Curling up with a story,
Especially one that feels like a soft adventure wrapped in wonder.
I like to take classic fairy tales and gently reimagine them,
Turning them into calming bedtime stories filled with kindness,
Courage,
And just the right touch of magic.
These are the stories I tell my own children and now I'm so happy to share them with you.
So snuggle in,
Take a slow breath,
And let the day melt away.
We're about to drift into a story together.
Dino Digger and the Sky Vine Tonight,
Let's float up above the trees,
Past the sleepy volcanoes,
To where the stars begin to shimmer.
Take a slow breath in and a soft breath out.
Let your legs get heavy,
Let your arms grow still.
You're safe here,
Ready for an adventure.
Far beneath the starry sky,
Dino Digger was working in his cozy little garden.
The sun was setting,
Painting the sky in soft purples and peachy orange.
His shovel made a little clink,
Clink sound as he cleared away rocks from the garden path.
I love digging,
He whispered to himself,
But something is missing today.
And he looked around,
The same rocks,
The same tools,
The same familiar garden patch.
Then clink,
His shovel hit something round and smooth.
He brushed away the dirt and there it was,
A glowing green seed,
Warm to the touch,
And pulsing gently with light.
Huh,
Said Dino Digger,
You're not from around here.
He nestled carefully into the soil,
Gave it a gentle pat,
And added a single drop of water,
And whispered,
Grow strong little seed.
Just then a breeze stirred the leaves and the seed began to sprout,
Up and up and up.
A glowing vine twisted towards the clouds.
It shimmered like moonlight and smelled faintly of mint and sky berries.
Leaves unfurled like sails catching the wind.
Digger's eyes widened,
A sky vine,
He breathed.
He took one slow breath in,
And one slow breath out.
Then he whispered his favorite saying,
I can do hard things one step at a time.
He placed a steady paw on the bottom leaf and climbed.
Up he went,
Through a tunnel of stars and cloud wisp.
Brave and calm,
I am safe and strong,
He reminded himself.
The wind danced through his helmet.
Leaves brushed his back.
Tiny glowing moths hovered near his cheeks.
I'm steady like stone and light like air.
Higher and higher he climbed.
At the top of the vine,
There was a floating island.
It glowed gently with blue mushrooms,
Giant dandelions that swayed like trees,
And floating pebbles that blinked like fireflies.
But something felt quiet.
Too quiet.
Digger stepped carefully,
His boots made soft pat,
Pat,
Pat sounds on the mossy ground.
He followed a path of sparkling stones until he heard a quiet voice from a glimmering cave.
Hello,
He called.
A tiny dino peeked out.
Her eyes were wide and her tail trembled.
I'm petal,
She said softly.
I'm stuck up here.
The vine grew so fast,
I didn't know how to get down.
Digger smiled kindly.
Kindness makes me strong,
He said,
And he held out his hand.
Petal stepped forward,
Still nervous.
I'm not brave like you,
She said.
Digger knelt beside her.
Brave doesn't mean fast,
He told her gently.
It means steady and true.
They stood together looking around the island.
The breeze tickled their cheeks.
Want to explore with me before we head home?
Digger asked.
Petal nodded just a little.
Together,
They wandered.
They found mushroom trampolines,
Sky fish swimming in slow loops,
And a bubble stream that giggled as it flowed.
When the wind picked up again,
Digger closed his eyes.
Even when the breeze is high,
I keep my eyes wide and my heart calm.
Petal tried it too.
She closed her eyes and repeated it.
Eyes wide,
Heart calm.
And when a big breeze came,
They just stood still like two little stones in the sky.
Then they saw something sparkling in the grass.
It was a seed,
Just like the one Digger had found.
I think the sky is giving us a gift,
He said.
They each planted a seed near the edge of the floating island.
The ground shimmered where they touched it.
Finally,
It was time to go.
Ready to climb down?
Digger asked.
Petal looked over the edge of the cloud island.
She took a big,
Deep breath in and a big,
Deep breath out.
Then she whispered,
I can do hard things,
One step at a time.
Together,
They climbed back down the glowing vine,
One paw,
One foot,
One leaf at a time.
They passed butterflies sleeping on leaves.
The stars above twinkled like gentle lanterns.
Down,
Down.
Until at last,
Their feet touched the quiet garden ground.
The night was still.
Digger knelt beside his garden and lit a tiny lamp.
Petal planted her glowing seed right next to his.
They gave it a gentle pat,
And Petal whispered,
Thank you.
You helped me be brave.
Digger smiled.
You already were.
Now,
Let's take one last breath with Dino Digger.
In,
Two,
Three,
Out,
Two,
Three.
The sky vine glows gently,
The stars blink softly above,
And the garden is calm and still.
Your breath is slow,
Your body is heavy,
And Dino Digger is fast asleep.
Good night.
