Drift with Erin Davis

We depart from the norm with this duo from a favourite author, Hans Christian Andersen: The Leap Frog (about an amphibian who enters a competition to win a princess's hand) and A Little Match Girl, a sad but sweet tale that has stood the test of time. Enjoy a short session of breathing and relaxing, the two stories and then gentle waves as you drift off to your dreams. Listen free thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

A queen wishes for a baby but when it turns out to be a girl, the king (who's a mad magician) loses it, banishes the girl for being sassy and makes sure no one can get to her because of nasty whirlpools. But if you know fairy tales, you can bet one clever sailor/suitor in a suitable sailor suit – say that three times fast - will not give up! Free, thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

From Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum comes this charming tale of an old sailor and his young female friend who find themselves leaping past their fears and swimming with mermaids. Join me for a short relaxation followed by this gentle and beautiful story, as you're played off to sleep by (quite fittingly) soothing waves. Free, thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Still waters run deep when sorcery and enchantment combine to create a tale of love on a lake, tiaras and tantrums. Birds of a feather, indeed.... Drift is free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Three princes are tasked with finding the most obscure treasures for their father in order to inherit a kingdom. And there's a magical white cat who makes the youngest of the lads' dreams come true! Hear how, that is, if you last until the end and the lovely waves we play to help you Drift off to sleep. Listen free, thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

When a desperate woman rescues an abandoned baby, she is vilified and fears for her daughter's safety. But a sweet inquisitive bird leads young Rapunzel to freedom and a love story unfolds outside of the girl's towering hideaway. Listen free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Imagine a time of spells and fairies, of queens and peasant girls, talking animals and happily ever afters. This sums up a story of a poor girl who finds her fate decided for her again and again, but who wishes for all, even her enemy, only happiness. Enjoy this lovely fairy tale, won't you?

Oscar Wilde wrote this heart-wrenching tale of a nightingale that sacrificed its life for a man in love, but I couldn't let you go to sleep on the saddest of notes. So with his spirit's indulgence (I hope), I offer you a happier ending to a beautiful story. Listen free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

You've heard of Cinderella, of course, but this is the tale of a young man kept dirty and humble while his two older brothers go to compete in a contest to ride a steep hill and win the heart of a princess. Many surprises await in this delightful story of love and magic. Listen free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

In a fable set in ancient Egypt, a devoted and desperate son has to choose between sacrificing a rare specimen and saving his ailing father, the king. What will he do? Listen free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Join me on a perfect summer day story as six friends who've loved each other for decades float gently together down a gentle river. It's a tale set in modern day under blue skies with laughter, closeness and an undercurrent of love…and remember there’s an easy relaxation to begin our story, which is then followed by gentle waves at the end. Sweet dreams. Free, thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Lentil me your ears: this is not your grandma's telling of the lumpy young woman and a lumpy mattress. No, this is very much a story of compassion and kindness: two things that matter most, regardless of status or station. Free, thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

This is a most tender tale of a man who, whilst walking through the woods, meets himself at various stages of his life. It's lovely, relatable and so real that you'll find yourself walking alongside him, until you Drift off to sleep to gentle waves at the end (or hopefully even before). Free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

This story by the Brothers Grimm, but with a Driftesque ending that I promise you is not at all grim, is about a cranky little man with a most unusual talent: he can spin straw into gold. But when he tries to collect his outlandish fee, a young woman has to guess his unusual name. And does she? Listen to find out. Free, thanks to our friends at enVyPillow.com and SierraSil.com.

A baby is born to a king and his wife, who have had cast upon them a spell: their child will have an enormous nose. But Prince Hyacinth must discover for himself that he has this unusual feature before the spell is broken; only then may he marry the Dear Little Princess of his dreams. Enjoy this French fairy tale, told to you in English, of course, on Drift, and available free, thanks to enVyPillow.com and SierraSil.com.

A sleep story about a legendary sleeper? Perfect! We take you to a summer day in an idyllic woods where our humble hero nods off, only to awaken to a life he used to know. Sweet dreams to you and to Rip.

