Children's picture book · read-aloud & early reader · ages 5 – 8

The sad happy story of Twinkle Tee Tum.

A small crab. A big feeling. A whole ocean of words to learn. The perfect book for expecting parents, a preschool send-off that kids actually keep, and a classroom favorite for early education teachers — with free printable learning resources included in every copy.

Written by Lisa Stewart.
Illustrated by Lisa & Russell Stewart.

— pinchy, but soft on the inside.

The Sad Happy Story of Twinkle Tee Tum — children's picture book cover, watercolor crab, by Lisa Stewart, illustrated by Lisa & Russell Stewart
Who it's perfect for

A little book for the big transitions — new babies, first classrooms, last days of preschool.

Twinkle Tee Tum is about feeling two things at once. That makes it the right book for almost every threshold a small person (and their grown-ups) walks through.

for the baby shower

The perfect book for expecting parents

A gift that grows with the baby — a soothing read-aloud in year one, a first "I read it myself!" book a few years later. Arrives gift-wrapped with a handwritten note.

for the last day

A preschool send-off they'll keep

Sad to leave, happy to grow — that's the whole story. A meaningful preschool graduation gift for a child, a class, or the teacher who got them here.

for circle time

Made for early education teachers

Written by a former classroom teacher for pre-K and kindergarten: social-emotional learning, sight words, and free printable centers ready to copy.

for the shelf

A keepsake for grandparents & godparents

Hardcover, hand-painted, built to be read a hundred times. The kind of book that ends up in the next generation's nursery.

What kids will learn

Big feelings, tiny words, and a brand-new sea creature on every page.

Twinkle Tee Tum is built for the wobbly, magical moment when a child starts reading on their own — and starts noticing what they feel, too.

A
Reading without overwhelmShort pages, repeating sight words, gentle rhythm — designed by a former classroom teacher for read-aloud time and brand-new readers.
B
Naming feelings (social-emotional learning)"Sad happy" is a real thing. Twinkle teaches kids it's allowed to feel two things at once — a gentle SEL lesson for preschool and kindergarten.
C
Curiosity about the natural worldReal (delightful) ocean facts woven into the story — kelp, crabs, and the strange beauty of tide pools.
D
Reading is playFree printable activity sheets, coloring pages, and prompts that make new readers want to come back tomorrow — at home or in the classroom.
included free with every book

Seven free printable learning resources. Yours to copy, forever.

Every copy of Twinkle Tee Tum unlocks a set of downloadable resources made for parents at the kitchen table and early education teachers at the copier. Print as many as you need — for one kid or twenty-two.

— no extra trip to the store. no subscription. just print.

Inside the bundle

One little box. Three little wonders.

Each Twinkle Tee Tum bundle ships in a recycled kraft box, hand-tied with twine — ready to be a baby shower gift, a preschool send-off, a back-to-school surprise, or a "you did it!" celebration.

Crab keychain

A tiny enamel Twinkle to clip onto a backpack and meet at the front door after school.

Literacy resources

A pull-out reading guide for grown-ups — sight word lists, gentle prompts, and a brave-reader chart.

Free digital resources

All seven printable learning resources — coloring book, cards, tracing, and more — downloadable anytime, free with your book.

Why early readers love it

The kind of book a kid re-reads on purpose.

I made Twinkle Tee Tum the way I wished books had been made for us: not just decodable, but loveable. With a little crab worth keeping in your pocket.

Reading isn't a race.
Some pages need a snack break.

— Twinkle agrees, by the way.

Questions from parents & teachers

Good questions. Small answers.

Is Twinkle Tee Tum a good gift for expecting parents?

Yes — it's one of our most-gifted books for baby showers. It grows with the child: a soothing read-aloud in year one, and a first "I read it myself!" book a few years later. It arrives gift-ready with a handwritten note.

Does it work as a preschool send-off or graduation gift?

It was practically made for that moment. The story is about a small crab learning to hold two feelings at once — the sad and the happy of moving on. Parents give it for the last day of preschool; teachers give it to a whole class for kindergarten readiness.

What free resources come with the book?

Every copy includes free downloadable printables: a Learning Pack, a Coloring Book, Crabby Compliment Cards, Crab-ffirmation Cards, Crab-ffirmation Game, Crabby Sentence Building, and Tracing Cards. Print as many as you need.

Can early education teachers use it in the classroom?

Absolutely. Lisa is a former classroom teacher and wrote the book and its resources for circle time, social-emotional learning, and early literacy centers. Ask about classroom sets — we love a class of twenty-two crabs.

Take Twinkle home.

The book, beautifully made, with seven free learning resources. Ships in the US with a small handwritten note. Makes any kid (and several grown-ups we know) absolutely lose their mind in the best way.

Get the Book — $15
written by Lisa Stewart · illustrated by Lisa & Russell Stewart · free printable resources included