The Drowsy Dinosaur

In a quiet valley where soft grass grew, lived a little green dinosaur named Dino. Dino had the tiniest roar and the sleepiest eyes you ever did see.

All day long, Dino played in the warm sunshine. He stomped his little feet – stomp, stomp, stomp – and wiggled his long tail back and forth. He munched on sweet leaves and splashed in the cool stream with his friends.

But as the sun began to set, painting the sky in soft pinks and purples, Dino started to feel very, very sleepy. His eyelids grew heavy like little blankets wanting to close.

“Yaaawn,” went Dino, opening his mouth so wide that a butterfly could have flown right through! His mama heard his big yawn from across the valley.

“Come here, my sleepy little one,” called Mama Dinosaur in her gentle, rumbly voice. “It’s time to get ready for bed.”

Dino’s legs felt wobbly as he walked slowly to his mama. Step… step… step… Each footstep was slower than the last.

Mama Dinosaur nuzzled Dino’s neck with her warm snout. “Let’s wash your face in the stream,” she said softly. The cool water felt so nice on Dino’s sleepy face. Splash, splash went the gentle water.

Then Mama led Dino to their cozy nest made of the softest ferns and moss. The nest was tucked between two big, smooth rocks that blocked the evening breeze.

“Snuggle down deep,” whispered Mama, and Dino curled up in a little ball. His tail wrapped around him like a green blanket. Mama’s warm body curved around the nest, keeping Dino safe and toasty.

The first star twinkled hello in the darkening sky. Then another star joined it, and another, until the whole sky sparkled like tiny diamonds.

“Look, Dino,” Mama whispered. “The stars are going to sleep too. See how they blink?”

Dino’s eyes were getting so heavy. Blink… blink… His eyelids felt like they had little weights on them.

A gentle cricket sang its nighttime song: chirp, chirp, chirp. The sound was soft and peaceful, like a lullaby just for sleepy dinosaurs.

The leaves in the trees whispered shush, shush, shush as a warm breeze rocked them gently. Even the stream made quiet, sleepy sounds: babble, babble, babble.

“Mama,” said Dino in the tiniest voice, “will you stay with me?”

“Always, my little one,” Mama rumbled softly. “I’ll be right here keeping you safe all night long.”

Dino let out one more little yawn – not a big one this time, just a tiny ahh – and his eyes slowly, slowly closed.

His breathing became deep and peaceful. In… and out… in… and out… Like gentle waves on a quiet shore.

Mama began to hum the softest dinosaur lullaby, a sound like distant thunder mixed with love. The melody floated through the valley, telling all the creatures it was time to sleep.

The moon peeked over the mountains, casting silvery light on the peaceful valley. It smiled down at the sleeping dinosaurs, the drowsy birds in their nests, and all the other little ones tucked safely in their beds.

Dino’s little chest rose and fell, rose and fell, as he dreamed of sunshine and playing and splashing in the stream. In his dreams, he was still the happiest little dinosaur in the whole wide world.

And in their cozy nest, surrounded by love and starlight, Mama and Dino slept peacefully until the morning sun painted the sky golden once again.

The end.