Barnaby loved bedtime. Not just for the sleepy snuggles, but for the special way his room transformed. Tonight, his dad brought out the magic box – the theater projector! They pointed it at the wall, and suddenly, Barnaby's room became a vast, empty canvas.
“What story shall we tell tonight, Barnaby?” Dad asked, holding up a sheet of paper. Barnaby knew instantly. “A castle story!” he exclaimed.
Dad helped Barnaby cut out shapes – a tall, strong castle, a friendly dragon, a brave knight, and a beautiful princess. Barnaby carefully taped the shapes to little sticks. “My shadow puppets!” he giggled.
With the lights dimmed low, Barnaby put his first puppet, the castle, behind the projector's bright light. A giant shadow castle appeared on the wall! “Wow!” Barnaby whispered. He made the castle doors open and close with his fingers.
Next, he added the dragon. It swooped and soared across the wall, guarding the castle. Then came the knight, riding his trusty steed towards the towering castle. Barnaby even made the knight's sword glint in the imaginary sunlight.
Dad watched with a smile, adding his own sound effects. “Whoosh!” went the dragon, “Clip-clop!” went the horse, and “Creak!” went the castle doors.
Suddenly, Barnaby remembered his little sister, Lily. She loved castles too! He ran to her room and whispered, “Lily, do you want to see my shadow puppet show?”
Lily's eyes lit up. She tiptoed into Barnaby’s room and gasped at the castle on the wall. Barnaby let Lily hold the princess puppet. “She lives in the castle,” he explained. Lily carefully moved the princess, making her wave to the knight.
Together, they finished the story, the knight rescuing the princess from the friendly dragon (who just wanted to play!). Dad clapped, and Lily giggled, delighted by the show.
As they packed up the projector and puppets, Barnaby felt a warm glow inside. Sharing his castle story with Lily made it even more magical. He knew, as he drifted off to sleep, that tomorrow night, they would create a whole new adventure together, right there on his bedroom wall.