Little Bear was having trouble sleeping. He wiggled his nose, he wiggled his toes, but he just couldn’t close his eyes. “I’m too busy!” he told Mama Bear. “Too busy thinking about all the fun things I did today!” Mama Bear smiled. “Sometimes, Little Bear, the best way to calm busy thoughts is to listen to nature. Come, let’s sit by the window.”
They sat together, and at first, Little Bear still felt wiggly. He wanted to *do* something! But Mama Bear gently reminded him, “Just listen.” Slowly, Little Bear began to notice sounds. He heard the gentle *whoosh* of the wind rustling through the leaves of the big oak tree. It sounded like the tree was whispering a secret.
Then, he heard a tiny *chirp, chirp, chirp*. “What’s that?” he whispered. “That’s a cricket,” Mama Bear explained. “He’s singing a lullaby to the forest.” Little Bear listened carefully. The cricket’s song was small, but it was peaceful.
Next, he heard a soft *hoot-hoot* from Old Man Owl. “Is he saying hello?” Little Bear asked. “He’s just letting everyone know he’s awake and watching over the forest,” Mama Bear said. Little Bear imagined Old Man Owl with his wise, gentle eyes.
As Little Bear listened, he noticed he wasn’t wiggling anymore. His eyes felt heavy, and his busy thoughts began to float away like dandelion seeds in the breeze. He realized that nature’s sounds weren’t just noises; they were a gentle song that helped him feel calm and sleepy.
“I like listening to the forest, Mama,” he mumbled, snuggling closer. “It’s… peaceful.” Mama Bear hugged him tight. “Nature has a wonderful way of calming us, Little Bear. It’s always there, waiting to share its peace with you.”
Little Bear closed his eyes, listening to the wind, the cricket, and the owl. He drifted off to sleep, dreaming of whispering trees and singing crickets, feeling safe and loved in the heart of nature. And Mama Bear smiled, knowing that the magic of nature had helped her little bear find his peaceful slumber.