Stories to slow down with.
Gentle children's stories, videos and songs to slow down with. Every one is about nature and the small things young children notice: a snail crossing a garden, a koala high in a gum tree, the moon on still water.
Most come three ways, so you can read one at bedtime, watch it together, or put the song on in the car.
The Snail's Rest
A snail takes a whole day to cross the garden, and rests while the sun is high.
Read · Watch · Listen
Little Koala High in a Tree
A koala spends a warm day working out when to move and when to stay still.
Read · Watch · Listen
The Sloth and the Nearby Tree
A sloth sets off for the next tree along, and takes all day.
Read · Watch · Listen
The Kittens and the Golden Purr
For a kitten's birthday, the litter gathers golden moments in the forest and makes the first purr together.
ReadQuestions parents ask
What are Softheld Stories?
Softheld Stories are calm, gentle picture books for young children, roughly ages 2 to 6. Each story is slow-paced and nature-led, with soft illustration and quiet language, made to help a child settle rather than wind them up. Most come three ways: a book to read, a short film to watch, and a song to listen to.
Which Softheld story should I start with?
The Duck and the Moon is the usual place to start: a duck follows the moon across a still pond and finds it there, above and below. The Snail's Rest, Little Koala High in a Tree, The Sloth and the Nearby Tree and The Kittens and the Golden Purr follow the same slow, gentle rhythm.
What age are Softheld stories for?
Most are written for children aged about 2 to 6. The Snail's Rest and The Duck and the Moon suit the younger end; The Sloth and the Nearby Tree and The Kittens and the Golden Purr read well up to about 6.
Are Softheld stories good for bedtime or for calming down?
Yes. They are written and paced for the quiet part of the day: long, unhurried scenes, no sudden noise or bright action, and a gentle ending. Parents use them at bedtime and in the wind-down after a busy day.
What makes Softheld stories calm?
Slowness is the point. Nothing in the story moves faster than the animal it is about. The language is quiet, the illustration is soft, and each story stays with one small moment in nature rather than a fast plot.
Where can I buy Softheld books?
Digital picture books and the companion songs are available on this site and delivered by email. Softcover print editions of The Snail's Rest, Little Koala High in a Tree, The Sloth and the Nearby Tree and The Kittens and the Golden Purr are on Amazon.
Have a story you'd love to create?
Softheld is beginning to open a small number of personalised story projects for families. If you have an idea, I'd love to hear about it.