Join me as we take you to the forest for the final days of a stately, majestic and aged tree. This exquisite Hans Christian Andersen tale sees the oak reminiscing about its many years in existence, and comparing its lifespan with that of an insect who lives but one day; a truly beautiful story that will have you Drifting into a sweet sleep. Thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Whether you await the arrival of Père Noel, Sinterklaas or good ol' Santa, this timeless classic is a story that resonates and stirs the hearts and memories of young and old alike. Some relaxation to start, plus the story behind the story. A Merry (or Happy) Christmas to you.

Over 100 years ago, an eight-year-old girl wrote to the editor of a New York City newspaper with a question: Is Santa Claus real? This is the story of how that letter and its famous, beautiful response - which you will also hear - came to be.

Effie is a ten-year-old girl who has everything a child could want, except the spirit of Christmas in her heart. After she reads a Dickens classic and experiences a vivid dream, that all changes in this lovely tale of gratitude and generosity. Drift is free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Join me for this beautiful story set around Christmastime in the forests of Germany where a little girl who lives with her grandmother holds great hopes that angels will bring her a Christmas gift. This tale brings into sharp focus the joy of appreciating what life gives us every day. Listen free, thanks to our friends at enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.

Long have the Wise Men been believed to have started the idea of giving presents at Christmas. But this couple's mixup could very well have spelled the end of that whole tradition. Oh my....

In this retelling of a Hans Christian Andersen fable, a tree yearns for everything it does not have, until he gets it and realizes he should have appreciated what he had.

This lovely story is about a little girl who helps an elf. He turns around and helps her become invisible, but is it a gift or a curse? She finds out – and so will you – in this beautiful tale set on Christmas Eve and morning. Enjoy Toinette and sweet dreams, mon ami!

Imagine a book where all you need to do is open a page and its subject would become reality. Edith Nesbit did: a little king learns the perils of magic and how sometimes a solution to a very big dilemma can be right under your nose.

When a boy meets an “uncle” who happens to be a magician, he's introduced to a world of sorcery. Join this age-old tale and dream of genies yourself, with a brief meditation and an adventure that will gently illuminate your imagination.

There's more than one version of the Cinderella story, and this one comes from Celtic folklore. In it, a young girl named Trembling is picked on mercilessly by her sisters. Fortunately, help comes in the form of a henwife (a what?) who helps this Cinderella alter her fate with ending after ending! Enjoy.

Lesser known than many of their other tales, this is the Brothers Grimm story of six boys who are changed into birds, and whose younger sister makes a difficult vow to break their spell. Will she be able to do so, before meeting a dark fate herself? Well, Drift does promise you sweet dreams....

When asked if he'd ever write his life story, Hans Christian Andersen said that this tale was it. With that in mind, I shaped this popular classic for Drift, while staying loyal to its theme of rejection and unrequited love, balanced with our need for family and a sense of belonging.

This campfire tale is about a tiny plant that can bring great and positive change to a kingdom, but who will find it – and how? It's a lovely story that I'm pleased to share with you here to bring you a gentle night's sleep as you Drift off with me.

In this tale, we imagine a girl who is cursed with a lack of gravity; she actually floats freely and constantly but finds her love and her life in the water. It’s an unusual story and I hope you’ll dive in - and float off - on Drift.

What a joy it is to bring you the words of A.A. Milne in stories he wrote for his son. And in this third podcast rendering of Mr. Milne's creation, Pooh and his best pal (other than Christopher Robin) have an adventure, but one mild enough that I can promise you sweet dreams and just the chance of a woozle sighting.

A young boy's legendary rise from crushing poverty to London's highest office combines fact, folklore and a fearless feline heroine. It's a “Man's Best Friend” story, if a clever cat wrote it, instead of just knocking the pen off the desk...again and again.

In this gentle tale by the Brothers Grimm, we meet a young woman sent to a faraway kingdom where her royal identity is stolen and she ends up working in the fields. That is...until a surprise ally learns her true identity and helps make things right.

From well-loved Edith Nesbit's collection of Dragon Tales, this is a delightful story of love, envy, virtue and triumph over evil. Princess Sabrinetta outfoxes a hungry dragon and rescues her town's children while capturing a brave and humble farmer's heart.

This heart-warming fiction (or is it?), Man May Love was chosen from among 30,000 short story entries to a war-time LIFE magazine contest. What happens when a nurse for ailing soldiers begins to consider one offer?

