The Sleepy Forest Dream Train 🚂 💤 Relaxing Bedtime Stories For Kids

Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original children's bedtime stories and meditations designed to make bedtimes a dream. We are welcoming into the Cocoa Club some very special guests tonight so listen out for your names. Hi and welcome to Betsy and Maisie Walker from Minnesota, also Cordelia, who's in Alberta, Canada. We're saying hi to 7 year old Nyra and finally Kiara Nickens. Come on in and settle down, we are so happy to have you in here and we hope you enjoy all your bonus episodes now, your ad-free listening. And do tell all your friends about us, we love it when we hear that people have heard about our stories and then they just can't stop listening because they love the tales and the characters. Talking of characters, Coco and I were chatting the other day about whether you Cocoa Club was a sleepyhead or not, as in do you fall asleep really quickly at bedtime? Or do you always have that wide awake feeling at bedtime? Coco said he thinks you're like him and most of the time you fall asleep happily and easily, but occasionally you need a little something extra like a special teddy, a warm drink or a super soft blanket. Let me know in the comments would you or on Supercast I'd be interested to know. Coco is actually having one of those frustrating times tonight. Yeah, he's lying in bed, trying and failing to fall asleep. Luckily his bedroom windows left open and right there begins a magical adventure with two of his very best friends. Is it a dream? Is it real? Who knows? But together they journey through Sleepy Forest and find a very special location, one which might just contain the magic he needs to fall asleep. So snuggle into your favourite spot in bed, take a couple of lovely breaths and climb on board as I begin the Sleepy Forest Dream Train by Annabelle Pitcher. Before we begin a quick message for the grown-ups, if you'd like to support our podcast enjoy ad-free listening, unlock four bonus stories per month and much, much more you can join Coco Club. Subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes. But now here's a quick word from our sponsors. Coco was lying in bed, staring at the wooden ceiling of Cosy Cabin. He had tried everything to get to sleep. He had closed his eyes and tried to force himself to sleep. He'd opened them again, engaged at the wall and waited for sleep to come. He had tried counting sheep and pigs and cows and chickens, all the animals he'd once seen during a visit to Puddlefoot Farm. He'd even tried counting tractors, but nothing whatsoever had worked. Coco Frown Usually sleep came very easily to him indeed. After a bedtime story, he'd snuggle up beneath his covers and drift off without even thinking about it. But now he was thinking about it. And the more he thought about it, the less tired he felt. In fact, his brain felt very awake indeed. So did his eyes, two enormous circles staring at the ceiling. The problem was there was nothing to look at on the ceiling. There wasn't even a spider web in the corner of the room to examine, or an interesting nook or cranny to explore with his eyes. The ceiling was simply a ceiling, flat, wooden and completely disinteresting. Coco Side The night felt completely disinteresting too. It stretched ahead of him, empty and black. If only, Coco thought, something magical would happen. The night would be the perfect night for an adventure. No sooner had these words formed in Coco's mind than a sound emerged in the darkness. It was faint, hardly there. So hardly there, in fact, Coco was quite sure he'd imagined it. It's just my brain playing tricks on me, he thought, turning over in his cosy bed to face the wall. But no, there it was again, louder this time, just outside his window. Coco sat up in bed, his little heart pounding. The noise sounded exactly like, the horn of a train, he whispered. He crawled across his bed to the window, then swept his curtain to one side to peer out into the darkness. Only, it wasn't dark at all. It was bright, so bright, Coco had to shield his eyes. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the glare, his jaw dropping at the spectacular sight outside his bedroom window. He had expected to see bright yellow stars in the sky above sleepy forest. He hadn't expected to see bright yellow stars on an enormous purple train, chugging towards him on a golden track. The horn of the train sounded a third time, as steam rose in the air, forming clouds beneath the night sky. Kuala Moon seemed to glow more brightly than ever before as the train slowed to a stop outside Coco's window. Coco was desperate to reach it. But how? Just as the question formed in his mind, magical steps appeared, leading directly from Coco's window to the door of the train. They twinkled in the rays of Kuala Moon, almost as if they were made of moonbeams themselves. Coco pulled on his orange backpack, noticing the moon patch shining more brightly as he opened his window. He knew then that it was quite