprises about himself.
Silly Goose
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management Social Awareness
Hudson the silly goose goes around doing whatever he wants, no matter how it makes other people feel. But a run-in with a sleeping bear might be what it takes to teach Hudson the importance of the golden rule.
Shyla Makes a Friend
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness
Shyla the whale shark is very shy! When she starts school for the first time, she tries with little success to hide from the other students. But her failure to hide might lead to an exciting new friendship…
Rosie says No!
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management Social Awareness
When Daddy asks Rosie to clean up her room, Rosie says no! How can Daddy help Rosie learn about the importance of taking care of things without a power struggle?
Quincy Wants a Friend
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Social Awareness
Quincy the monster just wants to be liked, but maybe she’s trying a little too hard. When a quiet, mouthless girl shows up at monster school, Quincy finally figures out what it takes to make a friend.
Playing Therapy
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Emma’s been feeling nervous all the time and doesn’t know what to do about it! Her mother brings her to someone called a “counselor” to help her face her fears. Therapy sounds scary but, as Emma discovers, it might actually be a whole lot of fun.
Penny’s First Day of Kindergarten
- Self-Awareness Self-Management Social Awareness
The first day of kindergarten is about to start and Penny is TERRIFIED. If only she could bring her trusty dog, Pickles, with her! Will Penny be brave enough to face her fears alone?
One Step at a Time
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Awareness Self-Management
Lia has big ambitions but isn’t sure how to accomplish them. That is, until her friends show her how to set goals so that she can succeed, one step at a time.
My Me-Ball
- Self-Awareness Self-Management
Big feelings can be hard to explain or understand. What if they were all contained within a big ball inside of you? Explore the world of My Me Ball and find out how to live in harmony with even the biggest of feelings!
Lon the Lonely Swan
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness
Lon looks different from other swans, which makes him feel lonely. He wants to change to be accepted by others, but can he learn to accept himself?
Life of a Leaf
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Awareness Self-Management
A great storm blows Leigh the leaf away from her home. Will Leigh be lost forever or will she learn to embrace change?
Leo Has a Secret
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management
Leo uses his father’s best green tie for a dragon’s tail and accidentally ruins it. Afraid of getting in trouble, he hides the tie in the garden. Will Leo own up to his mistake?
Building Social-Emotional
Skills Through Stories
Zoy’s Sticky Thanksgiving
- Relationship Skills Self-Management Social Awareness
Zoy isn’t feeling very thankful this Thanksgiving. In fact, it seems like just another day to her. That all changes when Zoy meets a new friend with a different perspective. Can Zoy learn to be grateful for what she has?
Without Poobie
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Awareness Self-Management
Ruben takes his blanket with him everywhere. After a while, his blanket gets too dirty and needs a wash. How will Ruben get through laundry day without his beloved blanket?
Why The Long Face?
- Self-Awareness Self-Management
Pretzel Sticks is a horse who’s sick of eating the same old thing, but when he tries to eat an apple, he faces obstacle after obstacle! How will he deal with the disappointment? Maybe with the help of some friends he meets along the way…
Two Homes for Gnaomi
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Gnaomi’s father is a gnome and her mother is a fairy. She loves getting the best of both worlds! But when her parents tell her that they’re going to separate, she has to come to terms with what “the best of both worlds” really means.
Three Goodnights
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Hazel and her trusty sidekick Dogfish are feeling sad that Daddy is going away on a three-day trip. Hazel tries to stop Daddy from leaving, but nothing works! How will Hazel get through three goodnights without Daddy?
The New House
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Selena is sad and angry about moving away from her old house and everything she knows and loves. Everything about the new house feels bad and wrong. Will a new friend help change the way she feels about it?
The Hole Story
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Social Awareness
Huey the hole is the only hole in the field that Farmer Al doesn’t plant with corn. Huey is worried that he’ll be alone forever, but a new friend helps him learn that being unplanted isn’t his hole story.
The Big Hill
- Self-Awareness Self-Management
It’s snowing! Daisy’s brother, Collin, can’t wait to sled down the Big Hill, but Daisy’s scared. Can Daisy find the courage to speak her mind and face her fears?
The Big Goof
- Self-Awareness Self-Management Social Awareness
When Sonia tries to hide a goof she made, the goofs keep piling up until everything around her is one big goof! How’s Sonia going to find her way out of this mess? Will she learn that it’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help?
Sunny and Nimbus
- Relationship Skills Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management
Mother Earth loves her two children, Sunny and Nimbus. But Sunny and Nimbus are always fighting! Can one little flower bring these rival siblings together?
Snow Bunny and the Big Move
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
When Gordo’s parents tell him they’re moving to the desert, his snow bunny heart is broken! As he adjusts to his new desert life, Gordo meets new friends and might even discover some unexpected surprises about himself.
Silly Goose
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management Social Awareness
Hudson the silly goose goes around doing whatever he wants, no matter how it makes other people feel. But a run-in with a sleeping bear might be what it takes to teach Hudson the importance of the golden rule.
Shyla Makes a Friend
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness
Shyla the whale shark is very shy! When she starts school for the first time, she tries with little success to hide from the other students. But her failure to hide might lead to an exciting new friendship…
Rosie says No!
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management Social Awareness
When Daddy asks Rosie to clean up her room, Rosie says no! How can Daddy help Rosie learn about the importance of taking care of things without a power struggle?
Quincy Wants a Friend
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Social Awareness
Quincy the monster just wants to be liked, but maybe she’s trying a little too hard. When a quiet, mouthless girl shows up at monster school, Quincy finally figures out what it takes to make a friend.
Playing Therapy
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness Self-Management
Emma’s been feeling nervous all the time and doesn’t know what to do about it! Her mother brings her to someone called a “counselor” to help her face her fears. Therapy sounds scary but, as Emma discovers, it might actually be a whole lot of fun.
Penny’s First Day of Kindergarten
- Self-Awareness Self-Management Social Awareness
The first day of kindergarten is about to start and Penny is TERRIFIED. If only she could bring her trusty dog, Pickles, with her! Will Penny be brave enough to face her fears alone?
One Step at a Time
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Awareness Self-Management
Lia has big ambitions but isn’t sure how to accomplish them. That is, until her friends show her how to set goals so that she can succeed, one step at a time.
My Me-Ball
- Self-Awareness Self-Management
Big feelings can be hard to explain or understand. What if they were all contained within a big ball inside of you? Explore the world of My Me Ball and find out how to live in harmony with even the biggest of feelings!
Lon the Lonely Swan
- Relationship Skills Self-Awareness
Lon looks different from other swans, which makes him feel lonely. He wants to change to be accepted by others, but can he learn to accept himself?
Life of a Leaf
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Awareness Self-Management
A great storm blows Leigh the leaf away from her home. Will Leigh be lost forever or will she learn to embrace change?
Leo Has a Secret
- Responsible Decision-Making Self-Management
Leo uses his father’s best green tie for a dragon’s tail and accidentally ruins it. Afraid of getting in trouble, he hides the tie in the garden. Will Leo own up to his mistake?
Zippity Zappity Zoy!
