How Do Animals Sleep?

by Willow Brooks

Even the busiest creatures find a way to rest.

Grade 5: Proficient readers10 pages

A child who doesn't want to go to bed learns how different animals sleep in fascinating ways

Characters

Nora

Dad

+1 more

Style

Paper Cutout Texture

Story

Story Arc

Nora sat perched on the edge of her bed, her striped pajamas rumpled, a grumpy frown deepening the lines between her brows. The room was bathed in the soft, fading glow of twilight, yet Nora insisted she felt as spry as a squirrel. Mother knelt beside her, a patient smile gracing her lips, a hand reaching out to smooth Nora’s tousled pigtails. Nora simply turned her head, eyes stubbornly fixed on a dust motte dancing in a stray sunbeam. She simply did not feel like sleep was a necessary requirement for her adventurous spirit.

“Even the cleverest little creatures need their slumber, Nora,” Mother whispered, her voice a comforting murmur in the quiet room. Nora shook her head, a determined jut to her chin. She was convinced she possessed a boundless energy that defied such common necessities. Mother offered one last tender smile before rising, leaving Nora to her own devices as the room grew darker still. A long night stretched before Nora, promising endless opportunities for staying wide awake.

As the last vestiges of daylight surrendered to the deep indigo of night, Nora finally flopped back onto her pillows, her eyes still wide open. Her room, usually so familiar, seemed to shimmer with a new, quiet energy. The familiar patterns on her wallpaper swirled, taking on the semblance of ancient trees reaching for the sky. She imagined a dense, old-growth forest, its branches laden with unseen life. Perhaps, somewhere within this vastness, a creature knew her secret to never sleeping.

Deep within the imagined canopy, Nora found a Great Horned Owl, its feathers a mottled tapestry of browns and grays. The magnificent bird sat perfectly still on a moss-covered branch, its golden eyes gently closed. Nora edged closer, a silent question forming on her lips. She had always thought owls were creatures of the night, their hunting calls piercing the darkness, yet here was this majestic bird, finding deep repose in the quiet of an imagined day.

Nora’s imaginary journey then dipped into the cool, silent depths of a cavern. There, hanging upside down from a craggy ceiling, was a small, furry bat, its delicate wings folded tightly around itself. It seemed utterly content, suspended in a slumber unlike anything Nora had ever seen. She realized the bat found its world quite right when inverted, seeking its rest in shadows and quietude, quite different from her own bustling daytime world.

Next, Nora’s mind drifted to the azure embrace of the ocean, where schools of fish darted and swirled in hypnotic synchronicity. She noticed some smaller fish, almost imperceptibly, would slow their fin movements, their scales catching the light in a languid dance. They didn’t close their eyes like the owl or bat, but their bodies found a stillness, a subtle lull within the constant motion of the deep. It was a kind of rest that was fluid, ever-present, yet deeply restorative.

From the cool depths, Nora ascended into the humid, verdant tapestry of a rainforest. There, clinging to a thick branch, a sloth moved with painstaking slowness, its shaggy fur blending perfectly with the bark. Then, with an almost imperceptible shift, the sloth settled, its limbs perfectly still, suspended in a deep, long stretch of undisturbed quiet. Nora felt an odd sensation, a profound heaviness in her own limbs, mimicking the sloth’s contented languor.

Her journey led her through shadowy thickets to a cozy, cavernous den, where a massive bear lay curled, a gentle rumbling emanating from its chest. It was not a hibernate-for-the-winter sleep, but a profound, deep rest, its breathing slow and steady. The bear seemed utterly undisturbed by her presence, finding complete solace in its quiet refuge. Nora now understood the sheer variety of rest, each creature finding its perfect, vital peace.

The vibrant colors of the imagined rainforest, the shimmering ocean, and the shadowy cave began to recede, dissolving like wisps of morning fog. Nora felt the familiar contours of her own room solidifying around her, the distinct patterns of her wallpaper replacing the ancient trees. A profound fatigue settled over her, a weightiness she could no longer deny. Her adventurous spirit, though still curious, now longed for its own quiet respite.

