Once upon a time, as the sun painted the sky orange and pink, a little boy named Leo felt a tiny yawn tickle his nose. But even though his nose tickled, his eyes didn't feel sleepy at all. "It's almost bedtime," said his mommy, "Time to start winding down."
Leo looked out his window. The park was getting quiet. The swings hung still, and the slides looked sleepy. A little bird was tucking its head under its wing in a tree. A fluffy bunny snuggled deep into its burrow as the light faded.
"Why is everyone getting quiet?" Leo asked. "It's sleepy time for the world," Mommy smiled. "When the sun goes down, all creatures big and small get ready to rest their bodies and minds. It helps them grow strong and have energy for tomorrow."
Leo thought about the little bird and the bunny. They looked so cozy getting ready for their nap. Maybe getting ready for sleep wasn't so bad after all. He padded off to the bathroom to brush his teeth, making big, foamy bubbles in the sink.
Next, he put on his soft, stripey pajamas. They felt warm and cozy against his skin, like a gentle hug. He found his favorite stuffed dinosaur, Rex, and hugged him tight. Rex's eyes looked a little sleepy too.
Leo climbed into his bed. The sheets were cool, and his blanket felt soft and warm. Mommy read him a quiet story about a little cloud drifting across the moon. His eyelids started to feel a little heavy, just like the little cloud.
He snuggled down deep under his blanket, with Rex by his side. He closed his eyes and thought about the sleepy bird in the tree and the cozy bunny in the burrow. He felt safe and warm in his own little bed, just like them. And soon, Leo wasn't just pretending to be sleepy; he was drifting off into sweet dreams, ready for a brand new day tomorrow.