All free bedtime stories

The night garden · Ages 4 to 8 · About 3 minutes

Maya and the Little Hedgehog

A free bedtime story starring our example hero Maya and her friend Pip the fox. Grown-ups, read it first to decide whether it suits your child tonight.

It was bedtime in Maya's house. Maya had brushed her teeth, put on her purple pyjamas, and climbed into bed next to her toy rabbit. Outside the window, the moon was round and bright. A small, friendly face peeked over the windowsill. It was Pip the fox, Maya's best friend. "Are you awake?" asked Pip. "Something has happened."
"There's a little hedgehog who can't get home," said Pip. "There's a gap in the hedge, but it's hidden under the leaves." "Let's help it look," said Maya. Maya and Pip tiptoed out of the back door and into the night garden. A snail was making a slow, shiny trail along the path.
Maya brushed the leaves aside, gently, gently, until a little round gap appeared. The hedgehog sniffed, wiggled its nose, and trotted through to its cosy nest. It turned and looked back at them, as if to say thank you.
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Pip walked Maya all the way home. Maya climbed back into bed, warm and cosy, with her toy rabbit close by. "Goodnight, Pip," whispered Maya. "Goodnight, Maya," said Pip. "See you tomorrow night." And soon Maya was fast asleep.

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