Bubbies Book of Odd Little Tales (Golden Wolf Series Short Story Companion): Fifteen Fresh Fables from the Elders of Ashwood

by Ember Celadon

Fifteen quick-read fables for all ages perfect for fans of everyday magic and modern fairy tales.

A luminous collection of fifteen modern fables for all ages - some wholly original, others reimagined from lesser-known classics - that explore kindness, consent, legacy, and love in all its quiet forms.

With the lyrical warmth of a bedtime tale and the wit of a storyteller who knows exactly when to wink, these stories travel from village gardens to palace halls, from rooster crows to raspberry dresses, reminding us that not all magic is loud, and not all wisdom wears a crown.

For readers of the Golden Wolf series, these fables give a fresh insight into the world of Ashwood as told by the town’s Elders.

For those who have not encountered Ashwood before, these stories stand alone.

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

Reviews

[BookaholicallyBridie]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book! Here is my honest review:

I love how delightfully sassy some of the morals managed to be, and each story was delightful to read. I had so much fun reading this cosy collection!

My favourite story was the third story, where a farmer’s daughter is perfectly content with her life and declines to marry the prince. When the King demands the priests change her mind, they all refuse. It was an excellent story.

The First Story: A rooster is rightly accused of arrogance.
The Second: A man hurts his foot and blames the “witch” who was minding her own business.
The Third: A prince wants to marry a farmer’s daughter. She says no. There’s some begging involved.
The Fourth: Having a two year old child is not conducive to having a garden of flowers, but weeds can be beautiful too.
The Fifth: A storm cloud searches for somewhere to rain.
The Sixth: A girl with a golden candlestick dreams of a better life.
The Seventh: A farmer’s daughters each have to care for a silo full of wheat to determine who will inherit his farm.
The Eighth: A girl learns that wearing a special dress can make the day special.
The Ninth: A cat really wants some cream.
The Tenth: A father catches fireflies to help his son fall asleep, but his son simply wanted his father to sit with him until he fell asleep.
The Eleventh: A wolf cries boy.
The Twelfth: A village needs a new well. Three property owners must decide what is more important, their payment, or the survival of the village.
The Thirteenth: A woman delays her execution with a few thousand excellent stories told to a King.
The Fourteenth: A grandmother’s favourite cookie recipe is the one her grandchildren request, so they can feel close to their grandmother.
The Fifteenth: A tailor has a really nice bolt of fabric that he uses as a conversation starter.
The Sixteenth: A woman visits a village and becomes a storyteller.

If you want to read a delightful collection of short fairytales, you should read this one!

[Liam Craig]

I feel like every story will hit a little different with each one of us but I know there were a few stories that really hit me in my feels like The Flowers and the weeds (I most definitely teared up a bit) trying to keep up with what you think is needed for the perfect family life but when in reality it's just the little things in life that can bring us the most joy 😊

Grandmother's favorite also made me cry a little. I have a book of my grandma's favorite recipes that I've definitely just read over a few times over the years ❤️

Honorable mentions to The tale of the golden candlestick and Joseph the tailor.

I think my favorite part about these stories is that everyone of them made you feel something. I was either having a little chuckle, a little cry or just felt all warm and happy inside. The perfect book to pick up before bed or to cuddle up on the couch with a warm blanket and a cup of warm apple cider.

[Mj Ganzevles]

Such a wonderful book, like multiple cups of tea by the fire when it’s snowing outside.

[Ashley]

So cute

This was a cute and quirky collection of stories. Some felt really silly and others were a little sad. I liked the different varieties to satisfy any kind of reader So fun!!

[Angela Surf]

I've thoroughly enjoyed sharing this collection of whimsical tales with my (teenaged)daughter. Whether she enjoyed the being forced to listen to bedtime stories like a small child is highly debatable however.
I could not pick a #1, but A Bucket and a Curse and Grandmother's Favorite are fighting for first place.

The length of the tales are perfectly formed to cater to impatient bedtime story recipients and are super engaging.

It's been a long time since I've read to my child before bed and sharing this book with her brought back plenty of fuzzy feels that I miss from when she was young.

[Amanda]

I loved this book!! The stories were cozy, quirky and a whole lot of fun!!!

[Rups]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a delightful little book! ✨

A collection of quirky, whimsical and wonderfully odd tales that are simply fun to read. Each story has its own little charm, and I loved how the book doesn't take itself too seriously.

