(Note to Parents: Read this story slowly. Pause at the bold words to let your child imagine the sights and sounds.)
Once upon a time, in a room painted soft blue, lived a little boy named Leo.
Leo loved the daytime. He loved to run, jump, and play. But now, the sun had gone away. The sky was turning a deep, dark purple. It was time for the world to rest.
Leo put on his favorite pajamas. They were soft and cozy, with little gray rockets on the tummy.
Zip, zip, zip. Leo was ready.
Tonight, Leo was not just a little boy. He was a Little Astronaut. And he was going on a very quiet journey to say goodnight to space.
Leo climbed into his bed, but in his imagination, it wasn’t a bed. It was a soft, fluffy rocket ship.
“Are you ready, Little Astronaut?” whispered the wind outside the window. “Ready,” whispered Leo.
He pressed a big, imaginary button. Boop.
The rocket didn’t make a loud noise. It made a low, sleepy hum. Hmmmmmmmm. Hmmmmmmmm.
Slowly, very slowly, the bed-rocket lifted up. Up past the rug. Up past the window. Up into the night sky.
Leo looked out. Everything was quiet. The air was cool and fresh.
Whoosh. The rocket floated higher.
First, Leo saw the Clouds. They looked like big, white pillows floating in the sky. “Hello, Clouds,” said Leo softly. The clouds drifted slowly. Shhh, shhh, they whispered back. “Sleepy time, Leo.”
Leo flew higher. The blue sky turned into a starry indigo.
Suddenly, he saw something big, round, and glowing. It was the Moon. The Moon was wearing a nightcap made of stardust. It glowed with a gentle, white light, like a nightlight for the whole world.
“Hello, Mr. Moon,” yawned Leo. He stretched his arms out wide. The Moon smiled a big, round smile. “Goodnight, Leo,” the Moon seemed to say. “Close your eyes and drift.”
Leo’s rocket floated past the Moon. Now, he was surrounded by Stars. There were so many stars! One, two, three… too many to count.
Some stars were big. Twinkle, twinkle. Some stars were tiny. Blink, blink.
The stars were like little sleepy eyes, blinking in the dark. “Hello, Stars,” whispered Leo. His eyelids were feeling heavy now. Twinkle, twinkle, said the stars. “Time to rest your head.”
The rocket ship began to turn around. It was time to go back. The rocket hummed its sleepy song again. Hmmmmmmmm. Hmmmmmmmm.
Down past the blinking stars. Down past the glowing moon. Down past the fluffy pillow clouds.
Whoosh.
Leo saw his own window. He saw his own room. The rocket ship landed softly. Bump.
The rocket turned back into his cozy, warm bed. Leo pulled his blanket up to his chin. It was warm and snuggly. He looked out the window one last time. He could see one tiny star peeking through, watching over him.
“Goodnight, rocket,” whispered Leo. “Goodnight, moon.” “Goodnight, stars.”
Leo closed his eyes. His breathing became slow and steady. In… and out. In… and out. The Little Astronaut was safe at home, drifting off into a sweet, starry dream.
The End.
Did you enjoy this journey to the stars? Reading together creates a comforting routine that helps little ones feel safe and ready for sleep. If you are looking for more gentle tales to end your day, explore our collection of bedtime stories for kids.