With a gentle sigh, Nora turned onto her side, pulling her soft blanket closer, the crescent moons and stars on her pajamas now feeling like comforting friends. She thought of the owl’s stillness, the bat’s inverted calm, and the bear’s deep slumber. Every creature, no matter how clever or energetic, found its own way to rejuvenate. A peaceful calm washed over her, and her eyelids finally fluttered closed, welcoming the deep, restoring sleep she so truly needed.

The end

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Words to know

bathed: Covered with a gentle light.; The room was bathed in the soft, fading glow of twilight, yet Nora insisted she felt as spry as a squirrel.
grumpy: Feeling annoyed or in a bad mood.; Nora sat perched on the edge of her bed, her striped pajamas rumpled, a grumpy frown deepening the lines between her brows.
fading: Becoming less bright or less visible.; The room was bathed in the soft, fading glow of twilight, yet Nora insisted she felt as spry as a squirrel.
spry: Lively and active.; The room was bathed in the soft, fading glow of twilight, yet Nora insisted she felt as spry as a squirrel.
patient: Able to wait or accept delays without getting upset.; Mother knelt beside her, a patient smile gracing her lips, a hand reaching out to smooth Nora’s tousled pigtails.
gracing: Adding beauty or honor to something.; Mother knelt beside her, a patient smile gracing her lips, a hand reaching out to smooth Nora’s tousled pigtails.
tousled: Messy or untidy.; Mother knelt beside her, a patient smile gracing her lips, a hand reaching out to smooth Nora’s tousled pigtails.
motte: A tiny speck of dust or other matter.; Nora simply turned her head, eyes stubbornly fixed on a dust motte dancing in a stray sunbeam.
stubbornly: Not wanting to change your mind or do what someone else wants.; Nora simply turned her head, eyes stubbornly fixed on a dust motte dancing in a stray sunbeam.
requirement: Something that is needed.; She simply did not feel like sleep was a necessary requirement for her adventurous spirit.
cleverest: Smart and good at thinking of things.; “Even the cleverest little creatures need their slumber, Nora,” Mother whispered, her voice a comforting murmur in the quiet room.
slumber: Sleep.; “Even the cleverest little creatures need their slumber, Nora,” Mother whispered, her voice a comforting murmur in the quiet room.
murmur: A soft, low sound that is hard to hear clearly.; “Even the cleverest little creatures need their slumber, Nora,” Mother whispered, her voice a comforting murmur in the quiet room.
determined: Having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it.; Nora shook her head, a determined jut to her chin.
possessed: Owned or had something.; She was convinced she possessed a boundless energy that defied such common necessities.
boundless: Having no limits.; She was convinced she possessed a boundless energy that defied such common necessities.
defied: Resisted or refused to obey.; She was convinced she possessed a boundless energy that defied such common necessities.
tender: Gentle and loving.; Mother offered one last tender smile before rising, leaving Nora to her own devices as the room grew darker still.
devices: Tools or plans that are used to achieve something.; Mother offered one last tender smile before rising, leaving Nora to her own devices as the room grew darker still.
vestiges: The last small parts of something that existed before.; As the last vestiges of daylight surrendered to the deep indigo of night, Nora finally flopped back onto her pillows, her eyes still wide open.
surrendered: Gave up control of something.; As the last vestiges of daylight surrendered to the deep indigo of night, Nora finally flopped back onto her pillows, her eyes still wide open.
indigo: A deep purplish-blue color.; As the last vestiges of daylight surrendered to the deep indigo of night, Nora finally flopped back onto her pillows, her eyes still wide open.
familiar: Well known from long or close association.; Her room, usually so familiar, seemed to shimmer with a new, quiet energy.
shimmer: To shine with a soft, slightly wavering light.; Her room, usually so familiar, seemed to shimmer with a new, quiet energy.
semblance: An outward appearance or seeming.; The familiar patterns on her wallpaper swirled, taking on the semblance of ancient trees reaching for the sky.
dense: Thick and closely packed together.; She imagined a dense, old-growth forest, its branches laden with unseen life.
old-growth: A forest that has not been significantly disturbed for a long time.; She imagined a dense, old-growth forest, its branches laden with unseen life.
