Leo the Lion cub loved to play. He played with his bouncy red ball, he played hide-and-seek with his sister Luna, and he played make-believe with his favorite stuffed dragon, Sparky. But Leo didn't love bedtime.
Every night, when the sky turned a beautiful shade of purple and orange, Mama Lion would call, "Time for bed, Leo!" Leo would groan and say, "But Mama, I'm not tired! I want to play more!"
One night, Mama Lion took Leo outside. "Look up, Leo," she said. The sky was a dark blanket dotted with twinkling stars. "Those are sleepy stars," Mama Lion explained. "They shine brightest when little cubs are tucked in their beds, dreaming sweet dreams."
Leo looked up at the twinkling stars. "Wow," he whispered. "They're beautiful! But how do they know when little cubs are in bed?"
Mama Lion smiled. "Magic," she whispered back. "The stars have a special connection to sleepy cubs. When you close your eyes and drift off to dreamland, they shine even brighter, filling the night with their sleepy sparkle."
Leo imagined the stars twinkling just for him. He thought of all the amazing adventures he could have in his dreams. Maybe he could fly to the moon on Sparky’s back or have a picnic with Luna among the fluffy clouds.
Suddenly, Leo felt a yawn escape his mouth. He looked at Mama Lion and said, "Mama, I think the sleepy stars are calling me." Mama Lion chuckled and took Leo’s paw. "I think they are, my little cub."
Back in his cozy den, Leo snuggled under his blanket. He closed his eyes and thought of the sleepy stars, twinkling just for him. Before he knew it, Leo was fast asleep, dreaming of sparkling adventures under a starry sky. From then on, Leo always looked forward to bedtime, excited to see the sleepy stars shine brightly, just for him.