Once upon a time, inside the very middle of a Great Pine Tree, there lived a tiny ball of fluff. This was Little Owl. He was so soft, he looked like a cloud that had fallen asleep. Little Owl had big, round eyes and little pink toes that went tip-tap, tip-tap on his branch.
Tonight was a special night. It was Little Owl’s very first night awake! He looked up and saw... nothing. The sky was dark. The sky was vast. 'Where is the big glow-ball?' he wondered. 'Where is the Moon?' Little Owl wanted to say 'Hello!' but the Moon was hiding. Can you help him look?
Little Owl tried to flap his wings. He went flap, flap, flap—and then—Plop! He landed right on a soft, green mossy branch. 'Ouchie?' asked Little Owl. No, just soft moss. Papa Owl flew down beside him with a gentle 'Hoo-hoo.' Then Mama Owl came too, her wings smelling like fresh rain. 'Don’t worry, Little Owl,' Mama said. 'The Moon is playing hide-and-seek. Let’s follow the Silver Sneeze!'
The Silver Sneeze was the twinkling dust that falls from the stars. It went sparkle, sparkle, sparkle across the leaves. As they walked, they heard a sound. Click-clack! Click-clack! It was the Click-Clack Cricket. 'Have you seen the Moon?' asked Little Owl. The Cricket chirped, 'Keep going! Follow the light!'
Suddenly, a tiny golden spark danced past Little Owl’s beak. It was the Brave Firefly. Zzz-shhh, went the wind in the trees. The Firefly showed them that even a tiny light can be very brave in the dark. Little Owl felt brave too. He stretched his fluffy wings wide.
They climbed higher and higher up the Great Pine Tree. Little Owl’s wings were getting very heavy. His big eyes were getting a little bit sleepy. But then, Mama Owl pointed her wing. The clouds went Whoosh! The clouds went Shhh! And there it was.
A big, bright, silver Moon! It looked like a giant scoop of milk. It looked like a happy, glowing face in the sky. Little Owl felt the Moon’s light tickle his tummy. 'Hello, Moon!' he whispered. The Moon didn't say anything, but it shone so bright that the whole forest felt like a warm hug.
Little Owl realized something very important. Even when the Moon is hiding, his family is always there. The stars are always there. And you are always safe.
Papa Owl tucked Little Owl under his big, warm wing. Mama Owl sang a soft 'Hoo-hoo' song. Little Owl closed his eyes, thinking of the silver stars and the big white Moon. And that’s how it all turned out just right. Goodnight, Little Owl. Goodnight.