Perfect for when you want something light, unusual and entertaining between heavier reads.

Sometimes a book doesn't need to move mountains. Sometimes it just needs to make you smile—and this one certainly did.

A fun little read that earns its 5 stars!✨

[Rachel Stine]

Folktales for Forty ish

This adorable book of old tales warmed my heart, made me laugh, and brought happy tears to my eyes on multiple occasions. Everyone needs to read it!

[Alexandra Bollella]

Wholesome, humourous, heartfelt

Fifteen fables, that bring bedtime stories to life! As a Millennial, these stories were the best stress reliever during my lunch breaks or unwinding at home after a long day. These stories made me laugh, tear up and go awe, so many various life lessons to be told in these wonderful tales! The Firefly Jar, a tale of a boy who can't sleep. This story really brought back childhood memories, I was terrified of the dark and I'd go to my parents room most nights to make sure no monsters wouldn't get me. Even as an adult I still sleep with a nightlight and this story really holds a place in my heart, fireflies are the best comfort.

Grandmothers Favorite, this story made me immediately think of my Nana and brought tears to my eyes.Growing up in an Italian household, baking and cooking was happening around the clock and hosting Sunday dinners. This brought  joyous memories, trying all my Nana's cookies, learning how to cook and being in the comfort of a warm vibrant cozy home. I loved how the traditions in the story were kept even as the grandchildren got older, enjoying each other's company. The Cat That Got The Cream, as a cat owner I can totally relate to this with my cat Ivy because she loves her Tuna! And sometimes I wish I knew what our cats were thinking especially when they don't understand what's going on.

I absolutely enjoyed all 15 stories!These stories were packed with so much meaning and thoughtfulness, I will forever be a kid at heart! These stories bring so much happiness and that's what this world needs and this book is a bundle of joy!

"She's a grandmother who loved to bake, and hosting visitors very seriously, so there were always at least a half dozen different offerings that could be pulled from these tins at a moments notice, much to her grandchildren's delight."

[A.M. Duskwolf]

I came across this book when I needed it most: I was about to launch my pitch-black romance through a fog of exhaustion, seasonal flu, and my body’s springtime autoimmunological rebellion. I hadn’t read anything new in months because I couldn’t turn off editor-mode enough to enter readerly bliss. I was, in a word, sofreakingovereverything.

I say all of this so that you understand what this book did for me. It glinted from the depths I’d gone to while writing my dark materials, a golden promise I latched on to with my final ounce of energy. I read it once, right through, and I was a reader again—sitting with a cat craving cream; wondering at the possessive greed of an unworthy prince; craving barely-wanted peanut cookies; crying ‘boy’ alongside a wolf. I let the stories sit within my heart, then I picked them up for another, more thorough reading. They shone all the brighter. And they nourished me.

As I write this, I can already tell: like Patrick Rothfuss’s The Slow Regard of Silent Things, Ember Celadon’s slim volume of stories will be seasonal reading for me. These fifteen tales include passages that made me stop dead with admiration, and a child-friendly Chaucerian register I’ve not seen since I discovered the great Gail Carson Levine. They contain irony alongside warmth, and sometimes a touch of sorrow—but never cynicism. This is the twenty-first century version of sentence and solas, and Celadon wields it with a gentle smile and words that could bite, but never do. There are invitations to think, to dream. To recognise, and realise.

Now, I’ll drop my ARC reader hat for just a moment and step into my iron-toed writer’s boots: the writing isn’t just beautiful. It’s lacy, layered, and loving. It is, quite simply, masterful. I can’t wait to place the hard copy on my shelves… though my kids are sure to steal it. Better make it two copies.

[Christy Matheson]

This was a cute little book of fairy-tale style stories. Each one was very short, only 2-4 pages, which made it easy to think "I'll just read one more!" They were not necessarily designed to be retellings of specific real-world stories, but most of them were recognizable if you are familiar fairy tales.

The author put her own feminist, modern twist on the stories. For instance, one variation was about the woman giving her consent. Another was a retelling of the inspirational quote about using the beautiful items before it is worn out. The messages were very clear and the language left no room for doubt or interpretation.

"If they had any wisdom, the villagers would have known the land does not actually belong to anyone — people come and go in the blink of an eye..."

