Under the moonlight podcast
Welcome to the Under the Moonlight Podcast
Here you’ll find a cosy corner of calm for parents and little ones. Each episode is created to bring comfort, reassurance and simple, gentle support for families with young children. Whether you’re looking for peaceful bedtime tips, a moment of encouragement or just a soft voice to keep you company, this is your quiet place to breathe, unwind and feel understood.
You'll also find soft audio versions of my stories here, gentle readings created to soothe little ones at bedtime or to bring a feeling of calm to their day.
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Bedtime can be one of the hardest parts of the day for parents. If your child struggles to fall asleep, wakes frequently, seeks extra closeness, or finds bedtime emotionally overwhelming, you are not alone.
In this gentle, calming episode of Under the Moonlight by Penelope Willis, we explore why bedtime can feel so hard for young children and parents alike, and most importantly, what truly helps.
This episode is packed full of practical, proven bedtime tips that parents can use straight away, shared in a calm, reassuring way. Drawing on years of early years experience and real family life, Penelope gently walks you through simple, effective strategies that support better sleep and emotional security.
You’ll hear guidance on:
• Why predictability and routine help children feel safe at bedtime
• How daytime movement, outdoor play, and physical activity affect sleep
• The calming power of warm baths and gentle evening transitions
• Why a small bedtime snack can make a real difference
• How shared story time supports emotional regulation and settling
• Using a calm, hushed voice and stillness to help children unwind
• Supporting children who seek extra closeness at night
• Why sleep difficulties affect the whole family, and why that matters
This episode is especially for parents who feel exhausted, unsure, or worried about bedtime struggles, and need reassurance alongside genuinely useful advice.
Everything shared here is offered as gentle suggestions, not pressure. There is no “perfect bedtime”, just small, supportive changes that help children feel safe, soothed, and ready for rest.
If you enjoy listening to this episode and would prefer to read about this topic, there is a companion blog available on Penelope’s website covering the same ideas in written form.
You can also explore Penelope’s collection of calming picture books, thoughtfully written to support bedtime, reassurance, and emotional connection for young children.
🌙 Companion blog and calming books available here:
👉 https://www.booksbypenelopewillis.co.uk
Thank you for being here.
When children grow up and leave home, parenting doesn’t end, it changes.In this gentle, supportive episode of the Under the Moonlight Podcast, children’s author Penelope Willis explores what it really means to live with an empty nest and a full heart.
This episode is for parents whose homes feel quieter than they used to, and who are learning how to hold pride, love, and tenderness all at once as their children build lives of their own.Drawing on personal experience of sons moving away for university, living abroad, and starting new chapters, Penelope talks honestly and reassuringly about:navigating the emotional shift of empty nest lifestaying connected with adult children who live far awayembracing new routines, new families, and new normalsfinding comfort, purpose, and pride as parenting changes shapeunderstanding that love doesn’t shrink with distance, it expands.
This episode offers calm encouragement, gentle perspective, and practical emotional support for parents adjusting to life after children leave home. It’s not about loss, it’s about growth, connection, and learning how to love from a little further away.
If you’re searching for comfort around empty nest feelings, parenting adult children, or how to stay close when children live elsewhere, this episode is here to sit with you quietly and remind you that you’re not alone, and that you’ve done something very right.
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Oscar and the Whispering Cloud
A calming bedtime story for little ones
Oscar and the Whispering Cloud is a gentle, soothing bedtime story read aloud in a soft, reassuring voice — like a lullaby in story form.
Designed to be listened to together, this calming children’s story helps create a peaceful bedtime routine and a sense of safety and comfort at the end of the day. With slow, comforting language and a dreamy, calming tone, it gently supports little listeners as they wind down before sleep.
This bedtime story is especially helpful for:
Toddlers and young children
Sensitive or anxious little ones
Children who struggle to settle at bedtime
Parents looking for a calm, gentle story to share at night
At its heart, Oscar and the Whispering Cloud is a comforting story about reassurance, love, and feeling safe. It’s a lovely choice for bedtime, rest time, or quiet moments together — and many parents find it deeply relaxing to listen to alongside their child.
Suitable for children aged 2–6, this calming story is designed to soothe busy minds, slow breathing, and gently guide little ones towards sleep.
Written and read by Penelope Willis, children’s author and creator of Calming Stories for Little People.
👉 Also available as a beautifully illustrated bedtime story book:
https://amzn.eu/d/6ILRovO
After the excitement of Christmas, many young children seek extra closeness, feel more emotional, or struggle to settle back into routines. This can feel worrying for parents, especially if things felt settled before the holidays.
In this gentle episode of Under the Moonlight Podcast, Penelope Willis explores why post-Christmas emotional wobbles are so common, what children are really communicating when they seek closeness, and how calm, consistent connection helps them feel safe again.
A reassuring listen for parents of toddlers and young children navigating emotional shifts, separation worries, and routine changes after Christmas.
