Example stories · Pirates · Ages 2 to 4

Milo and the Sleepy Cove

A read-aloud bedtime story, about 2 minutes.

Once there was a little pirate mouse named Milo. Milo had a soft striped hat and a tiny wooden boat named the Buttercup. Milo lived on a warm, quiet island with Papa Pirate, beside a calm blue sea. All day long, Milo dug in the sand and waved to the friendly gulls. But when the sky turned pink and orange, it was time to slow down.

Papa Pirate held up an old paper map, soft and curled at the edges. "Milo," he said, "I found a map to a treasure. Shall we sail there before bed?" Milo gave a big, sleepy nod, and they climbed into the Buttercup together.

Papa rowed the little boat across the calm water. Splash, splash, went the oars, soft and slow. The map led them around one gentle wave, then another gentle wave, until they reached a cozy little cove.

There in the cove sat their treasure: a pile of soft seashells and one warm, glowing lantern. Milo's friend Pearl the seal was waiting too, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket. "Goodnight, Milo," yawned Pearl. "Goodnight, Pearl," yawned Milo.

Papa scooped the seashells into a little velvet bag, gentle as can be, and picked up the warm lantern. "This is the best treasure of all," he whispered. "A little light to guide us home."

Milo climbed back into the Buttercup, and Papa rowed them home again. Splash, splash, went the oars, soft and slow. The stars came out one by one, blinking like sleepy little lanterns in the sky.

On the way home, Milo saw the little fish, swimming slower and slower. Milo saw the seagulls, tucking their wings soft and still. Milo saw the gentle waves, rocking the boat low and slow, sway, sway, sway.

Papa carried Milo up to their cozy cabin and tucked him into his little hammock. He set the glowing lantern on the shelf, and hung the shiny shells above the bed, where they caught the low, soft light.

Papa hummed a low, gentle song, the kind that pirate papas have hummed since the beginning of time. Hmmmm, hmmmm, hmmmm, went the song, soft as the wind through the sails.

"Goodnight, Milo," whispered Papa. "Goodnight, Papa," whispered Milo, so quietly it was almost no sound at all. And under the soft glow of the little lantern, safe in his cozy hammock, Milo drifted off to sleep.