The Sleepy Star

A Gentle Tale of Finding Your Light

For children ages 2–6. Approximate listening time: 7 minutes.

Transcript

The Sleepy Star: A Gentle Tale of Finding Your Light. High above the rooftops, higher than the tallest trees, and even higher than the clouds, the stars were waking up. One by one, they blinked on. Twinkle! Sparkle! Shine! The night sky filled with tiny silver lights. But one little star did not shine. Her name was Stella. Stella was curled up behind a soft, fluffy cloud, fast asleep. The Moon leaned closer and called softly. “Stella! Wake up, little star. The night has begun!” Stella opened one eye. Then the other. She gave a very big yawn, then asked the Moon. “Do I have to shine tonight?” “Of course. Every star has a little light to share.” Stella stretched her five golden points. She tried to sparkle. Flicker... flicker... Then her light went out again. “Oh dear. I’m just too sleepy.” Just then, a shooting star zipped past. “Come on, Stella! The sky is waiting!” Stella tried again. She puffed out her cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut. And she wished as hard as she could. Twinkle! A tiny light appeared. But only for a moment. Then— Puff! It disappeared. “I think I’ve forgotten how to shine.” The Moon looked at her kindly and answered. “Perhaps you need to remember why stars shine.” “Why do we shine?” “Go and see.” So Stella floated down through the dark blue sky. Past the clouds. Past a sleepy owl. Past a flock of birds tucked safely into their nest. Soon, Stella heard a tiny voice below. It was a little rabbit. “Which way is home?” Stella looked down. In a quiet meadow stood a little rabbit. He was all alone. The grass around him looked tall and dark. “Are you lost?” “Who said that?” “Me! Up here!” The rabbit spotted Stella. “Oh! Hello, little star.” “Hello. Where is your home?” “Under the old oak tree. But everything looks different in the dark.” Stella looked across the meadow. Far away, she could just see the branches of a great old oak tree. “I can see it! Follow my light.” “But your light is very small.” Stella looked at her faint little glow. “I know. But maybe it will be enough.” She took a deep breath. And she thought about the little rabbit trying to find his way home. Suddenly... Twinkle! Stella grew a little brighter. “This way!” The rabbit hopped through the grass. Hop, hop, hop. “Keep going!” Hop, hop, hop. Her light grew brighter and brighter. At last, the rabbit reached the old oak tree. A warm little burrow waited underneath. “You found it!” “No. We found it.” He looked up at Stella. “Thank you for shining for me.” And Stella felt something warm inside. Her light gave a happy little sparkle. Maybe, Stella thought, shining wasn’t so difficult after all. She floated on. Soon, she reached a small house at the edge of the meadow. A bedroom window was still glowing. Inside, a little girl named Mia was lying in bed. She turned to one side. Then the other. She pulled her blanket up. Then pushed it down. “I can’t sleep.” Her teddy bear did not answer. Of course, teddy bears usually don’t. Mia looked out of the window. The night seemed very big. And very dark. Then she noticed Stella. “Oh... a star.” Stella heard her. She moved a little closer to the window and whispered. “Hello.” “Did you just talk?” “Maybe.” Mia smiled and answered. “I’m not sleepy.” “That’s funny. I’m always sleepy.” [Mia giggles softly.] Stella liked the sound of that, and asked. “Would you like me to stay for a while?” “Yes, please.” So Stella stayed. She shone softly through the window. Not too brightly. Just enough. Mia lay back on her pillow and asked. “What do stars do all night?” “We watch over the rooftops.” “And the trees?” “Yes.” “And the rabbits?” “Especially the rabbits.” [Mia giggles softly.] Mia smiled. “And do you watch over children too?” Stella thought for a moment. Then her light became warm and golden. “Yes. I think we do.” Mia closed her eyes. Stella began to hum a tiny star song. “Twinkle softly, twinkle slow, while the sleepy night winds blow. Moon above and dreams below, close your eyes and off you go.” Mia’s breathing became slower. And slower. Soon, she was fast asleep. Stella looked through the window at the little girl tucked safely beneath her blanket. Something wonderful happened. Her whole body began to glow. Brighter than before. Warmer than before. “Gasps. I’m shining!” She hurried back up into the sky. Past the meadow. Past the clouds. Past the sleepy owl. Up and up she flew until she reached the Moon. “Look! Look at me!” The Moon beamed as Stella glowed like a tiny golden lantern. “I remembered how to shine!” “And do you know why?” Stella thought about the rabbit. She thought about Mia. Then she smiled and answered the Moon. “Stars don’t shine just so people can see us.” The Moon nodded and said. “We shine so they can see a little better.” Stella looked down at the sleeping world. At the dark forests. At the quiet houses. At the winding roads. At all the children tucked into their beds. Suddenly, she did not feel quite so sleepy anymore. She took her place beside the other stars, and together they filled the sky. Twinkle! Sparkle! Shine! Much later, when the first pale light of morning appeared, Stella gave another enormous yawn. “Chuckles softly. Sleepy again?” “Very.” “Well, you’ve earned some rest.” Stella curled up behind her favorite fluffy cloud. She closed one eye. Then the other. And just before she fell asleep, she whispered: “Good morning, world. I’ll shine for you again tonight.” And with one last tiny... twinkle... Stella fell fast asleep. The end.

The Sleepy Star

Transcript

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