Fireside Fables app support
The Fireside Fables app brings the whole of When the Machines Were Young to a phone or tablet: all 25 illustrated fables, to read and listen to without an Internet connection. The app is free, with no account and no advertising, and it collects no data.
Updated 14 October 2026. This page answers common questions from parents, carers and teachers about the installed iOS and Android app, published as Young Machines by Nell Watson Ltd on the App Store and by Nell Watson, Inc. on Google Play, with stories by Nell Watson.
What the app is
The app holds the complete book: all 25 fables, from The Locked Box to The Giant's Chain, in their original reading order and grouped by the book's three parts. Every fable has two paintings that move gently as you read, 50 in all, along with an English narration and questions for conversation. Everything is included in the installation, so nothing needs to download after it is installed.
The stories are written for shared reading around age ten. There are no purchases, sign-ins, analytics or links out of the app.
Questions and answers
Where is my place saved?
On your device. The app remembers where you stopped reading or listening, and Continue on the library screen takes you back there. Your place is never sent to us.
Why does the narration stop when I leave the app?
The narration plays only while the app is open. While a story is playing, the screen stays awake so the narration is not cut short when the device would otherwise lock. If you would like it to stop by itself, set the sleep timer.
How do I make the text bigger?
Pinch to zoom on the story page.
Can I turn the moving pictures off?
Yes. The Animations switch on the story page keeps the paintings still. If Reduce Motion is turned on in your device's accessibility settings, the paintings stay still in every story.
How do I delete my saved places?
Saved places and settings remain in the app's local storage until they are replaced or the app's data is deleted. On Android, Clear storage in the system app settings removes them, and the app excludes them from cloud backup and device-to-device transfer. On iOS, Delete App removes the app and its local data; Offload App retains its data.
Is the narration a real person?
No. It is a synthesised voice made with Google's Gemini text-to-speech (the Gacrux voice), directed by the author, Nell Watson.
Privacy
The app collects no personal data. The Fireside Fables app privacy policy explains what stays on your device and how to remove it.
Contact
An adult can reach Nell Watson through the contact page on Nell Watson's website with questions about the app. Information you choose to send through that separate website is handled by that website, outside the app.