Toby and the Slippery Sounds: Helping Kids with Auditory Processing, Listening Skills, and Self-Belief

Toby hears the world a little differently. Sometimes the words around him slip and slide like marbles on a floor - hard to catch, harder to keep still. When conversations move too fast or classrooms grow noisy, his brain feels like it's racing to keep up. Luckily, Toby has his older cousin Zoe, who helps him discover tools to make those slippery sounds easier to hold onto.

Together, they learn how to pause, replay, and reframe the way Toby listens and responds. Through games, visual prompts, and gentle encouragement, Toby begins to find his voice - learning that his brain isn't broken, it just works in a wonderfully unique way.

This compassionate story offers children, families, and educators a warm introduction to Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), highlighting both its challenges and its strengths. Through humour, empathy, and everyday moments, Toby and the Slippery Sounds helps normalise the lived experience of children who process sound differently, while promoting understanding and inclusion.

Each Inner Harmony Haven book combines therapeutic storytelling with evidence-based coping strategies, offering children and families practical tools to build communication confidence, emotional awareness, and resilience in daily life.

Parents and carers will find reflection notes and a Strategic Toolbox designed to strengthen listening skills, foster supportive relationships, and encourage advocacy and understanding-at home, school, and beyond.

A valuable resource for parents, educators, speech pathologists, and therapists, Toby and the Slippery Sounds empowers children aged 6-12 to embrace their unique listening strengths and communicate with confidence.

Series: Inner Harmony Haven: Children's Books for Big Feelings and Coping Skills - where imagination meets emotional learning through stories of co-regulation, compassion, and growth.