safe. Kuala Moon wanted him to board the train. The moon patch proved it. She was urging Coco on, guiding him to the train, encouraging him to embark upon this magical adventure through the night. Perhaps she had sensed he was restless tonight and wanted to help. Knowing the train would make it easier for Coco to drift off to sleep, unless he was asleep already. The sight of a purple train hovering above sleepy forest on a magical golden track could very possibly be a dream. It didn't feel real. It couldn't be real. And yet, there it was, right by his window, waiting for him to climb aboard. Carefully, Coco clambered out of cosy cabin, making sure to hold onto the windowsill until his little feet had found the magical steps. A cool night breeze lifted his fur, and the steps seemed to vibrate beneath his feet as he moved towards the train. Down, down, down he went, one foot, then the other. He was able to see his heart beating in his chest. Steam from the train reached his nostrils, and the engine rumpled in his ears. It was a very real rumble from a very real train. Coco laughed. This was very definitely not a dream, which meant he was very definitely on a nighttime adventure. He was shiny with happiness. Coco hurried down the last steps and stepped on board. Now, where to go? Coco looked to the left and then to the right, trying to decide what to do. The left seemed to lead to the front of the train. The right appeared to lead to a carriage. Curious to know who else might be on board, Coco turned right. Who else had the train picked up that night? Would he recognise any of the passengers? It was time to find out. Coco hurried towards the carriage as the train's whistle hooted like an almighty owl about to take flight. And, wow, it really did feel like flying. The train set off, skimming the trees at the forest, gliding through a night that was silky and black. No sudden jolts or jerks, no rattling or clacking. The train soared above the trees, the wheels of the train barely touching the track. It was as easy and effortless as it was possible to be, journeying to, who knows where? Coco giggled. It was thrilling to be on a magical journey in the middle of the night, no idea where he was heading or what he might find when he got there. He just hoped some of his friends were on board to enjoy the adventure too. Coco reached the door of the carriage and his little heart skipped a beat. Voices. Coco held his breath, listening hard, and then his face broke into a huge smile. He recognised that voice and that voice too. The first belonged to someone who wore headphones and loved nothing more than to dance. And the second belonged to someone who was very prickly in name, but not the slightest bit prickly in personality. Coco pulled open the door. Hello, Disco! Hello, Prickles! He laughed. Fancy seeing you here. Coco! Disco exclaimed, looking delighted to see his friend. The small purple dragon jumped to his feet. He pulled Coco into a hug, then grabbed his soft golden paws, encouraging him to dance. Isn't it a bit late for dancing? Coco giggled. It's never too late for dancing, Coco. You know that! Disco replied, twirling around. Especially on a night-time adventure. Couldn't you sleepy, the Coco? The hedgehog asked when Coco sat down next to him. What do you mean? Coco replied, sounding surprised. How do you know? This is the Sleepy Forest Dream Train, Prickles explained. He picks up anyone in Sleepy Forest who's struggling to get to sleep. Really? Coco asked in amazement. He had never even heard of the Sleepy Forest Dream Train. But then again, he'd never had any difficulty falling asleep until now. Have you been on it before? I haven't, but Disco has. And tonight, he's at my house having a sleepover. So the little hedgehog laughed. Here we are. I get a little bit over excited when I go to sleepovers, Disco explained. In fact, I get a little bit over excited when I do anything at all. But perhaps this train might help me calm down. Chuckling, Coco looked out of the window, trying to spot something recognisable in the darkness. But all he could see was the trio's reflection. A sensible head shock, an excitable dragon, and of course, a brave little koala, bright-eyed with the wonder of it all. So where are we heading? Coco asked, turning back to his friends. And how will it help us fall asleep? Ah, said Disco, his face falling a little. I don't actually know. You see, I've never managed to get to the end of the journey. Something always seems to distract me, no matter how hard I try. Disco's purple wings drooped forlornly by his sides. I think I might know, Prickle said slowly. I've read about it in one of my dad's old books. The head shock paused for a moment, staring at Coco and Disco, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was about to say. According to legend, he said at last, The sleepy forest dream train goes to Sleepy Temple. The words hung in the air, heavy and mysterious. Sleepy Temple, Coco whispered. Prickle nodded. Legend says there are special gemstones