Grown-Up Tales

Big lessons for bigger people.

Grown-Up Tales creates illustrated gift books for adults about the confusing, frustrating and occasionally ridiculous business of being a grown-up.

They might look suspiciously like children’s books, but these stories tackle distinctly grown-up problems: taxes, mortgages, dating, work, money, relationships, bureaucracy and all the other things nobody adequately prepared us for.

Our first unfortunate hero is Jimmy.

Jimmy is an ordinary man trying his very best to navigate adult life. Unfortunately, Jimmy’s best is rarely good enough.

In Jimmy Learns About Taxes, he discovers just how many different opportunities the government has to take his money.

In Jimmy Gets a Mortgage, Jimmy discovers the magical world of interest rates, affordability checks and spending the next thirty years paying for a collection of bricks.

And occasionally Jimmy discovers what appears to be an ingenious solution to his latest problem.

Unfortunately for Jimmy, there is one lesson he never seems to learn.

Jimmy goes to prison.

Every Jimmy story ends the same way.

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Children’s books. For adults.

Grown-Up Tales combines the simple language, colourful illustrations and reassuring structure of a traditional children’s picture book with the considerably less reassuring realities of adult life.

The result is a series of short, illustrated satire books designed to be given to friends, partners, colleagues and family — particularly when the title feels just a little too appropriate.

The humour can be dry, dark, political, irreverent and occasionally inappropriate. No side of grown-up life is guaranteed protection from ridicule.

These are not children’s books.

They are books for grown-ups who probably should know better.

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Meet Jimmy

Occupation: It varies.

Financial position: Deteriorating.

Decision-making ability: Questionable.

Knowledge of the law: Usually acquired retrospectively.

Current whereabouts: Statistically, probably prison.

Jimmy means well.

Whether he’s paying taxes, buying a house, starting a business, navigating the workplace or discovering an exciting new financial opportunity, Jimmy approaches every challenge with optimism.

It rarely survives.

The Jimmy rule

Whatever happens…

Whatever Jimmy learns…

However promising things appear…

Jimmy goes to prison.

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The Grown-Up Tales collection

Coming to an unnecessarily complicated adult situation near you:

Jimmy Learns About Taxes
Jimmy discovers income tax. Then VAT. Then council tax. Then fuel duty. Jimmy begins to wonder whether there is another way.

Jimmy Gets a Mortgage
Jimmy would like a house. The bank would like Jimmy’s income for the foreseeable future.

Jimmy Starts a Business
Jimmy has a brilliant idea. Companies House would like some information.

Jimmy Gets a Promotion
More responsibility. More meetings. Slightly more money. Considerably more tax.

Jimmy Tries Investing
Jimmy has discovered compound growth. Unfortunately, Jimmy has also discovered Reddit.

Jimmy Gets Divorced
Jimmy learns that dividing by two is considerably more expensive than he remembers from school.

And, eventually, Grown-Up Tales won’t just be about Jimmy. Other unfortunate adults will have their own lessons to learn.

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Made to be gifted

Grown-Up Tales books are designed as funny adult gifts first and foremost.

A friend buying their first home? There’s a Jimmy for that.

Someone complaining about their tax bill? Jimmy understands.

A colleague starting a business? Jimmy has some lessons for them.

Someone newly single? Eventually, they’ll meet Jenny.

The best Grown-Up Tale is the one you see on a shelf and immediately think:

“I know exactly who I’m buying that for.”

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About Grown-Up Tales

Grown-Up Tales is a brand from Many Things Made Ltd, creating illustrated satire and humour products inspired by the absurdities of modern adult life.

Our philosophy is simple:

Growing up is serious enough already. We might as well make a book about it.

And remember:

Jimmy goes to prison.