bedtime · Ages 6-8

The Turtle Who Needed a Bigger Good Night

A turtle worries a simple good night is too small, then finds it grows larger each time someone receives it.

The whole story

1. At sunset, Tilly tucked a smooth pebble beside the pond. “Good night, pond,” she whispered. The words felt as small as the pebble.

2. Tilly tried again, a little louder. “Good night, owl.” The old owl bent his head. “Good night, Tilly. I will carry it to the reeds.”

3. In the reeds, Tilly found a frog. “Good night, frog.” The frog placed one green hand over his heart. “Thank you. I will send it across the meadow.”

4. At the meadow's edge, Tilly met a rabbit. “Good night, rabbit.” The rabbit held the clover sprig close. “I will tuck it beside someone who needs it.”

5. Tilly sat beside the pond and listened. She could not hear the owl, the frog, or the rabbit. Her good night still seemed too small.

6. Then the pond carried three soft answers back. The owl had shared the good night with the frog. The frog had shared it with the rabbit. The rabbit had shared it with the meadow.

7. Tilly held the answers close. Her good night had begun as two small words. It grew each time someone received it.

8. Tilly tucked the pebble under her shell and whispered, “Good night, everyone.” All around the pond, the wide, kind world seemed to whisper back, “Good night, Tilly.”

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