that, but just at that moment, the train lurched downwards, as if the track was sloping from the top of the forest to the very bottom, descending from the treetops to the forest floor. Where are we going now? The three friends moved to a darker part of the carriage to look out of the window. They were indeed on the forest floor, being alongside Sleepy River, which was glowing silver in the light of Kuala Lumpur. Trees hung over it, their branches dancing in the cool night breeze. Disco let out a groan. This is where I usually get off the train, he said. I can't resist it. I really can't. I mean, look at them. He pointed at the dancing branches. A duet with a tree is an impossible thing to resist. Not tonight, though, Coco said, grabbing Disco's arm as he reached for the stop button, as if he fully intended to halt the train and disappear off to dance with the branches. He was even singing a song, a sweet little melody that sounded almost mystical, as if it belonged to a different world. Look at how they're moving, though, Disco said, sounding wistful as he copied the swaying motion of the branches. Isn't it wonderful? Couldn't I just... shouldn't I just...? No, Prickles replied, as the train snaked through the forest, tracking the river, which glistened and twinkled in the darkness, almost as brightly as the train track itself. It was quite a sight, the Silver River and the Golden Track, running in parallel through the dark forest. Stay on board, Disco. You can do it. I can do it, Disco repeated. But then something else caught his eye. Oh my goodness me, I've danced there, too. The dragon cried, pointing at a spectacular waterfall through the window. A lovely little ballet beneath the water. He raised his arms above his head and twirled, singing the same melody as before. It really was quite unusual, and a feeling Coco didn't quite recognise crept down his spine. Where did you hear that tune? Prickles asked. Did you make it up, Disco? Disco stopped dancing. I heard it when I got off the train at the river, when I was dancing with the trees, and out there when I was dancing beneath the waterfall, it was carried through the forest on a breeze. A magic tune, Coco whispered, for a magic train. The three friends gazed at each other as the train sped on. Stars shone overhead, silver specks in a jet-black sky, visible every now and again in the gaps between trees. The train skirted the edge of Sugarlump Hill, then passed a magical pool where a water slide glimmered for a moment in the light of Kuala Moon. Coco remembered how he had ridden the slide, a journey no less magical than this one, which had taken him beneath the ocean in a crystal glass tunnel, allowing him to see all the sea creatures gliding about in the silvery water. How lucky he was to live in Kuala Kingdom! How very, very lucky! And now he was on the way to Sleepy Temple to discover something that might help him drift off to sleep. It would have to be something very effective indeed, for the little koala didn't feel the slightest bit sleepy. His eyes felt as big and shiny as Kuala Moon herself. If they were up there in the sky, excitement would have spilt out of them like moonbeams, illuminating the whole forest. The train chugged on. Past Forget Me Not Hill, the pretty blue flowers at the summit invisible in the darkness, though their sweet scent seemed to find its way onto the train. Coco took a deep breath, filling his nostrils with a delicate smell, remembering the picnics he had eaten with his family on the gentle slope of the hill. He wondered if Kira was fast asleep in Cosy Cabin, and felt a wave of excitement at the thought of telling her about his adventure in the morning. Would she believe he'd been to Sleepy Temple on a magical train in the middle of the night? It was almost too extraordinary to be true. And yet, here they were. Sleepy Temple, Prickles whispered as the engine rumbled to a stop. We've arrived. Who did it, Disco? I did it, Disco said, hopping off the train as soon as the door slid open to reveal ten stone steps leading up to an old triangular building. It was big, huge in fact. The entrance flanked by two giant marble pillars. A thrill of anticipation made Coco's first stand on end at the site of the ancient building. What was inside? A snippet of conversation came to him then. Words Prickles had said earlier in the journey. What did you say about the legend? Coco asked as he climbed off the train with Prickles. Disco danced ahead, singing the same tune, which sounded even more magical in the shadow of the old building. It seemed to come from the dragon, and also outside of him, as if there was an echo and the night was repeating the melody back to the three friends. Something about gemstones? They help you sleep, Prickles said. At least that's what the legend says. And they're supposed to be in there. He pointed at the entrance to Sleepy Temple, where Disco was now standing, staring at something. What is it, Disco? Coco asked. The door, he said, sounding disappointed. Look at it, it