Tittle Tattle Talia
Talia loves to gossip, until her tales grow so big that her friends turn away, in an audiobook about holding our tongues and saying sorry.
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What is Tittle Tattle Talia about?
Tittle Tattle Talia is an Islamic audiobook for children about a girl who loves telling tales about other people, and who learns how much hurt gossip can do.
Talia's favourite words are "You'll never guess" and "They say that". At home, her sister, brother, father and mother all warn her to stop. Her father reminds her that the Prophet ﷺ taught us to speak good or hold our tongues. Talia does not see the harm, so she takes her tales to school. The other children laugh, and the attention makes her feel good, so she spices her stories up with fibs, most of all about a shy boy called Ahmed. Soon every child in the class wonders who will be next.
One by one, her friends stop talking to her. She is left out of a party, and at a rounders trial no team will play with her. When Coach Hafsa asks why, the children tell her what Talia has said. Talia apologises, to Ahmed most of all, and walks home ashamed. But her friends run after her to say sorry too: by listening and laughing, they helped spread the gossip. Together they promise to speak only good about others.
The story teaches children that gossip hurts, that listening to it is part of the harm, and that saying sorry takes courage. It ends with the hadith about speaking good or remaining silent. Written by Salwah Isaacs-Johaadien, illustrated by Zeyneb Yildirim and read by Sarah Aga, it is about 12 minutes long and music-free.
What your child will learn
- A Muslim speaks good or stays silent, as the Prophet ﷺ taught.
- Gossip and made-up stories hurt people, even when we say we are only joking.
- Listening to gossip and laughing at it helps to spread it.
- Saying sorry is hard, but it is the first step to putting things right.
Where this audiobook comes from
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6018: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or keep silent. The story ends with this hadith.
- Sahih Muslim 47: The same hadith, reported by Abu Hurayrah.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why did Talia keep telling tales about other children?
- How do you think Ahmed felt when he heard what Talia had said?
- Why did Talia's friends say that it was their fault too?
- What can you do when someone starts to gossip about another person?
- Why is it so hard to take back words once we have said them?
Frequently asked questions
What does Tittle Tattle Talia teach children?
That gossip and made-up stories hurt people, that listening to gossip helps to spread it, and that a Muslim should speak good or stay silent.
Is Tittle Tattle Talia based on a hadith?
Yes. It ends with the hadith, reported by Abu Hurayrah, that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.
How long is Tittle Tattle Talia?
About 12 minutes.
Does Tittle Tattle Talia have music?
No. It is music-free.
