Pip the Hedgehog and the Moss Bed
At the edge of the forest, where the ferns grow tall and the moss grows thick, lived a little hedgehog called Pip. Pip had a pointy nose, two round ears and a coat of soft brown spines that rustled when she walked.
It had been a long, happy day. Pip had sniffed around the old stone wall, found three shiny beetles' shells, and rolled down the grassy hill twice, just for fun. Now the sun was sinking behind the trees, and the sky turned the colour of blueberries.
"Time to make my bed," Pip whispered to herself.
She knew exactly where to go. Under the big red mushroom with the white spots, there was a little hollow in the ground. It was dry there, and the mushroom was like a roof that kept off the dew.
First, Pip gathered moss. She pulled up a soft green tuft from the root of the old oak, and then another, and then another. She carried them one by one and patted them down into the hollow. Pat, pat, pat. The moss was cool and smelled of rain.
Next, she gathered leaves. Orange leaves, yellow leaves, and one big red leaf that looked like a little hand waving goodbye to summer. She tucked them in around the edges, so the bed felt like a nest.
Then the fireflies came out. One, two, three tiny lights floated between the ferns, blinking slowly, as if they were saying, "Goodnight, goodnight."
"Goodnight, fireflies," said Pip, and she yawned a big hedgehog yawn.
She climbed into her moss bed and turned around three times, the way hedgehogs do. She pulled the red leaf over her toes like a blanket. Somewhere far away, an owl called softly, "Hoo, hoo," and the wind hummed through the tops of the trees.
Pip thought about her day. The beetle shells. The grassy hill. The warm sun on her nose. It had been a good day, and tomorrow would be another one.
Slowly, slowly, Pip curled into a round, soft ball. Her breathing grew deep and slow. In, and out. In, and out.
The mushroom stood over her like a quiet guard, the fireflies drifted by like little stars, and the whole forest seemed to whisper, "Sleep well, little Pip."
And Pip the hedgehog slept, safe and warm, all through the gentle night.
More bedtime stories
- Misty Says Goodnight to the MoonA calm bedtime story about Misty the kitten, who sits in the window and says goodnight to the moon, the stars and the whole sleepy house.
- 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.
- 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.
- Bramble the Bear Cub's Winter SleepA warm bedtime story about Bramble the bear cub, who curls up in a snug den as the first snow falls and dreams the long, soft winter away.
- 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.