MEET HARLEY & TALLEY
Stories for Growing Hearts
Meet an energetic young princess and her curious dragon friend as they explore feelings, relationships, challenges, imagination, and the everyday experiences that help children grow.
Harley & Talley Books create opportunities for families to read, talk, wonder, and learn together.
MEET TALLEY
An Energetic Little Princess with a Big Heart
Talley is imaginative, expressive, playful, determined, and full of energy. She loves being a princess—not because she needs to be perfect, quiet, or rescued, but because her sense of magic is part of who she is.
Like many children, Talley experiences big emotions, complicated questions, joyful discoveries, and moments when she is still learning what belongs to her and what does not.
Her adventures remind children that growing stronger does not require them to lose their softness, imagination, sparkle, or sense of wonder.
MEET HARLEY
A Curious Dragon and Faithful Friend
Harley is an emerald-green baby dragon with a brave heart, playful spirit, and endless curiosity.
He does not always have every answer. Instead, Harley observes, asks questions, listens, and explores beside Talley. Sometimes he helps her see something differently. Sometimes they work through a challenge together. Other times, Harley learns from Talley.
Harley reminds children that a good friend does not control their journey—he stays beside them while they discover their own way forward.
THEIR FRIENDSHIP
Growing Side by Side
Harley and Talley’s friendship is built on imagination, honesty, curiosity, encouragement, and room to grow.
Together, they may:
Explore feelings and emotional boundaries
Work through everyday challenges
Practice communication and problem-solving
Learn from mistakes without being defined by them
Celebrate courage, kindness, creativity, and individuality
Discover that two friends can experience the same moment differently
Ask for help while developing their own voices
Preserve the playful parts of childhood as they grow
Their stories invite families to pause, talk, imagine, and consider what each experience means to them.
HARLEY & TALLEY BOOKS
Meaningful Stories Without Perfect Characters
Harley & Talley Books explore social-emotional themes through child-centered stories, expressive illustrations, imaginative adventures, and family conversation.
The characters may feel excited, confused, brave, frustrated, worried, joyful, overwhelmed, or unsure. They make choices, ask questions, misunderstand situations, try again, and continue learning.
These stories are not about becoming perfectly behaved. They are about developing awareness, confidence, communication, connection, and a stronger understanding of oneself and others.
THEIR FIRST STORY
HARLEY & TALLEY AND THE MASKS WE WEAR
What Are We Carrying—and Does It Belong to Us?
Sometimes children change their expression, quiet their needs, hide a feeling, become extra cheerful, or take responsibility for someone else’s emotions because they want the people around them to feel okay.
In Harley & Talley and the Masks We Wear, Talley begins noticing the different emotional masks she wears and why she reaches for them. With Harley beside her, she explores the difference between caring about someone’s feelings and believing she must manage those feelings for them.
The story gently introduces ideas such as:
Recognizing and naming feelings
Understanding why people sometimes hide how they feel
Learning that kindness does not require pretending
Separating personal feelings from another person’s emotions
Communicating honestly in age-appropriate ways
Asking for support from a trusted adult
Remembering that every feeling does not require immediate action
Holding onto identity, imagination, and self-respect while growing
The story does not suggest that emotional masks are always wrong. Sometimes people need privacy, safety, time, or space before sharing a feeling. Instead, it encourages children and caregivers to become curious about when, why, and with whom a child feels able to be authentic.
READING TOGETHER
A Story Can Open a Conversation
Families may use the story to:
Pause and notice facial expressions or body language
Ask what Talley or Harley might be feeling
Discuss times when feelings are easy or difficult to share
Talk about the difference between empathy and responsibility
Reassure children that adults are responsible for managing adult emotions
Identify trusted people a child can talk to
Draw, move, play, or imagine different ways to express a feeling
Let the child listen without requiring personal disclosure
A child may connect through conversation, drawing, pretend play, movement, quiet reflection, or simply enjoying the story.
A NOTE FOR FAMILIES
Harley & Talley Books are family reading and conversation resources. They are not therapy, mental-health treatment, diagnostic tools, or substitutes for professional support.
Caregivers may adapt conversations to fit their child’s age, communication style, experiences, emotional readiness, and support needs.
FINAL INVITATION
GROWING DOESN’T MEAN LOSING YOUR MAGIC
Every Child Deserves Room to Feel, Wonder & Become
Join Harley and Talley as they explore the questions, emotions, friendships, and discoveries that make growing up an adventure.
COMING SOON
THE FIRST HARLEY & TALLEY STORY IS ON ITS WAY
Harley & Talley and the Masks We Wear is currently being thoughtfully developed and prepared for Brightwood families.
Availability, book previews, and purchasing information will be shared as the story moves closer to release.
