A moment of Hmm… that's where good choices start.
HmmBee’s interactive stories bring children into real-life moments — a falling-out, a flash of anger, a try that didn’t work — and invite them to pause and think about what happens next (Pause & Guess) or what just happened (Pause & Wonder).
Two simple ways to build emotional skills, positive habits and a better understanding of the world.
A small pause. A big difference.
A breath before shouting back.
A “why?” before rushing in.
A quiet look to notice what’s really going on.
These are moments of Hmm, when children learn to make sense of their feelings, pick up useful habits and work out a whole lot about the world.
Say it like thisHmm, the sound you make when you stop to think. Not H-M-M.
Grounded in established research.
Our Pause & Guess and Pause & Wonder methods draw on research into interactive, dialogic storytelling, where children predict, reflect and discuss what characters think and feel.
Our own emotion-regulation and habit-formation frameworks, LAND and LEAP, then help children move from understanding to practising.
- LListen to your body
- AAllow a breath
- NName and make sense
- DDecide what to do
- LLook for good habits
- EExplore it yourself
- AApplaud your try
- PPractise and grow
Hmm… Guess. Reflect. Discover.
HmmBee stories go beyond reading. They invite children to pause at the moments that matter — to imagine what happens next, reflect on what’s happened and discover something new.
It’s not about finding the answer. It’s about the conversations that help children understand ideas, feelings, see different perspectives and make thoughtful choices.
Little tools. Big life skills.
HmmBee’s emotion- and habit-focused stories give children a chance to practise a tool — whether it’s naming a feeling, pausing before acting, learning from a mistake or starting a new habit. Together, these tools help children navigate challenges, make thoughtful choices and build positive habits.
Feelings
Understanding a wide range of emotions and what to do with them, from frustration at 5 to bittersweet moments by 11.
Habits and values
Appreciating the habits and values that shape a life, from taking turns at 5 to goal-setting and values-led choices by 11.
tools for growth
A collection of practical tools to help children understand themselves, work through tricky moments and find their own way forward.
The Hmm doesn't stop when the story ends.
Every story comes with short extras that help the learning stick.
Grows as they grow
As children grow, so do our stories — in their plots, language and the themes they explore, from emotions and habits to values. So there’s always something that feels right for their age.
My world
Home, class and first friends
Everyday choices
Belonging and growing independence
Other people
Seeing it their way
Underneath
Layered feelings and fairness
On purpose
Choosing habits, not defaults
What's next
Ready for change
Built for children, from the ground up.
“The ‘Pause & Guess’ structure has proven to be an excellent resource for developing core reading skills. Because students must synthesize emotional cues from both the text and illustrations to predict outcomes, the stories map directly onto curriculum targets for text inference and comprehension…”
Deputy Headteacher, primary school, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
“I can readily envisage its effective use within guided reading sessions, PSHE lessons, nurture groups, small-group interventions and other adult-supported contexts. Much of the educational value appears to lie not in selecting an answer, but in the conversation that follows…”
Senior Educational Psychologist, London
Give every child a moment of Hmm.
See how HmmBee works in your classroom or at home.
