Short bedtime story: Mo the little owl
Short on time tonight, or is your little one already sleepy? This short bedtime story is just right. The whole story about Mo, a little owl with very good eyes, is below. It takes about three to four minutes to read aloud.
Ages 2 to 6 4 min read aloud
Mo, the Owl Who Says Goodnight
High up in an old oak tree lived a little owl called Mo. Mo had soft brown feathers, a round tummy and two big yellow eyes.
With those eyes, Mo could see very well in the dark. He could spot a mouse behind a leaf and a snail on a stone. That was his superpower. And every evening, Mo used it for something special: he checked that everyone in the forest was sleeping soundly.
"Hoo-hoo," said Mo softly. "Time for my round." He spread his wings and flew silently between the trees, past the ferns and over the path.
First he came to the rabbit burrow. The smallest rabbit was still awake. "I can’t sleep," it said. Mo settled beside the burrow. "Close your eyes," he said. "I’ll keep watch." The little rabbit yawned, and soon it was asleep.
Next Mo flew to the pond. A frog sat on a big lily pad. "Ribbit," said the frog, very quietly. "Goodnight, frog," said Mo. The frog slipped under the lily pad and was still.
By the bushes, a fox cub lay curled up. His tail was tucked over his nose like a warm scarf. Mo didn’t need to do anything. He only checked that the fox cub was warm enough. He was. "Sleep tight, little fox," Mo whispered.
By the big pine tree sat a squirrel holding an acorn. "I can’t find my hole," said the squirrel. Mo looked carefully with his big eyes. "There," he said. "Behind the third branch." The squirrel scampered up and curled into his hole.
Mo flew one more round above the forest. He looked to the left. He looked to the right. Everywhere was quiet. The rabbit was asleep. The frog was asleep. The fox cub was asleep. The squirrel was asleep.
Then Mo flew back to his oak. His wings felt tired. His eyes felt heavy. He landed softly on his very own branch.
He gave his feathers one last shake. He tucked his head down a little. The forest smelled of moss and pine needles. Somewhere far away, the wind rustled softly through the leaves, like a lullaby.
"Hoo-hoo," whispered Mo, even more quietly than before. That meant: everyone is asleep. Then he slowly closed his big yellow eyes.
Now the whole forest was asleep. Mo too. And now it’s your turn to sleep, just like Mo and all his friends. Goodnight.
How to read this short story aloud
A short story is perfect for busy evenings, or when your child is already nearly asleep. That is exactly when a calm voice helps most. Take your time, even though the story is short.
The story has a steady rhythm: Mo flies somewhere, says goodnight and flies on. After a few readings your child will know that rhythm and can name the animals before you do.
- Say "hoo-hoo" a little more quietly each time
- Let your child count the animals that are already asleep
- Read the last lines almost in a whisper
A short bedtime story about your child’s own hero
With Kidori, your child creates their own hero, just like Mo. You choose a name, a look and a superpower together. Kidori then writes a new story every evening with that hero in the lead role.
Kidori remembers what happened in earlier episodes, so your child builds a story of their own, evening after evening. In the calm bedtime reader, spoken narration reads the story aloud, so you can rest for a moment too.
New: video stories
Alongside bedtime stories and interactive stories, you can now also make a video story: a short adventure starring your own hero, with animated clips with sound and a few playful learning questions along the way. The Family plan includes a video story every week.
Create your heroFrequently asked questions
How short is this bedtime story?
Read slowly, it takes about three to four minutes. That makes it easy to fit into a short bedtime routine.
What age is this story for?
Children of around 2 to 6. The sentences are short and the animals keep coming back.
Is the story free to read?
Yes, the story on this page is free to read. Personalised stories about your child’s hero come with the Kidori Family plan, which has a 14-day free trial.
Let your child live their own story tonight
The Family plan lets you create bedtime stories, interactive stories and a weekly video story around a hero you choose. You can try it free for 14 days.
Try free for 14 days14 days free with the Family plan. You decide what happens in the story.