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Bedtime Stories Podcast Fairytales and Folk Tales from the Lilypad for kids artwork

Bedtime Stories Podcast Fairytales and Folk Tales from the Lilypad for kids

Lily, a frog·Hosted by Lily and Marlene Wurfel·20 episodes

KidsFamilyStoriesKids bedtime storiesSolo narrator10-20 minGentleStandalone episodesFairytales and folklore

Lily, a frog, tells fairytales, folk tales and bedtime stories to kids.

Why listen

Lily, a frog, hosts gentle fairytales, folk tales, and original bedtime stories written or adapted by Marlene Wurfel. Episodes are short, calm, and imaginative, with a mix of classic folklore, seasonal stories, animal adventures, and reflective tales that work well for kids winding down. Families who want soothing, story-first listening without frantic pacing will feel at home here.

Episodes

18 min
May 1, 2026Episode 97
Zyvorn Cornebius Maxaro the Brown

A Tales from the Lilypad original story by Marlene Wurfel.  Zyvorn Cornebius Maxaro the Brown is a lot like every other meadow mouse except that he's also a wizard.

12 min
Dec 30, 2025Episode 96
Happy New Year The New Year's Fairy Re-released

Happy New Year, from Lily Shoutout to Josephine (as Ella Dawn) This largely forgotten but wonderful fairytale is written and rearranged by Marlene Wurfel, based on the concept and story by the American fabulist Emilie Poulsson (1853-1939) Music: “English Country Garden” & “Alpine Bierhalle” & “Christmas Homecoming” by Aaron Kenny courtesy YouTube Audio Library Auld Lang Syne (Instrumental) by the Jingle Punks courtesy YouTube Audio Library Sound effect attributions:  “Fairy Logo” by DDmyzik courtesy of a Creative Commons Attribution Licence via www.freesound.org https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ “Coagulated” by Timbre & “Champagne Cork Pop” by Ruben Uitenweerde courtesy of a Creative Commons Attribution Licence via www.freesound.org "Fireworks, Close, A (H1).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org

17 min
Nov 8, 2025Episode 95
The Anger Monster

An original story by Marlene Wurfel inspired by the Buddhist allegory of an anger monster who thrives on anger and shrinks from kindness.

10 min
Oct 11, 2025Episode 94
Ghost Pirate Ship

A Halloween origin story.

23 min
Apr 26, 2025Episode 93
The Fuzzy Castle

An original story about a girl finding her way through a dark forest with a little help from hundreds and hundreds of bunnies.

9 min
Mar 16, 2025Episode 92
Switch It On

This is a spin off of Ray Bradbury's 1955 Book "Switch On The Night," reprised and remixed for modern listeners by Marlene Wurfel.  What do we switch on when we switch off our electronics?  Non-commercial story for kids & family, Copyright is Fair Use  Intro and Outro Music by Reid Alexander Whelton

13 min
Dec 25, 2024Episode 91
A Star Suit for You

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Lily. This is calming, meditative story about a star suit that fits you just right. Put it on to travel through the clouds, dance with the Northern Lights, and visit the stars. "See" Great Bear (Ursa Major), Cygnus, Sirius, Tama Rereti, and other constellations.  Original script and narration by Marlene Wurfel Audio Mix Features Creative Commons Music via YouTube Studio:  Peacefully by E's Jammy Jams Angel Guides by Jesse Gallagher Shasta Trinity by Jesse Gallagher Owls by Lish Grooves Cosmic Groove Space Travel by Cooper Cannell #starlore #cygnus #ursamajor #sirius #greatbear

12 min
Oct 16, 2024Episode 90
The Boneyard Dog and Friends Halloween Story

An original tale of skeletons who get a chance to dance and play one magical halloween night in a spooky boneyard.  Music: Corny Candy by The Soundlings and Among the Stars by Everet Almond.

9 min
Jul 26, 2024Episode 89
Three Dandelion Stories

Three stories that explore the relationship between dandelions and the wisdom of children.  The Dandelion Who Couldn't Roar is an original fable by Marlene Wurfel for Tales from the Lilypad The Legend of the Flower Fairy is based on an Aesop's Fable, rewritten and rearranged by M Wurfel The third story about dandelions in the garden is based on a traditional Sufi tale and rewritten and rearranged for TFTL by M Wurfel Intro and Outro music by Reid Alexander Whelton Acoustic music featured Acoustic Guitar by ViraMiller -- https://freesound.org/s/744879/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

14 min
May 25, 2024Episode 88
A Good Dog Re-released

A 2016 story re-released form the vaults. An original story, dedicated to the best dog ever, for Tales from the Lilypad by Marlene Wurfel.

