Ella Shine
Creator Profiles
Ella Shine is the super fun pen name of two real life authors (Cecily and Penny) writing together, chapter by chapter, about two best friends and imaginary pets who cause all sorts of chaos!
Cards from this Creator
- The Pet Sitters Ready for Anything Collection
"The stories include themes of friendship, responsibility, risk-taking, family, community, problem solving and unconditional love."
Creator Q&A
Tell us about yourself
Cecily Anne Paterson and Penny Reeve are the real life authors behind the Ella Shine pen name and the Pet Sitters chapter books. We live in different parts of Sydney, Australia, and both write other books under our own names, but it can get a bit lonely writing books all by yourself. So we decided to write the Pet Sitters books in an attempt to thwart the typical isolation felt by writers. The books are about two best friends who dream of owning their own pets, but are not allowed. One day they are asked to pet sit their neighbour's cat and that's where all the fun began. We knew very early on that Gus, the grey and white talking cat who is one of the main characters of this series, needed to be heard aloud. He's grumpy, he whines a LOT, and is downright adorable. He's perfect for audio! Bringing the Pet Sitters stories to audio format is a dream come true because we've always envisaged these stories being shared and enjoyed aloud.
What inspired you to make this title(s)?
While we are children's authors, we are also both parents, and over the years we've had to listen to some pretty boring chapter books. The solution? Write a series of great books for children that parents can trust and also enjoy! That's how the Pet Sitters books came about. They are fun, fast-paced stories about two best friends and a grumpy talking cat. From a sometimes-invisible guinea pig to a bearded dragon with allergies who sneezes glitter, these pet sitting adventures are full of chaos (mostly caused by Gus the grumpy, talking cat!). It's super exciting to have the Pet Sitters stories available for screen free listening via Yoto! Our first Yoto Card includes all four pet sitting adventures from the Ready for Anything collection and is narrated by the amazing Suzanne Ellis, an Australian voice actor.
"Being parents ourselves, over the years we've had to listen to some pretty boring chapter books. The solution? Write a series of great books for children that parents can trust and also enjoy! "
Who do you imagine listening to your audio?
The Pet Sitters stories are written for 5 to 9 year olds, but can also be enjoyed by all ages because that was one of the main priorities we had when writing: to entertain children and adults alike! The stories include themes of friendship, responsibility, risk-taking, family, community, problem solving and unconditional love. There is a fun cast of characters, giggle worthy antics and a sprinkling of the unexpected in each story. We hope our listeners enjoy listening to the antics and adventures of the Barefoot Springs Pet Sitters.
Is there anything different about making audio for Yoto?
We love that Yoto offers children and families a screen free way to listen to audiobooks and other content. It allows for safe, age-relevant entertainment and gives agency to the child while also allowing peace of mind for parents/carers and educators.
What’s next?
Ella Shine is always hard at work thinking up new adventures for the Barefoot Springs Pet Sitters! We (Penny and Cecily) are currently working on two new stories to complete the Dress Ups collection and we're pulling together the final threads of a Pet Sitters, Ready For Anything Literature Unit for students in 2nd and 3rd Grade.
New to Yoto?
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Creator FAQs
Who are the Creators?
Our Creators are independent makers of music and spoken word content for children and families. Some have established audiences in other places, while others are beginning their audio publishing journey with Yoto. We put out a public call to join this initiative at the start of 2024.
Each of our creators have their own Creator Profiles where you can read more about them and their cards. Just click on their name on their card store page to find out more.
How can I become a Creator?
If you are just starting out, you might first choose to share your digital content for free in the Open Mic section of our community site Yoto Space, where you can start building an audience and get feedback from friendly enthusiasts.
Learn how to make a great Yoto Card by reading our Yoto Creator Guidelines. Learn about what makes the Yoto format unique, and how to create a really engaging and successful title that children will love.
If you're ready to start selling your content on Yoto, you can register your interest.
Can I learn more about Creator content before purchasing?
Yes, each card has an extended audio preview so you can listen to a representative sample before making a purchase. You can also read more about a card's creator by clicking on their name on the card page.
How is this different from the free audio on Yoto Space?
Open Mic on Yoto Space is where we nurture those creators who may be just starting out or wanting to experiment with a new title. It's a friendly community where they have space to share content for free, build an audience and get feedback. We are delighted to see several creators make the leap from there to become Creators on the Yoto Store, where they can now monetise their work.
What do I do if I don't like a card that I've purchased?
If it simply isn't to your taste, purchases are covered by our usual returns policy. If you believe a title breaks our Creators Content Guidelines, please report it.
Are more Creators cards being added to the collection?
Yes, more titles and more creators will be added over the coming months.