Example stories · Princesses · Ages 2 to 4

Princess Poppy and the Sleepy Moon

A read-aloud bedtime story, about 2 minutes.

Once upon a time, in a small round castle with a soft blue roof, there lived a little princess named Poppy.

Princess Poppy had a crown made of daisies and slippers made of the softest wool.

Every night, when the sky turned pink and then purple, Poppy knew it was time to get ready for bed.

"Good night, garden," said Poppy, waving to the roses by her window. The roses nodded their sleepy heads.

"Good night, fountain," said Poppy, waving to the little fountain in the courtyard. The fountain went trickle, trickle, hush.

Poppy walked slowly up the winding stairs of her castle, one soft step at a time. Up, up, up she went, past paintings of kind queens, past a shelf of round little teacups, until she reached her round little room at the top of the tower.

In her room, a big silver moon peeked through the window. "Hello, Moon," whispered Poppy. "Are you sleepy too?" The moon glowed soft and low, like it was smiling.

Poppy's nurse, gentle old Nan, helped her into her nightgown, the one with tiny stars stitched all across it. Nan brushed Poppy's hair, slow and soft, one hundred gentle brushes, just the way Poppy liked.

"Time for bed, little princess," said Nan.

Poppy climbed into her big feather bed. It was soft as a cloud and warm as a hug. She pulled her blanket up to her chin.

"Nan, will the kingdom be safe while I sleep?" Poppy asked, the way she asked every single night.

"Yes, little one," said Nan, the way she said every single night. "The gate is locked, the fire is low, and every creature in the kingdom is curling up to sleep, just like you."

Outside, the mice in the garden curled up in their little burrows. The birds tucked their heads under their wings. The horses in the stable swished their tails once, twice, and grew still.

Nan sang the same soft lullaby she always sang, about a princess and a moon and a kingdom fast asleep. Poppy's eyes grew heavy. Her breathing grew slow.

"Good night, Nan," Poppy murmured.

"Good night, little princess," Nan whispered back, blowing out the candle.

The moon shone softly through the window, watching over the little castle, the little garden, and the littlest princess of all, who was already fast, fast asleep.