Shelly the Turtle and the Moonlit Sea
On a quiet island, at the end of a long sandy beach, lived a little sea turtle called Shelly. Shelly had a smooth green shell, a round friendly face, and flippers that were very good at swimming and not very good at hurrying.
"I am a slow turtle," Shelly liked to say, "and slow is a lovely way to be."
All day long she had paddled in the warm, shallow water. She had watched little silver fish dart between the rocks. She had floated on her back and looked at the clouds. She had nibbled a little seagrass, which tasted green and salty.
Now the sun had gone down, and the big round moon had come up over the sea. It was so bright and so friendly that it almost looked like it was smiling. Its light made a shining path across the water, all the way to the beach.
Shelly crawled slowly up onto the soft sand. Step, and rest. Step, and rest. The sand was still a little warm from the day, like a blanket that has been lying in the sun.
She found a smooth, cosy spot and settled down. She tucked in her back flippers. She rested her chin on the sand.
And then she listened.
The waves came in. Whoooosh. The waves went out. Shhhhhh. In, and out. In, and out. Not too fast, and not too slow. Just like breathing.
"The sea is breathing," Shelly thought. "And I can breathe with it."
So she did. When the wave came in, she breathed in. When the wave went out, she breathed out. Whoooosh, in. Shhhhhh, out.
High above, the stars twinkled one by one. A soft breeze moved through the palm leaves at the top of the beach, rustling gently. Far out on the water, the moon's silver path shimmered and sparkled.
Shelly's eyes began to close. She thought of the little silver fish, already asleep among the rocks. She thought of the seagrass, swaying softly under the water. She thought of tomorrow, when she would swim again, slowly and happily, in the warm blue sea.
"Goodnight, moon," she whispered. "Goodnight, sea."
The waves answered, whoooosh, shhhhhh, the way they always do.
And Shelly the turtle fell asleep on the soft sand, breathing slowly with the sea, under the smiling moon.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.