Leo the Lion Cub was getting ready for bed. But he wasn't going to bed *at* bed, oh no! Leo was going to bed *on* a train! Not a real train, of course, but a very special sleepy-time train that his mama made just for him.
The train was pulled by a friendly blue engine named Bartholomew. Bartholomew didn't chugga chugga *fast*, he chugga chugga *slow*. “All aboard for Dreamland!” Bartholomew whistled softly. Leo climbed into his cozy car, which was filled with soft pillows and a warm blanket.
As the train started to move, Leo looked out the window. Instead of trees and fields, he saw fluffy white clouds drifting by. Each cloud looked like a different animal! He saw a cloud shaped like a sleepy sheep, a cloud shaped like a yawning hippo, and even a cloud shaped like his mama!
Bartholomew chugged along, and a gentle rocking motion lulled Leo. A kind conductor, Mrs. Owl, came by with a warm cup of chamomile tea (pretend tea, of course!). “Sip slowly, little one,” she hooted softly. “It helps you relax.”
Leo closed his eyes and imagined he was floating on a gentle wave. The train’s rhythm was like a heartbeat – slow and steady. He thought about all the fun things he did that day: playing with his friends, building a tall tower of blocks, and reading a story with his mama.
The train passed through a tunnel made of twinkling stars. Each star winked at Leo as he went by. He snuggled deeper into his blanket, feeling safe and warm. Bartholomew chugged even slower now, almost like a lullaby.
Mrs. Owl came back and whispered, “We’re almost to Dreamland, Leo.” Leo yawned a big, sleepy yawn. He felt his eyelids getting heavy. He knew that even though the train ride was pretend, the feeling of peace and calm was very real.
Soon, the train came to a gentle stop. Bartholomew whispered, “Dreamland Station!” Leo was already fast asleep, dreaming of fluffy clouds, twinkling stars, and cozy train rides. He knew that tomorrow, he could take another sleepy-time train ride to Dreamland, whenever he needed to rest and recharge. Sweet dreams, little one.