has no handle. It's impossible to open, unless he pressed his little purple shoulder against the door, but it didn't budge. It's locked. Let me try, Coco said, not wanting to believe it was true. He pulled the door. He pushed the door. It didn't move an inch. Prickles tried two, and then Disco had one more go, but still the door remained shut. Oh, Coco said, trying to hide his dismay. Well, never mind. We made it to Sleepy Temple, at least. It's been fun, even if we didn't find the gemstones. The three friends gazed at each other, wondering what to do next. It would be an anti-climax to leave without locating the gemstones, but it was late now, and they really should start thinking about returning home. Come on, Coco said, but as he turned to leave, Kuala Moon shone more brightly, illuminating a carving in the stone above the door. It was a cluster of musical symbols, almost impossible to decipher in the darkness. Without the help of Kuala Moon, Coco would have missed it altogether. Look at that, he whispered. Notes. Notes, Prickles said. Notes. He stared at Coco, who stared right back. Do you think, could it be? Disco's tune, Coco explained. The strange melody. Can you sing it, Disco? Can I sing what? Disco asked, looking rather confused. The song you've been singing all evening, Coco replied. The one you heard by the waterfall, and by the river too, all those times you hopped off the sleepy forest dream train. Disco's jaw dropped. Do you really think my song has something to do with Sleepy Temple? He asked, blinking rapidly in the shadow of the ancient building. Surely not. It's just a silly song, isn't it? My silly song, he said. But even as the words emerged from his mouth, he seemed to grow a little taller. Well, your silly song might just be the key to opening this door, Coco replied, patting his friend on the back. The musical key, Disco. What are you waiting for? Looking nervous but determined, Disco took a deep breath and then started to sing. The music emerged from his jaws, a series of mystical notes that seemed to hover in the night sky, almost quivering in the darkness, which wasn't quite as dark as it had been before. The notes carved into the wall above the door were lighting up one by one, glowing pink with magic. Miss working, Disco, Prickles said, his working, keep going. The notes etched in the wall glowed more brightly, turning pinker as Disco continued to sing, until at last the door clicked open. Who did it, Disco? Coco gasped. Who opened Sleepy Temple? Blushing almost as pink as the musical notes themselves, Disco beamed at his friends as they all stepped inside. Sleepy Temple. They were in Sleepy Temple at last. The air was different here, colder than outside and damper too. Coco could feel the chilly wetness of it in his little lungs as his eyes adjusted to the dark. The chamber they'd entered was huge, with great stone slabs beneath their feet, crumbly walls and a ceiling so high it was almost impossible to see in the darkness. In the centre of the room, piled high, were hundreds and hundreds of gemstones, Prickles said. Look! Coco followed his gaze and gasped. Gemstones of all shapes and sizes, glowing like the musical notes, activated by Disco's song. There were some as big as Coco himself, others as tiny as the marbles he sometimes played with in Cosy Cabin. Cosy Cabin. For the first time that night, Coco yawned. The light from the crystals was making him sleepy. It was soft and magical, all the colours of the rainbow and yet none of them at all. A light that was barely there and somehow everywhere. There was music too, the same song Disco had been singing all evening. It was a lullaby Coco realised, a sweet, sleepy lullaby. It filled his ears, it filled his heart and it made his eyes feel very heavy indeed. Prickles eyes were drooping too, even Disco looked ready for sleep. Are we allowed to take a gemstone? Coco asked. The moon patch on his orange backpack seemed to glow in response. Yes, it seemed to say. Yes, take a gemstone Coco, it is time to sleep. Coco selected the smallest one. It sat snugly in his paw, not hot but not cold either. Just right, Coco muttered. So tired now he could barely speak. Disco and Prickles chose gemstones too and then the three exhausted friends left Sleepy Temple, which closed at once, the door sealing behind them. Happy about the thought of going home, they boarded the train finding their seats in darkness. There was nothing but the rainbow glow of their gemstones, a faint, mysterious glimmer, like something you might see in dreams. And Coco was seeing it in dreams because he had fallen fast asleep. He dreamed of trains and rivers and waterfalls and friends. A sensible hedgehog and an excitable dragon who had danced his way into Sleepy Temple, somehow solving the mystery with his not very silly song. The song played on as the train travelled back through Sleepy Forest, a sweet lullaby emerging from the gemstones, from the waterfall, from the river, and from Disco himself as he sang ever so softly in his sleep.