Some say this truly beautiful tale is actually a story that Hans Christian Andersen wrote about his love for an opera singer – a love that was never returned to him. Listen to the gentle story of a bird who enchants a kingdom, until a replica comes and takes her place...for a time.

A young girl grows up hearing ages-old legends of a magical talisman that no one has been able to use for its abilities. Asha decides it will be she who finds it and uses it to change things – but how, and to what ends?

The Queen Bee is a sweet story from the Brothers Grimm that is not grim at all! It's actually about the third of three brothers who is either ignored or ridiculed by his siblings. But when it comes to saving the day – and them – he comes through with some help from his friends.

From the man often called the Father of the Fairy Tale, this little-known story written by Charles Perrault is about a hard done-by young woman who is bestowed with a most unusual gift. But when her sister tries to go to the well and win her own...let's say she gets her due!

We all know the story of Little Red and her preferred garment, but what if we took all of the classic story's fear and turned it into compassion and empathy? Listen to find out – and sweet dreams!

How wonderful to discover another tale from the wonderful, wizard-like mind of Oz author L. Frank Baum! What happens when a group of people at a dinner party all partake of spell-bound candies? Let's just say that “awkward” may not begin to describe it. Enjoy The Magic Bon-Bons and may you have (literally) sweet dreams.

How many times have we heard this tale? Well, not enough! For this story of a young girl - ill-treated by her family but beloved by not just her fairy godmother but a prince who is smitten at first sight - is indeed just what we need to fall asleep to sparkling dreams and happily-ever-afters.

What an unexpected delight to come across a new-to-us story from such a brilliant writer! The man who brought us The Wizard of Oz tells a tale of magic, deception and an ending that everyone deserves. May you enjoy it as much I as did in the telling.

If you drifted off before the end of Part One of this story by Jonathan Swift, not to worry: I'll recap where we are when we pick up on the second and final half. Gulliver, you'll recall, was shipwrecked and when he washed up on an uncharted island, he was tied down by strings thanks to thousands of tiny people who would soon have Gulliver doing their bidding – at war.

What happens when a full-sized man who is cast adrift lands on an island full of tiny, often warring people? In this Jonathan Swift tale, we learn of Gulliver's troubles and eventual freedom. But what will he have to do to earn his liberty?

Christopher Robin's father opens the book where we left off, and this time we all enjoy A.A.Milne's story of Pooh getting himself in a most awkward spot. Oh, bother! Enjoy our second visit to the Hundred Acre Wood and sweet dreams.

Set as far under the sea as this story by Hans Christian Andersen is from the animated versions, this telling of the original fish-out-of-water fairy tale has a darker, lesser-known side. But I promise you, our fine finned friend finds a different sort of “happily ever after.”

A classic tale told on stage and film, this story by Lewis Carroll takes a young girl on a gently-told but most interesting ride down, down, down...where she meets talking animals of all kinds and pines for her cat Dinah. Curl up and enjoy this timeless story with me, won't you?

A special return release. Ah...I hope this homemade story resonates with you. As my husband and I mark the 8th anniversary of our daughter’s passing, this tale, called The Hands We Hold In Our Sleep, is about remembering and spending precious time with those we love - including our moms - as we prepare to mark Mother’s Day. Please enjoy this sweet story of relaxation and gentle memories with a peaceful heart.

It's a joy to bring to you the beloved adventures of a boy and his bear, and that bear's friends, as told to Christopher Robin by the author A. A. Milne. Winnie-the-Pooh's gentle stories are told from the heart in a gentler time, and promise to delight you as you drift off to sleep.

You've heard the word narcissistic – now enjoy the tale of the nymph for whom the word was coined, and the other wood fairies who suffered his vanity and eventually plotted his downfall.

In this Drift Sleep Story, we tell a tale that truly is as old as time. A young woman meets a creature who holds her father in his home. Only love - and the gift of seeing beyond appearances and into the heart - can break the spell and bring mended hearts together.

Did you have a Raggedy Ann doll? Perhaps an Andy as well? Whether you did or not, I think you'll enjoy this sweet tale of a cloth doll and her friends – a much simpler “toy story” from a century ago, told to help you drift off to sweet, jam-flavoured dreams.

More than a North American muffler company, Midas was a man who inherited a great kingdom and yet, yearned for more. Learn the price that he paid, plus a little-known post-script to the morality tale that you may not be awake to hear – and that's all right too!

