Reading time: about 2 minutes · Best for ages 2 to 6
This short moon bedtime story is about a Moon who wishes she could sleep like everyone else. It takes about two minutes to read aloud and is a nice way to talk about why the night sky matters.
The Moon Who Couldn’t Sleep: Read the Story
Every night, the Moon watched the whole world go to sleep. The birds tucked their heads under their wings. The cows lay down in the grass. The children in the town pulled up their blankets.
“Everyone gets to sleep but me,” sighed the Moon.
A little owl heard her. “You have to stay awake, Moon,” said the owl. “If you sleep, who will light the path for the hedgehogs? Who will help the sailors find their way home?”
The Moon thought about it. She looked down and saw a hedgehog walking safely across a field, right through her silver light. She saw a small boat sailing home across the sea.
“I suppose I am useful,” said the Moon with a smile.
So the Moon kept shining. And when the Sun came up in the morning, she finally closed her eyes and slept all day long, as cozy as could be.
The Moral of the Story
Everyone has a job that matters, even when it means waiting for your turn to rest.
Questions to Ask After the Story
- Why did the Moon want to go to sleep?
- Who needed the Moon’s light at night?
- When does the Moon finally get to sleep?
