Amber Hatch
Creator Profiles
I’m Amber, a children’s author and mum of three. I write books for age 6+. My Cheeky Frog Series is about children helping animals in trouble—even though they might get in trouble themselves.
Cards from this Creator
- Finding Fluffa
- The Great Fish Rescue
"I love how children can learn to follow a more complex story, even if they are still beginning readers"
Creator Q&A
Tell us about yourself
I live in Oxford, England. When I’m not writing I go swimming in the river. I write other types of books too; some are about parenting and wellbeing. I discovered audio – and Yoto – when my youngest got one for her birthday. I love how children can learn to follow a more complex story, even if they are still beginning readers. When Yoto ran its inaugural Audio Maker Competition in 2023 I knew I had to enter a story. Coming joint second with the Great Fish Rescue was completely amazing!
What inspired you to make this title(s)?
The Great Fish Rescue: The Great Fish Rescue is inspired by a true story. One really hot summer, the ponds in my local park dried up and we found these flapping fish gasping for air. Like Zak and Sami, my children and I wanted to rescue them so we scooped them into buckets. We weren’t sure what to do with 50 fish but luckily a local garden centre offered to take them in their pond. I had the idea to turn it into a story for a long time, but I needed Yoto to give me that nudge.
Finding Fluffa: My seven-year-old loves cats and we recently got a new kitten called Squid. When I told my daughter I was going to write a story, of course, she requested it be about kittens. That’s what inspired me to write Finding Fluffa. It was very useful having Squid around to watch her silly antics! Her favourite thing is to hide in any bag she finds lying around and then leap out at your feet.
"I hope kids come away with the message that even if things are tricky, then kindness always wins out"
Who do you imagine listening to your audio?
The Cheeky Frog series is aimed at kids 6+ but really, they are for anyone who loves listening to stories about animals in trouble. We live in a complex world which children have to learn to navigate, and I’ve tried to reflect this in my stories, gently exploring social concerns. I hope kids come away with the message that even if things are tricky, then kindness always wins out. But most of all I hope they enjoy them. Hearing feedback from children who’ve liked my stories is the best thing ever.
Is there anything different about making audio for Yoto?
Creating these audiobooks for Yoto has been brilliant. It’s been a steep learning curve – but a very rewarding one! It’s wonderful writing books, knowing that they are going to be out there and listened to by kids around the world. I’ve really enjoyed working with the Yoto team who have encouraged me to get the cards as good as possible. The world of children’s publishing is changing rapidly and Yoto is at the forefront of that – how exciting that I’m part of that adventure!
What’s next?
I’m currently working on a fun interactive story about a robot causing mischief and mayhem in 'Robotronix Pandemonix'. I also plan to release further titles in the Cheeky Frog series next year. I’ll be launching my podcast soon too. If you have an idea for a story you’d love to see written – tell me about it! Find me on socials or head over to amberhatch.com.
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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.