Bramble the Bear Cub's Winter Sleep
Deep in the pine forest, the days were getting shorter and the nights were getting longer. The last berries had been eaten, the last nuts had been found, and the air smelled cold and clean, like the inside of a snowball.
"Winter is coming," said Mother Bear. "It is time for our long sleep."
Bramble the bear cub had never had a winter sleep before. "How long is a long sleep?" he asked.
"Long enough for the snow to come and go," said Mother Bear. "Long enough for you to grow a little bigger. And when you wake up, there will be spring."
Their den was in the side of the hill, under the roots of a tall pine tree. Inside, it was dry and dim and quiet. Mother Bear had lined it with pine needles, soft grass and a thick layer of moss, so it was like a big brown bed.
Bramble walked round and round the den. He sniffed the moss. He patted the grass. He lay down on one side, then on the other side, then on his back with his paws in the air.
"I am not sleepy yet," he said.
"Then come and look at the snow," said Mother Bear.
They sat in the doorway of the den. Outside, the very first snowflakes were drifting down between the pine trees. They fell slowly, slowly, turning in the air like tiny feathers. They landed on the branches. They landed on the ground. One landed right on the tip of Bramble's nose, and it tickled.
The forest grew very quiet. Snow makes everything quiet. There was no wind, no birdsong, only the soft hush of snowflakes settling on snowflakes.
Bramble's eyes began to feel heavy. "The snow is making me sleepy," he said.
"That is what snow is for," said Mother Bear softly.
She led him back to the big brown bed, and they curled up together. Bramble pressed his back against Mother Bear's warm, round tummy. He could hear her heart going thump, thump, thump, slow and steady, like a drum far away.
"Will you be here when I wake up?" asked Bramble.
"Right here," said Mother Bear. "All winter long."
Bramble smiled a sleepy smile. Outside, the snow kept falling, covering the forest in a soft white blanket. Inside, the den was warm. And Bramble the bear cub drifted into the longest, softest sleep of all, dreaming of spring flowers and honey.
More bedtime stories
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- Biscuit Counts the StarsA bedtime story about Biscuit the puppy, who lies on a soft hill counting stars and fireflies until he drifts off to sleep.
- Little Rabbit's Leaf BlanketA cosy autumn story about a little rabbit who gathers soft leaves into a blanket and falls asleep beneath the big old tree.
- Rory Raccoon's Basket of TreasuresA bedtime story about Rory the raccoon, who tucks the day's little treasures into his basket and says thank you for the day before he falls asleep.
- Kiki and the Rain LullabyA calm bedtime story about Kiki the little monkey, who lies in her leaf hammock listening to the rain sing a lullaby in the rainforest.
- Pip the Hedgehog and the Moss BedA cosy bedtime story about Pip the little hedgehog, who builds a soft moss bed under a big red mushroom and falls asleep among the fireflies.
- Little Owl Hoo and the Sleepy TreeA gentle bedtime story about Hoo, a fluffy baby owl who listens to the old tree hum a lullaby and snuggles down in her soft round nest.
- Shelly the Turtle and the Moonlit SeaA soothing bedtime story about Shelly the little sea turtle, who listens to the slow waves on a moonlit beach and lets the sea sing her to sleep.
- Lily the Lamb and Finn the FoxA tender bedtime story about two best friends, Lily the lamb and Finn the fox, who count the stars in the meadow and fall asleep side by side.