Barnaby Bear was a very big bear, but he had a very small problem: he couldn't fall asleep! Every night, he'd toss and turn in his cozy cave, his big furry body restless.
Mama Bear tried everything. She sang him lullabies about twinkling stars and buzzing bees. She gave him warm honey milk. She even told him stories about brave little mice and silly bouncing rabbits.
But Barnaby still couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about all the fun things he could do: chasing butterflies in the meadow, fishing for juicy salmon in the river, climbing the tallest oak tree in the forest!
One night, Mama Bear had an idea. "Barnaby," she said, "let's have a big bedtime adventure!" Barnaby's big eyes widened.
First, they tidied up his cave. They put his honey pots neatly on the shelf and tucked his favorite stuffed squirrel into bed beside him. "Cleaning up helps calm our minds and makes us ready for sleep," Mama Bear explained.
Next, they brushed their teeth with sweet berry toothpaste and put on their fluffy pajamas. "Getting ready for bed tells our bodies it's time to rest," Mama Bear said softly.
Then, they went outside and watched the fireflies twinkle. They listened to the gentle hooting of an owl and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Barnaby felt the cool night air on his fur and felt calmer.
Finally, they snuggled in Barnaby's cave, reading a story about a sleepy hedgehog. As Mama Bear's voice soothed him, Barnaby's eyelids grew heavy. Soon, he drifted off to sleep, dreaming of peaceful meadows and gently flowing rivers.
From that night on, Barnaby Bear had his own special big bedtime adventure every night. He learned that a calm, quiet routine helped him fall asleep easily. And he realized that even big bears need a good night's rest to be ready for the fun adventures of the next day.