15 min
Feb 21, 2024Episode 87
The Nightingale

The Nightingale by Marlene Wurfel Rewritten and rearranged from the Hans Christian Anderson literary fairytale version Intro Outro Music by Reid Alexander Whelton The story of an Emporer, his empire, and a little brown bird whose voice has the power to change the world, something like yours does.

9 min
Dec 25, 2023Episode 86
Evergreen: Affirmations for a New Year

Beautiful listeners, this is Lily's Christmas card to you. Evergreen is a 10-minute calming mediation for kids and family, wishing your love, light, rest, relaxation and growth in the New Year.

18 min
Oct 22, 2023Episode 85
The Forest Bride a Finnish Fairy Tale

A Finnish fairy tale re-written and re-told for Tales from the Lilypad by Marlene Wurfel. Eino must look for a sweetheart but gets lost in the Dark Woods. Then he sees a little cottage with a bright light in the window and smoke curling up from the chimney. Could his true love be inside?

17 min
Sep 10, 2023Episode 84
Peter Squirrel

A camping story forged in some of Canada's beautiful national and provincial parks, with gratitude to all the squirrels who helped write, voice, and edit this episode.  A Tales from the Lilypad original inspired by Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit: Peter Squirrel knows he shouldn't hang around Campsite #11, his father had a terrible accident there, but it smells like marshmallows and cookies.  Original music by Reid Alexander Whelton

35 min
Apr 20, 2023Episode 83
The Little People: A Fairy Tale by a Real Queen

A version of The Little People by Carmen Sylva, Queen of Roumania (1901). Edited, annotated and re-arranged by Marlene Wurfel. Music Intro by Reid Alexander Whelton.

14 min
Jan 14, 2023Episode 82
Legend of the Wooden Shoe

Lily finds this old folktale about the origins of wooden shoes, The Netherlands, and gnomes to have a fascinating and different way of looking at our relationship with nature. It's rewritten and rearranged for Tales from the Lilypad by Marlene Wurfel. “The Legend of the Wooden Shoe” is adapted from a 1918 version in English by William Elliot Griffis in Dutch Fairytales for Young Folks.  Original music composed by Reid Alexander Whelton for Tales from the Lilypad. Project Gutenberg link to eBook version of Dutch Fairytales for Young Folks: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7871/pg7871-images.html

8 min
Dec 4, 2022Episode 81
Merry Christmas from Lily

Peace, love & joy from Lily to you! Music by DJ Williams courtesy YouTube Audio Library

6 min
Oct 20, 2022Episode 80
Six Husky Puppies

This poem is inspired by the land and literature of Yukon, Canada

13 min
Sep 14, 2022Episode 79
The Orange Shirt Story featuring Phyllis Webstad

“The Orange Shirt Story” read by author Phyllis Webstad with permission from Medicine Wheel Education www.medicinewheel.education This is the true story of a little girl and her very important orange shirt. Six-year-old Phyllis Webstad was as excited to wear her shiny new orange shirt as she was to attend school for the first time. But her first day at the St. Joseph Mission near Williams Lake, BC was nothing like she expected. Her orange shirt was taken away from her, never to be returned. Since 2013, each year on September 30th, we wear orange to honour the Residential School survivors like Phyllis. We honour their experiences and the experiences of their families. Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for Indigenous Peoples, local governments, schools and communities to all come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for future generations of children. It is a day to reaffirm that EVERY CHILD MATTERS. Music by Alexander Reid Whelton For more information about Orange Shirt Day visit www.orangeshirtday.org Books available: medicinewheelpublishing.com/collections/english-books/products/the-orange-shirt-story

14 min
Jul 6, 2022Episode 78
Thor and the Storm Fairies

A chocolate lab named Thor is caught in a summer storm. He catches something in the rain: a storm fairy.  A Tales From the Lilypad original story by Marlene Wurfel Music: Midsummer Sky by Kevin MacLeod & Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod Storm sounds courtesy of a Creative Commons Licence via freesound.org Midsummer Sky by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100158 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Danse Macabre - Busy Strings by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100556 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

11 min
May 23, 2022Episode 77
The Moosicorn Part III

Lily is back for Season II of Tales from the Lilypad with an original story by Marlene Wurfel: The Moosicorn Part III. Mordecai is taking magic lessons from the Aurora Borealis. But what was his homework? Intro Music by Reid Alexander Whelton Sound Effects courtesy and Creative Commons Licence via freesound.org  Lake sounds and warbler sounds by BenBonCan, Story Logo sound by SergeQuadrado