Personally, I felt like this was a little too pat, and the stories would have been more interesting if they had asked questions instead of immediately showing the answer. I can see how this fits the style of some fairy tales, especially the cultures that focus on morals, and some readers will enjoy having their values reflected back to them so clearly.

The language is lyrical and easy to read. This is a very nice book if you need something light (or a quick book to catch up on a reading challenge!). Celadon did very nicely with this length of story, which can be difficult for many novelists. Overall, an interesting premise and fun read.

[Richard James]

Bubbie's Book is absolutely perfect. This little 100-page book contains 15 short tales and fables that say a lot about modern life. They are told in a uniquely old-fashioned manner and wording, like you would expect from a classic fairy tale.

The tales range from an arrogant rooster (with the best punchline you will find in a book like this), tales about witches and wells, tailors and princesses. It even has a Wolf who cries Boy!

Ember Celadon's sensitivity and humour bleed from the page and get into the readers soul as this book unfolds. Charm and grace fill the pages. I loved this collection so much and much of it is very cleverly written. It sounds like an old tale but is perfectly modern and relates to modern life.

My favourite was about the tailor who won't give up. That spoke to me about my own life and I found the story moving.

Ember has created something unique and special here and it is well worth buying and reading to people of all ages. Be kind to each other and read this 5 star book.

[Kat]

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

What can I say to describe this compilation?

Reading this collection felt like stepping back into my childhood, or sitting on the edge of the bed and sharing the timeless fables to my children and grandchildren the tales that were passed down from my mother and Nana.
So I would describe it as a
charming, nostalgic compilation of short tales that blend warmth, humor, and gentle life lessons.

The stories range from clever reversals of classic fables, to poignant meditations on family, memory, and greed.

Some entries are bound to make you chuckle, a few will leave you scratching your head over their hidden morals, and others will send you straight down memory lane to memories of grandmothers, homemade baking, (thanks to the authors kind gift of sharing their childhood memories from their grandmother)

While some stories feel a bit more abstract, the overarching magic of the book lies in how It serves as a gentle reminder that everyone has a story worth telling and that someone out there will appreciate you for exactly who you are.

If you fancy a trip back to your childhood or just want to indulge in a little heartfelt nostalgia before turning off the light—pick up a copy and let yourself reminisce.

[Savannah]

A wonderful collection of short stories that have been put together to create a beautiful book.

The stories included are whimsical and special and feature cleverly worded descriptions, which not only allow you to read the book but also to see the imagery and imagine. Something which i find incredibly important in books, as it helps you to fall in love with the tales and the stories it potrays.

My favourite tale being 'A Very Special Dress', it is a beautifully told tale, with such an important moral to the story. Realising no matter what the day, everyday is special. I find this to be so important, especially with the world we live in.

I highly recommend reading this book, even more so with Autumn approaching. I cannot wait to see what other work Ember Celadon has to come in the future.

[Oleta Forde]

Review of advance reader copy received from the Author

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ember I was not prepared for how much these tales would impact me. Goodness, who'd have thought what I was missing was strong women lead fairytale-esque short stories.

Every story I read ended with me thinking, "ooh that's got to be my favourite one" turns out all 16 tales are my favourite.

So many hidden messages, that challenge the norms, thank you for including tales that have the underlying messages of "No means no", "You are enough", "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and all the other messages sown throughout the stories. I will be re-reading this collection of short stories for years to come.

And of course, my new motto is now "sometimes, the day becomes special because you choose to wear the dress."

Many thanks to the Author for sending me this ARC

[Stephen Christopher]

Who says bedtime stories are just for kids? In Ember Celadon’s Bubbie’s Book of Odd Little Tales, you’ll find 15 stories that you can read to your kids before sleep, and maybe even save a few for yourself before you nod off. In all good fairy tales, each story has a lesson to be learnt—some are subtle, and some smack you in the face. Along the way you’ll meet princes and princesses, a little cloud who just wants to rain, a cat who doesn’t understand, a boy who can’t sleep, and a wolf who cried boy (yes, you heard that right). There’s a fable for everyone; you’ll chuckle, you’ll gasp, and you may even shed a tear (I did three times!).

Keep this book in your kids’ room so you always have a bedtime story handy. It’ll become their favorite collection.

