Welcome to another magical bedtime story on BedtimeStoriesKD.com! Tonight, we’re sharing a special expanded version of a beloved classic. For those searching for a perfect Goodnight Gorilla read aloud, this narrative captures the mischief and charm of the original while giving the characters a little more room to breathe.
Goodnight, Gorilla: The Zookeeper’s Long Night
Once upon a time, at the close of a very long day, the heavy, wrought-iron gates of the City Zoo clanged shut with a resonant gong that echoed faintly across the deserted pathways. Inside the administration building, the Head Zookeeper, a man whose thick mustache drooped as heavily as his eyelids after a grueling fourteen-hour shift, checked his closing list for the final time. Every animal was counted, fed, and accounted for—at least on paper. It was now time for the final, quiet ritual of his day: the Goodnight round.
He checked his pocket watch, adjusted his cap, and jingled the enormous ring of keys—a massive, cumbersome collection of brass and steel that felt like a trophy of his long stewardship. The moon was high and full, casting long, dramatic shadows that turned the familiar enclosures into ghostly, whispering landscapes.
First stop: the Gorilla House, a concrete fortress designed for strength and security.
“Goodnight, Gorilla,” the Zookeeper muttered, shining his powerful flashlight beam into the dark den. The great ape, named Hercules, looked back with eyes that twinkled with entirely too much intelligence for a creature that was supposed to be asleep. Hercules was a genius for mischief, known for unwinding fire hoses and rearranging the exhibit signage, and tonight, a particular piece of dangling hardware caught his eye. The massive key ring swung tantalizingly on the Zookeeper’s belt loop.
The Zookeeper performed the double-check, turning the secondary lock on the Gorilla’s door, and started his walk toward the next enclosure. Clink. Clank. Clatter. The keys, he thought, were safely at his hip.
But he never felt the small, agile hand reach through the bars in the profound darkness, nor the gentle, practiced tug as Hercules, the mischievous Gorilla, slipped the enormous key ring clean off the loop. It made almost no sound—just a tiny, triumphant thud on the soft sawdust floor of his cage.
In moments, the Gorilla had found the largest key, the brass one marked with a faded ‘G’. Click. He was out, holding the enormous key ring high above his head like a prize. He was the master of the zoo, at least for tonight. Without hesitation, he tiptoed to the Elephant enclosure, where the Zookeeper had just moments before called out, “Goodnight, Elephant.” The enormous African elephant, Bess, stood silently, already waiting for her moment. The Gorilla inserted the silver key, etched with a tiny trunk—and with a silent, powerful twist, he opened Bess’s enclosure. Bess simply nodded her huge head, lumbered out, and fell into step behind her silent liberator.
The procession was now two strong and utterly silent as they approached the formidable Lion’s den. The Zookeeper had already moved out of earshot, his tired feet crunching the gravel path ahead. “Goodnight, Lion.”
The Lion, King of the Jungle but a creature of comfortable habit at the zoo, was initially confused. However, then he saw the Gorilla, who silently offered the bronze key marked with a fierce mane. Click. The Lion stretched with a low, satisfying groan, yawned wide to show off his impressive teeth, and silently joined the line behind the Elephant.
Next came the slinking Hyena, whose cage was opened by a dull iron key. She gave a small, silent giggle that sounded more like a dry cough than laughter, and willingly fell obediently into place. The final unlock was the little Pink Armadillo, who scurried out of his box, a silent, scuttling caboose on the end of the unexpected train.
The Zookeeper finished his rounds, quite unaware he had been tailed the entire way. He locked the main entrance gates with a satisfying double-click and drove his tiny electric service cart out of the parking lot. The five liberated animals followed him closely, perfectly mimicking his pace, their shadows blending seamlessly with the long moonlit ones.
At the Zookeeper’s small, cozy house, he hung his uniform coat, complete with the now-empty key loop, and padded into the bedroom. His wife, a sensible woman wearing a pink nightgown, was already reading in bed, framed by the warm glow of her reading lamp.
“A long night, dear?” she asked softly, placing her bookmark.
“The usual,” he mumbled, slipping gratefully under the heavy covers. He closed his eyes, instantly drifting away into the deep sleep only total exhaustion can provide.
Meanwhile, the Gorilla, Elephant, Lion, Hyena, and Armadillo had tiptoed up the front steps, across the polished hardwood floor, and now stood silently lined up at the foot of the Zookeeper’s bed, perfectly hidden by the deep shadow cast by the heavy mahogany chest of drawers.
The Zookeeper’s wife turned off the lamp and kissed her husband on the cheek. “Goodnight, dear,” she whispered.
And from the darkness, a surprising chorus of voices, some deep, some squeaky, some breathy, replied: “Goodnight!”
The Wife’s eyes snapped open. She quickly flicked the bedside lamp back on, illuminating five sets of very non-human eyes staring back at her. Her jaw dropped in stunned silence.
The Zookeeper, blissfully unaware and deeply asleep, only rolled over, pulling the blanket tighter. “Don’t forget the Armadillo, dear,” he murmured sleepily.
The Wife, pinching the bridge of her nose, knew this was going to be a very, very long night. With a sigh, she gently took the Zookeeper’s hand, and together—followed by a single, perfectly behaved line of zoo animals—they began the long, quiet march back to the City Zoo. She resolved to find a very secure safe for his keys in the morning. And this story is over!
If you enjoyed Goodnight, Gorilla, discover more inspiring adventures in our collection of Bedtime stories for childrens