Imagine, if you will, a group of animals who have all been put out to pasture – and not in a good way. Together they find themselves in the midst of a gentle adventure that will make you smile as you drift off to sleep.

Long a tale that has warned those of us who dare try too hard or hope for too much to “stay in our lane,” Oh, Icarus is the story of a boy whose father actually was smarter than every other kid's dad, and built himself and his son wings. Uh-oh.

This enlightening tale is one that was written centuries ago by the prolific Aesop. I'll take you to a gentle day under fluttering leaves and warming sunshine with a message of being in the moment. All this, as you drift off to a place where there is no hurry...only peace.

Don't let the title fool you; although we usually associate elves with Christmas, Will Ferrell and cookies, this is the tale of a humble cobbler and his wife who are visited in the night by two very helpful souls. It's a lovely bit of magic and I hope you'll enjoy it.

Do find something to snuggle and listen to this favourite tale of a boy's much-loved bunny who yearns to become real. It is a beautiful reminder always to look beneath the surface - in this case, the soft, furry fabric of the story's title.

Whether you await the arrival of Père Noel, Sinterklaas or good ol' Santa, this timeless classic is a story that resonates and stirs the hearts and memories of young and old alike. Some relaxation to start, plus the story behind the story. A Merry (or Happy) Christmas to you.

Over 100 years ago, an eight-year-old girl wrote to the editor of a New York City newspaper with a question: Is Santa Claus real? This is the story of how that letter and its famous, beautiful response - which you will also hear - came to be.

Long have the Wise Men been believed to have started the idea of giving presents at Christmas. But this couple's mix-up could very well have spelled the end of that whole tradition. Oh my....

Join me for this beautiful story set around Christmastime in the forests of Germany where a little girl who lives with her grandmother holds great hopes that angels will bring her a Christmas gift. This tale brings into sharp focus the joy of appreciating what life gives us every day.

Effie is a ten-year-old girl who has everything a child could want - except the spirit of Christmas in her heart. After she reads a Dickens classic and experiences a vivid dream, that all changes in this lovely tale of gratitude and generosity.

In this retelling of a Hans Christian Andersen fable, a tree yearns for everything he does not have, until he gets it and realizes he should have appreciated what he had.

The Queen Bee is a sweet story from the Brothers Grimm that is not grim at all! It's actually about the third of three brothers who is either ignored or ridiculed by his siblings. But when it comes to saving the day – and them – he comes through with some help from his friends.

The author L. Frank Baum is best known for The Wizard of Oz, and this story is also based on a little girl who finds herself in a rather precarious situation and uses her smarts to extricate herself. Enjoy The Girl Who Owned a Bear and, as always, no animals or little girls are harmed in the telling of this story!

This is a short and sweet folk tale that comes from India and you need only look up at clear night skies to meet our main characters. It's a whimsical story of Star, Sun, Moon and Wind and let me add Waves – as I do to the end of this story, to usher you into sweet dreams!

This story by the Brothers Grimm, but with a Driftesque ending that I promise you is not at all grim, is about a cranky little man with a most unusual talent: he can spin straw into gold. But when he tries to collect his outlandish fee, a young woman has to guess his unusual name. And does she? Listen to find out.

Often when we hear of someone who is surrounded by yes-men (and women), they're described in terms of this story by Hans Christian Andersen. But who remembers the details of this scantily-clad leader and how he ended up being such a cautionary tale?

A sleep story about a legendary sleeper? Perfect! We take you to a summer day in an idyllic woods where our humble hero nods off, only to awaken to a life he used to know. Sweet dreams to you and to Rip.

This is a slightly reimagined Grimm Brothers' tale of a poor man who uses his wits to win and makes his fellow townsfolk really wish they had not ignored him.

Old Aesop was indeed a wise man – he told short tales that had messages that still resonate today. Like the moral of this story: no one is too small to help...and we should never, ever judge the size of one's heart by one's stature. Enjoy this story and sweet dreams!

TS Arthur wrote this beautiful story, reshaped especially for you here, of a hard-working couple who opened their house to a recently orphaned girl named Maggie, who turns out to be the personification of a housewarming gift.

This tale from the Brothers Grimm is about a kind fox who offers advice again and again. When at last a young man listens, all sorts of golden opportunities and adventures come his way.