[Jenn]

This set of odd little tales serves up cozy stories with sides of curiosity and wisdom - and the occasional open ending for further digestion. Ember Celadon has created memory-tickling fresh fables that touch our core morals and values, and (usually) gently remind us of what matters. And, more importantly, what does not.
A joy to read, and easy to keep pondering long after the reading is done, Bubbies Book of Odd Little Takes is a lovely companion book to a larger body of work. I read this without previous knowledge of The Golden Wolf Series, as an appetizer, if we continue the dining analogy. As a result, I'm now invested in digging into the main course of the Golden Wolf world.
With many thanks to Ember for the opportunity to read these stories!

[Leah Bullock]

This is a collection of short stories and right from the get-go, despite being geared to burnt out millenials (I am Gen-x) , they still resonated with me. Each story had an underlying meaning, thoughtful in ways that such short stories have no right to be. Each and every one of them were little gems, relaying a story heavy in meaning. Beautifully written. What a piece of art this book is. I truly enjoyed it!

My faves:
A Bucket and A Curse
The Flowers and The Weeds
The Tale of The Golden Candlestick
The Cat That Got The Cream
The Village That Needed A New Well
Grandmother’s Favorite (made me cry dammit)

[Amy Wiggles]

I was lucky enough to have an early review copy of this collection of short stories. I really enjoyed them!
They are a refreshing take on the fables many of us grew up with - each one revealing an important lesson.
I loved that they were all short but snappy and a little bit sassy. Some had me cackling while others were more thought provoking. My favourite was ‘A very special dress’ which can be so relatable to many of us!
Highly recommended to all millennials who could do with a short refreshing brain break
Thanks so much Ember for sharing 🖤

[Summer Russell]

15 short stories. 15 stories with depth, humor, life lessons. As a burnt out millennial myself, this was so refreshing. I loved every single story in this collection. Grandmother’s Favorite made me cry! This is exactly what I needed to remind me to slow down, think about what really matters, and enjoy the day to day moments that we let slip by waiting for something grand in order to consider it a “meaningful day.” 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Aliya White]

A collection of beautiful cheeky bedtime stories written with the hearts of tired millennials in mind.

Ember does a wonderful job of taking fables that sound a little familiar and giving them the perfect little twist.

My favourite part is the most adorable family recipe at the end. I am excited to try them.

Overall, the book is a spectacular collection of 15 short stories that made my whole household giggle!

[Scarlet]

Absolutely loved, this book holds 15 stories that as a burnt out mom filled my day with a piece of comfort and joy. These stories held so much meaning and brought me back to when I was a kiddo. This book was not only a trip back but also a piece of comfort everyone needs to end the day out with. Highly Recommend! I got this via the author and this is my voluntary review.

[Katelynn Sanchez]

Such a delightful collection of little stories! Each one held meaningful messages and was clearly written with care! I'll be sharing these stories with my daughter when she gets a little older in hopes she too can pull the lessons and meanings from each!

[Cate]

I enjoy this book! It reminded me of the tales of bettlebard with it having sorry stories design to put kids to sleep in a fanasty world.

The only thing i didn’t like was that I wanted to read the next one and the next one.

[Jolene Molloy]

I read this as an ARC read.
This a fantastic book of fairy tale short stories. They are interesting and thought provoking. A brilliant before bed read.
Although this is part of the Golden Wolf series it can be read as a stand alone.

[Kristina]

This collection of short stories delivers on its promise of being cozy bedtime stories for millennials. Many of these were stories I remember hearing growing up, but with a modern twist, and several were new to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these and I'm ready for part 2. 😏

[Lynleigh Black]

This is such a fun read, I read it over small breaks at work and laughed out loud, sniggered and felt all the thing, I also really enjoyed the matching soundtrack. I can’t wait to read more from this author

[Jasmin]

This was such a cute collection of short stories. Fascinating and I absolutely loved how they were written. My child kept asking for me to read more.

[Imogen L]

This is a delightfully charming, whimsical, and fun collection of stories that gently remind us to be grateful for the small things, make every moment special, and find our greatest joy in the love we grow and share with others.
Whether you’re looking for fables to share with your little ones, or just want some small stories to remind you to be kind to yourself, this book has tales for everyone and will leave you with a warm heart and a wistful smile.
I’m very grateful to Ember for sharing an advanced copy of their works, and appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts and impressions before the book is released.