The toys that go to sleep

Told in English, Telugu.

In a little house near the green hills of Kondapalli, there lived a little girl named Chinni. Chinni had four favourite toys. There was Raju, a wooden elephant painted red and yellow. There was Ammulu, a doll in a green saree. There was Chiluka, a soft cloth parrot. And there was Bujji, a bright little spinning top.

One evening, after a dinner of warm rice and dal with a little ghee, Ammamma said, "Chinni, the moon is up. It is time to sleep."

"But I am not sleepy," said Chinni. "And my toys are not sleepy either!"

Ammamma smiled. "Shall we go and ask them?"

So Chinni picked up Raju the elephant. His big wooden ears seemed to droop. "Raju walked all day in my games," said Chinni. "He carried Ammulu to the market and back again." She laid him in a shoebox bed and covered him with a soft hanky.

Ammamma sang very softly,

"Good night, good night, the moon is bright. Close your eyes and sleep tight."

Then Chinni picked up Ammulu the doll. "Ammulu danced at the pretend wedding," said Chinni. "She danced and danced, round and round." She laid Ammulu on the corner of her pillow and smoothed her little green saree.

And Ammamma sang,

"Good night, good night, the moon is bright. Close your eyes and sleep tight."

Next, Chinni found Chiluka the parrot. All day long, Chiluka had been saying "Chinni, Chinni!" in her pretend games. Now Chiluka was very quiet. "Chiluka talked so much today," said Chinni. "Now she needs to rest her voice." She sat Chiluka near the window, where the moonlight could keep her company.

Can you sing it with Ammamma?

"Good night, good night, the moon is bright. Close your eyes and sleep tight."

Last of all, Chinni looked for Bujji the top. There was Bujji, lying still on its side under the bed. "Bujji spun and spun all day," said Chinni. "When Bujji stops spinning, it means Bujji is tired." She placed Bujji gently next to Raju in the shoebox.

And Ammamma sang once more,

"Good night, good night, the moon is bright. Close your eyes and sleep tight."

Chinni looked around. Raju was sleeping. Ammulu was sleeping. Chiluka was sleeping. Bujji was sleeping. And then Chinni opened her mouth very wide and yawned a great big yawn.

Ammamma laughed softly. "Chinni, you ran in the garden today. You helped me pick jasmine flowers. You played with all your toys. Your legs are tired, your arms are tired, and your eyes are tired too."

"Ammamma," whispered Chinni, "if I sleep now, will I have lots of energy to play tomorrow?"

"Yes, my dear," said Ammamma. "When we rest at night, we wake up happy and strong in the morning. Your toys know that, and now you know it too."

Chinni snuggled under her blanket. Ammamma stroked her hair and sang the sleepy song one last time,

"Good night, good night, the moon is bright. Close your eyes and sleep tight."

And Chinni's eyes went slowly, slowly closed.

Now, little one, your toys are sleeping too. They played with you all day, and now they are resting, so that tomorrow you can play again. So snuggle in, close your eyes, and sleep tight. Good night.