The Good Life is a Shared Life: Reading Together

In our quest for happiness, we often search for the next big thing that will bring us joy. Yet, the findings from the longest-running study on human happiness, as detailed in The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, remind us that the true source of happiness lies in something far simpler and more profound: our connections with others. The Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals that the quality of our relationships, the time we spend together, and the memories we create are what truly make life fulfilling.

This resonates deeply with us at Storytime . The very name of our magazine, "Storytime," was inspired by the beauty and importance of sharing stories. We aim to foster and celebrate those moments of connection—between parents and children, peers, teachers and students, friends, and anyone fortunate enough to experience the magic of story time together.

As we reflect on the journey of building Storytime, one of the most heartfelt aspects of our brand’s story is our desire to inspire good times and become a cherished part of childhood memories. We believe it’s essential to create and nurture these moments, and as a brand, we are committed to making them possible for everyone. Whether you’re pressed for time, if English isn’t your first language, if reading is challenging, or if you seek to bring diversity to your storytelling, we’re here to support you. We offer shorter stories, heroes from around the world and other cultures, and tales that can be enjoyed through listening or by simply exploring the illustrations. We think of all our readers, and we hope to provide a cosy space where you can dream together.

One of the proudest moments I’ve had as a publisher came when I met a reader who, after growing up with Storytime, went on to study journalism—driven by a passion for telling stories to a wider audience. But it’s not just about the big achievements. We’ve heard from parents of children with special needs who told us that Storytime was the first publication their child engaged with because its pace helped them calm down. We’ve had feedback from children who never owned books before, but who started reading more than 10 minutes a day after receiving Storytime through our sponsored programme. And we’ve heard countless stories and pictures from parents about the precious moments they’ve shared with their children during story time with Storytime. These are the real stories happening in the real world, and they mean everything to us.

All it takes is a small idea and a simple purpose to make a significant impact. When we consider how a shared moment grows over a lifetime, being part of someone’s good life fills us with immense joy. So, I encourage you to keep sharing your stories with us, and more importantly, keep sharing them with each other. Find time to connect through stories. Often, it’s not about how much time you spend with people, but how meaningful and connected that time feels.

We’ve created a wealth of supporting materials to promote reading for fun and reading together. Whether at home, in your school, or within your book club, we’re here to help you start your own story time tradition so get in touch if you would like to receive a copy of the material. And if I could leave you with a line from The Good Life, it would be this: “Happiness is love. Full stop.” We love stories and we hope you will love sharing them too.  

Wishing you many great memories and story times ahead.