If your child is missing someone right now, Whenever You Miss Me, Look for the Moon is a gentle bedtime story about love that stays, even when someone is far away. 🌙
Whenever You Miss Me, Look for the Moon is available as a picture book here:
www.booksbypenelopewillis.co.uk
& Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/75dW5a1
In this gentle read aloud, children’s author Penelope Willis shares her calming bedtime story, Whenever You Miss Me, Look for the Moon, written especially for children — and grown-ups — who are missing someone they love.
This soothing story follows Mouse and Squirrel, who live far apart but remain deeply connected by the moon they both see in the night sky. Created to offer comfort during times of separation, change, or bereavement, this episode is ideal for bedtime listening, quiet moments, or when reassurance is needed most.
Perfect for families where someone works away, lives far away, serves in the military, or is no longer physically present, this story gently reminds listeners that love does not disappear with distance.
🎧 Listen slowly, softly, and as often as needed.
📘 Whenever You Miss Me, Look for the Moon is available as a picture book here:
www.booksbypenelopewillis.co.uk
& Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/75dW5a1t.
In this calming Christmas episode of the Under the Moonlight Podcast, children’s author Penelope Willis reads aloud her much-loved picture book Oscar and the Star of Christmas Kindness.
This gentle, heart warming story follows young Oscar as he learns how simple acts of kindness can shine just as brightly as any Christmas star. The soothing narration and soft festive atmosphere make this episode perfect for bedtime, quiet story moments, or helping little ones unwind during the excitement of December.
Families searching for a peaceful Christmas story for children, an emotional festive read aloud, or a magical bedtime listen will find comfort and wonder here. Penelope Willis is known for her calming, lyrical storytelling that helps little ones feel safe, connected and cherished.
A beautifully gentle Christmas moment to share under the glow of the moon.
Books, Babble & Baby Brain Podcast Christmas Special feature
I'm delighted to share this beautiful episode from Books, Babble & Baby Brain podcast, where one of the hosts Emma, reads my story Whenever You Miss Me at Christmas, Look for the Moon with such care, warmth, and tenderness. Their gentle storytelling and soft background music bring the book to life in the most magical way, and I'm truly grateful for the love they poured into it.
If you enjoy calming stories for little ones, parenting chat or simply listening to audio books read with heart, you'll adore their podcast.
You can listen to more of their episodes here
Thank you so much Emma and Chloe for featuring my story, it really means the world, and I'm so happy to share their lovely work with you.
In this calming Moonlight Chat, The Magic Children Remember, children’s author and early-years educator Penelope Willis explores the real magic children remember, the warm, simple moments of connection that matter far more than presents or perfection. As Christmas approaches, many parents feel pressure to create the “perfect holiday,” but research and years of experience in early childhood show something beautifully reassuring: children remember presence, rituals, warmth and emotional connection, not material things.
This gentle episode is filled with practical tips, mindful parenting ideas, and soothing reminders to help grown-ups slow down, reduce Christmas overwhelm, and focus on the small, everyday moments that build strong emotional bonds. Perfect for parents, grandparents and carers, especially those wanting to create meaningful childhood memories without spending money.
If you’re looking for a calming parenting podcast, guidance for a simpler Christmas, or reassurance that you’re already doing enough, this is your cosy moment under the moonlight.
This Moonlight Chat Finding Calm Before the Rush from the Under the Moonlight Podcast by Penelope Willis offers a calm, grounding moment before the rush of a busy day or hectic season.
In this soothing, gentle episode, children’s author Penelope Willis shares soft reflections on slowing down, easing stress, and finding pockets of peace when life feels overwhelming, especially in the build-up to Christmas and the winter months.
Perfect for anyone needing a quiet pause, emotional comfort, or a cosy, calming voice to settle the mind. Ideal for anxious evenings, bedtime wind-downs, and listeners looking for a peaceful podcast to help them breathe, reset, and feel more centred. A comforting listen for adults craving stillness and gentle support..
As the evenings draw in and the world slows, this quiet reflection Kindness in the Dark invites you to pause and remember the power of small kindnesses.
In this gentle episode, Penelope Willis explores how darker nights can make us tender, how children especially look for warmth and reassurance when the days grow shorter. With soft storytelling and heartfelt insight, she shares simple ways to bring more kindness into our homes and hearts this winter.
Inspired by her children’s book Oscar and the Star of Christmas Kindness, this is a soothing listen for parents, grandparents, and anyone who believes that even the smallest kindness can shine like a star.
🌟 Settle in, make a cup of tea, and let calm find you here.
In this calming Christmas Moonlight Podcast, Penelope Willis invites you into a peaceful moment before the festive rush. Where the Magic Begins is a soothing, reflective episode designed to help listeners slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the gentle magic of winter.
Perfect for anyone searching for a relaxing Christmas podcast, emotional wellbeing support, mindfulness during the holidays, or a soft, cosy voice to settle the mind. Penelope explores how to ease festive overwhelm, embrace slower evenings, and find comfort in the small moments we often miss when life gets busy.
This episode is ideal for bedtime, quiet nights, anxious minds, and anyone craving calm, connection, and a sense of grounding during the holiday season. A beautifully warm, comforting listen for adults who want to feel held, reassured, and gently guided back to themselves.