Portrait of Catherine Morland, the author of the Mr. Timble books. She is a parent and passionate advocate for early childhood literacy

A Word from the Author: Cathy Miller Morland

Welcome to the world of Mr. Timble! I'm Cathy Miller Morland, and the story of this little detective mouse is deeply personal to me, born from my most cherished memories and a lifelong passion for children's education.

The dream of writing a children's book first took root when my own kids were small. Storytime, especially at bedtime, was one of our most treasured family rituals—a cozy time filled with imagination, warmth, and connection. I remember my children asking for the same favourite books night after night, and those quiet evenings, snuggled up together, remain some of my fondest memories as a parent.

The Educational Philosophy of 'Hidden Learning'

With an early career spent working in children's education, I've always believed that learning should be a joyful adventure, not a chore. That's the core philosophy behind the Mr. Timble books: to create a cozy, rhyming bedtime story that also "sneaks in" as much learning as possible.

You'll notice that within the adventures, children are introduced to key concepts in a fun, natural way:

  • Time: In the story "The Bakery Theft," when time is mentioned, there's a visual clock in the picture for the child to see, linking the words to a tangible concept.
  • Numbers: Mysteries are often solved using simple math and counting.
  • Rhyme and Rhythm: The entire series is written in rhyme to help children remember the stories more easily and to develop crucial pre-reading skills.

From a Personal Challenge to a Timeless Character

As life grew busier, my dream of writing had to wait. It was only when I was diagnosed with breast cancer that I found the space and time to finally bring this long-held dream to life. In the midst of that challenge, creating the world of Mr. Timble gave me both comfort and joy when I needed it most. He became a little detective with mysteries to solve, a character who embodied my hope and my passion for storytelling.

Today, I am incredibly proud and excited to share Mr. Timble and the Missing Book and Mr. Timble and the Bakery Theft. My dream is that Mr. Timble will become a story children reach for again and again, just as my children once did. My hope is that parents everywhere will find in his adventures the same joy of sharing those special, snuggly moments at bedtime, creating new memories that will last a lifetime.

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