The Stories We Tell Matter More Than We Think

by Eve, Founder of Project Emerald

The stories we read to our children quietly shape what they believe is possible.

Lately, two books have become favourites in our home: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, and Noisemakers by Kazoo.

And honestly… I find myself just as drawn to them as my children are.

Because these aren’t just bedtime stories.
They’re something else entirely.

Rewriting the Narrative

I grew up in the 80s, where many stories followed the same familiar script:
a princess waiting, a life paused, a happy ending defined by someone else.

We’ve seen that story before. More than enough.

What makes these books different is who they centre—and how.

They are filled with stories of women who carved their own paths. Women who spoke up, built things, challenged expectations, and changed the course of history—often without recognition until long after they were gone.

That matters.

Because what we read as children doesn’t just entertain us—it informs us. It shapes how we see ourselves, and what we believe we’re allowed to become.

Not Just for Girls

These aren’t just books for our daughters.

They’re just as important for our sons.

Because representation doesn’t just empower those who see themselves reflected—it reshapes the way others understand strength, leadership, and possibility.

And if we’re honest, these stories aren’t just for children either.

They’re for us.

A Quiet Reminder

A reminder that you don’t need permission.
You don’t need to fit into a mould.
And you certainly don’t need saving.

You already have everything within you to make a difference.

In ways that might feel small—but are often anything but.

A New Kind of Bedtime Story

Maybe this is the new version of a bedtime story.

One that doesn’t just help us fall asleep…
but gently wakes something up within us instead.

And it feels like something the world has needed for a long time.