A social climber learns that not even the sky's the limit in the retelling of this young has-bean. *No ogres are harmed in the telling, but the beanstalk does kind of get the sharp end of the axe.

In this personal story, I ask whose hand you would love to hold as you drift off tonight. Join me as I reminisce about intertwining fingers in life and in a loving, lasting, final touch.

A Grimm Fairy Tale proves it: at the end of the day, don't let seeds show the way. And be nice. You never know how it could pay off.

When we left Benjamin, the middle-aged man was run out of Yale University on a rail (literally). In this F. Scott Fitzgerald story's adventurous conclusion, Mr. Button continues his journey in age-reversal through war, marital discord and so much more.

A classic short story from F. Scott Fitzgerald, this tale imagines age reversal with life beginning as an elderly person and ending as an infant. Charming and intriguing, this first half follows Benjamin's journey from senior citizen to would-be college man.

From Anna Sewell's well-loved book, these first three chapters offer the perspective of a handsome young horse learning of life and love at his mother's side.

A magical tale of Northern Lights, a very clever brother and sister duo and a slide that takes you straight to the North Pole and perhaps to sleep....

A young princess loses her talisman but finds the amphibian of her dreams. A spell-binding tale of looking past first impressions to find friendship.

An adventurous young woman finds herself sleepy after a lovely meal but awakens to three furry creatures who are as surprised to meet her as she is them. Wander through forests and fields of wildflowers and meet her new neighbo(u)rs.

In this retelling of a Grimm classic, a young woman is shunned for her beauty and finds help from seven new friends, while a jealous queen pays the wages of envy.

Sometimes the best tales are the ones that go in a different direction than you expect, as with this story of an ingenious and optimistic young woman (channeling her inner Julia Sugarbaker!) who makes her dream come true, but on her terms. Based on The Swineherd by Hans Christian Andersen.

Set in the idyllic south of France, this original gentle story puts you in the comfy shoes of a travel blogger witnessing the beauty and wonders of an ancient annual festival in which sheep and goats are shepherded to the highlands for a perfect summer. C'est si bon!

We all know the story of Little Red and her preferred garment, but what if we took all of the classic story's fear and turned it into compassion and empathy? Listen to find out – and sweet dreams!

For nearly a century-and-a-half, this story has been told as a morality tale; perhaps even one of a cautionary tone. Set in Paris in the 19th century, you will share in the wonder about what could well be a tale of Cinderella - told almost entirely in reverse.

Young Harry and Walt, a miniature pirate ship and a sudden tidal wave of bad luck come together in this lovely tale for a heartwarming story of selflessness and kindness at the English seaside.

Long before Meghan and Harry, Edith Nesbit wrote Deliverers of their Nation about Effie and Harry. In this Dragons Tale, they discover (with the help of a sleepy saint) the secret to getting rid of the pesky creatures - big and small.

Joseph Jacobs translated fairy tales from many different cultures. This story that originated in India is about a witch, disguised as a magical deer, who puts a king under her spell. But a sweet boy born in a dungeon grows up to make everything right...eventually!

Lentil me your ears: this is not your grandma's telling of a young woman and a lumpy mattress. No, this is very much a story of compassion and kindness - two things that matter most regardless of status or station.

Louisa has long been engaged to a man named Joe, who left to seek his fortune in Australia. But when he returns, they both find that things have changed – and will change – for the better.

In this tale, we imagine a girl who is cursed with a lack of gravity; she actually floats freely and constantly, but finds her love and her life in the water. It’s an unusual story and I hope you’ll dive in - and float off - on Drift.

There once was a young man who listened to the dying wishes of his father. In return, he was visited by a strange guest who repaid loyalty with some astonishing magic. Enjoy this Jewish Fairy Tale by Gertrude Landa, who also went by the name Aunt Naomi.

In this, a different kind of sleep story, we hear the words that philosopher, poet and lover of nature Henry David Thoreau shared many times in his life. Put on your comfiest slippers as we step outdoors and into a gentle rest.

Some say this truly beautiful tale is actually a story that Hans Christian Andersen wrote about his love for an opera singer – a love that was never returned to him. Listen to the gentle story of a bird who enchants a kingdom, until a replica comes and takes her place...for a time.