Sammy the Sloth loved bedtime. But not just any bedtime – bedtime with a story! Every night, Sammy would gather his friends – Rosie the Rabbit, Finley the Fox, and Barnaby the Bear – for a special story time.
Tonight, however, was different. Sammy couldn’t find his favorite storybook! He’d searched everywhere – under his comfy banana leaf bed, inside his hollow log home, even behind the giant banyan tree! His friends were starting to yawn.
Rosie hopped her foot impatiently. "Sammy, it’s getting late! We need our sleep!"
Finley yawned, stretching his bushy tail. "Yeah, Sammy. Even the most exciting adventures end, and then we need a good night's rest."
Barnaby, usually the calmest of the group, let out a little sigh. "I’m sleepy already, Sammy. We always have the best bedtime stories, but let's try something else tonight?"
Sammy felt a pang of disappointment. He really wanted to share his favorite story. But he knew his friends needed their sleep. He looked around, spotting a small, dusty box tucked away in a corner. He hadn't seen it before! Curiosity piqued, he carefully opened the box.
Inside were dozens of little rolled-up scrolls! Each scroll was tied with a tiny ribbon, and they all looked incredibly old and mysterious. Sammy carefully unrolled one, and began to read aloud. The story was about a brave little firefly who helps lost baby birds find their nests.
As Sammy read, he noticed a beautiful picture of a sloth on each scroll! He smiled, realizing that he’d found a whole new series of bedtime stories, all waiting to be discovered! Rosie, Finley, and Barnaby listened with rapt attention.
The story was wonderful, and even though it was different than Sammy’s usual favorite, it was perfect. The friends snuggled closer together, captivated by the story of bravery and kindness. The firefly helped the lost baby birds and the birds helped it back!
When the story ended, everyone was sleepy but content. Sammy realized that even though he hadn't found his old storybook, he had discovered something even better – a whole series of new bedtime stories to share with his friends. And that, he thought, was an adventure all its own.
From that night on, Sammy made it a special tradition. Each night, they'd take turns choosing a scroll from the magical box, and would create a new bedtime story series that they would add to for years to come. They learned that sometimes, the best adventures come unexpectedly.
And so, with cozy yawns and sleepy smiles, Sammy and his friends drifted off to sleep, ready for another day of friendship and fun. And, of course, another exciting bedtime story!