A Forest Animals Bedtime Story for 3-Year-Olds

Little Mouse had a small round home. It was in a tree root. It had a door and a tiny bed.

One evening, Mouse put a leaf on the bed. The leaf was dry.

Crinkle, crinkle.

Mouse lay down. The leaf made a big sound.

"That is not soft," said Mouse.

She went to see Rabbit. Rabbit sat by a patch of grass.

"Do you have a soft leaf?" Mouse asked.

"I have soft grass," said Rabbit. "You may have some."

Mouse took a little bit. She carried it in both paws.

On the way home, she saw Fox. Fox was sitting on a flat stone.

"What have you got?" asked Fox.

"A soft bed," said Mouse. "But it is very small."

Fox looked beside the stone. There was a tuft of clean, dry moss.

"You may use this too," said Fox.

Mouse put the moss with the grass. Now her paws were full.

Bear came down the path. Bear walked slowly.

"May I help?" Bear asked.

Mouse nodded. Bear held out one big paw. Mouse set the grass and moss on it.

They went to the little door. Bear could not fit inside. So Bear sat down outside and waited.

Mouse made her bed. Grass on the bottom. Moss on the top. Her small blanket went over it all.

She lay down.

No crinkle.

Just soft, soft moss.

"It is lovely," she called.

Rabbit and Fox came to see. Mouse stood in her doorway.

"Thank you for my bed."

"Sleep well," said Rabbit.

"Rest well," said Fox.

Bear gave a slow, happy nod.

The friends went home. Mouse shut her little door. She had a sip of water. She tucked her tail beside her feet.

Outside, the trees stood still. Inside, the moss held her gently. Mouse took a soft breath, and then another. Soon she was fast asleep.

The End ✨