Forest Friends Sleep
Little Nature Explorers Series
What’s inside...
A charming bedtime story that follows a group of forest animals as they prepare for a night of rest. Through gentle prose and soothing illustrations, young readers are introduced to various forest creatures and the unique ways they settle down to sleep. Additionally, the story takes babies and toddlers on an active, rhyming jaunt through changing seasons and preparations for winter, highlighting activities like eating, building burrows, and collecting nuts. The book's repetitive action words and warm illustrations make it perfect for sharing with young children and encouraging an appreciation for nature.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-6
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the forest friends dream about when they sleep?
How do you think the forest friends feel when they are getting ready for bed?
Why is sleep important for the forest friends, and why is it important for you?
If you could create a bedtime routine for a forest friend, what would it include?
How do the illustrations make you feel about bedtime in the forest?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate their own bedtime experiences with those of the forest friends, fostering empathy and connection.
Discuss the importance of sleep for health and well-being, using the book as a starting point to underline the benefits in a child-friendly way.
Use the illustrated scenes in the book to inspire your child to describe and explore the forest setting, enhancing their imagination and storytelling skills.
Ask your child to guess what might happen next in the story, or what a forest friend might be dreaming about, to improve their predictive and analytical thinking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of friendship
Explanation: In 'Forest Friends Sleep,' the woodland creatures demonstrate support and care for each other as they prepare for bedtime, highlighting the value of friends helping friends.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to be supportive and helpful to their peers during group activities or playtime, reinforcing positive social interactions.
Example Lesson: Developing healthy sleep habits
Explanation: The story revolves around the forest animals following a bedtime routine, which can teach children the importance of having a consistent bedtime routine.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by establishing and following their own bedtime routines, such as reading or quiet time, which can lead to better sleep hygiene and restfulness.
Example Lesson: Learning about nocturnal animals
Explanation: Through the narrative and illustrations, children are introduced to different animals that are active at night, providing a basic understanding of nocturnal creatures.
Real-World Application: This knowledge encourages curiosity about wildlife, prompting children to learn more about the natural world and the various creatures living in it.
Example Lesson: The value of a calm and peaceful environment at night
Explanation: As the story unfolds, the calm and serene setting of the forest at night is depicted, which can help children understand the importance of a tranquil environment for good sleep.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to create a calm atmosphere in their own sleeping environments by minimizing noise and distractions at bedtime.
Example Lesson: Sharing and cooperation among different species
Explanation: The forest animals share their space and help each other get ready for bed, showcasing how different individuals can cooperate harmoniously.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be translated to everyday life as children interact with diverse groups of people, learning to share and cooperate in social settings like school or during playdates.