Milo the Chameleon and the Color of Sleep

Milo the Chameleon and the Color of Sleep 🦎

Right in the middle of a big, warm jungle, high up in a tree, lived a little Chameleon named Milo.
Milo was a remarkable little animal. He could change the color of his outfit!
During the day, when he played hide-and-seek with the parrots, he was bright green, like young leaves.
When he ate a sweet mango, he turned yellow.

But now the sun began to hide behind the great mountains.
The jungle was becoming quiet and purple.
Milo sat on a big leaf and looked at his little paws. They were still bright green and full of energy.
“Oh, I will never fall asleep in such a bright outfit,” thought the Chameleon. “I need to find my Color of Sleep.”

Milo started moving towards his favorite sleeping branch.
Chameleons never rush. They walk in a very funny way – they take a step and sway back and forth.
Step… sway…
Step… sway…
It looked as if Milo was dancing a very slow, sleepy dance. This swaying was incredibly soothing.

When he finally reached his thick, safe branch, he stopped.
He grabbed it tightly with his little paws, which looked like tiny mittens. He was safe. He wouldn’t fall.

Now it was time for magic.
Milo took a deep, slow breath.
His bright green scales slowly began to dim.
First, he changed his color to dark blue, like the evening sky.
Then he turned deep purple, like a plum.
And finally, he took on the color of a warm, dark brown – exactly the same as the branch he was sitting on.

Milo became invisible to the rest of the jungle. He blended into the peaceful night.
He was hidden, safe, and ready for bed.
His long tail slowly began to curl up.
It spiraled into a perfect, neat little circle. Curl… curl… He looked like a snail now.

The Chameleon had big, round eyes that could look in different directions.
First, he closed his right eye. Blink.
Then, he closed his left eye. Blink.
Inside Milo’s head, all the bright lights of the day went out. Only a nice, warm brown and silence remained.

The forest hummed him to sleep, and Milo the Chameleon swayed ever so slightly with his branch.

You have your Color of Sleep, too.
When you close your eyes, the world stops being bright.
It becomes pleasantly dark and quiet.

Goodnight, Milo.
Goodnight, little one.

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💭 A Gentle Bedtime Question

Milo the Chameleon curled his tail into a circle to get comfortable. And how do you like to lie down to fall asleep? On your side, or on your back?