laden: Carrying a lot of something.; She imagined a dense, old-growth forest, its branches laden with unseen life.
vastness: The quality of being extremely large.; Perhaps, somewhere within this vastness, a creature knew her secret to never sleeping.
canopy: The upper layer of trees in a forest.; Deep within the imagined canopy, Nora found a Great Horned Owl, its feathers a mottled tapestry of browns and grays.
mottled: Marked with spots or smears of color.; Deep within the imagined canopy, Nora found a Great Horned Owl, its feathers a mottled tapestry of browns and grays.
tapestry: A piece of thick fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving colored threads.; Deep within the imagined canopy, Nora found a Great Horned Owl, its feathers a mottled tapestry of browns and grays.
magnificent: Extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive.; The magnificent bird sat perfectly still on a moss-covered branch, its golden eyes gently closed.
repose: A state of rest or tranquility.; The magnificent bird sat perfectly still on a moss-covered branch, its golden eyes gently closed.
cavern: A large cave.; Nora’s imaginary journey then dipped into the cool, silent depths of a cavern.
craggy: Rough and uneven.; There, hanging upside down from a craggy ceiling, was a small, furry bat, its delicate wings folded tightly around itself.
suspended: Hanging or floating.; There, hanging upside down from a craggy ceiling, was a small, furry bat, its delicate wings folded tightly around itself.
utterly: Completely; totally.; It seemed utterly content, suspended in a slumber unlike anything Nora had ever seen.
inverted: Turned upside down or inside out.; She realized the bat found its world quite right when inverted, seeking its rest in shadows and quietude, quite different from her own bustling daytime world.
quietude: A state of tranquility or stillness.; She realized the bat found its world quite right when inverted, seeking its rest in shadows and quietude, quite different from her own bustling daytime world.
bustling: Full of energetic and noisy activity.; She realized the bat found its world quite right when inverted, seeking its rest in shadows and quietude, quite different from her own bustling daytime world.
azure: Bright blue in color, like a cloudless sky.; Next, Nora’s mind drifted to the azure embrace of the ocean, where schools of fish darted and swirled in hypnotic synchronicity.
embrace: An act of holding someone tightly in one's arms.; Next, Nora’s mind drifted to the azure embrace of the ocean, where schools of fish darted and swirled in hypnotic synchronicity.
darted: Moved suddenly and rapidly.; Next, Nora’s mind drifted to the azure embrace of the ocean, where schools of fish darted and swirled in hypnotic synchronicity.
hypnotic: Dull and tending to cause sleep.; Next, Nora’s mind drifted to the azure embrace of the ocean, where schools of fish darted and swirled in hypnotic synchronicity.
synchronicity: The occurrence of events at the same time by chance.; Next, Nora’s mind drifted to the azure embrace of the ocean, where schools of fish darted and swirled in hypnotic synchronicity.
imperceptibly: In a way that is too small to be noticed.; She noticed some smaller fish, almost imperceptibly, would slow their fin movements, their scales catching the light in a languid dance.
languid: Slow and relaxed.; She noticed some smaller fish, almost imperceptibly, would slow their fin movements, their scales catching the light in a languid dance.
subtle: So delicate or precise as not to be obvious.; They didn’t close their eyes like the owl or bat, but their bodies found a stillness, a subtle lull within the constant motion of the deep.
lull: A pause or interval of quiet or calm.; They didn’t close their eyes like the owl or bat, but their bodies found a stillness, a subtle lull within the constant motion of the deep.
restorative: Having the ability to restore health, strength, or a feeling of well-being.; It was a kind of rest that was fluid, ever-present, yet deeply restorative.
ascended: Moved upward.; From the cool depths, Nora ascended into the humid, verdant tapestry of a rainforest.
humid: Warm and damp.; From the cool depths, Nora ascended into the humid, verdant tapestry of a rainforest.
verdant: Green with grass or other rich vegetation.; From the cool depths, Nora ascended into the humid, verdant tapestry of a rainforest.
clinging: Holding on tightly.; There, clinging to a thick branch, a sloth moved with painstaking slowness, its shaggy fur blending perfectly with the bark.
painstaking: Done with great care and thoroughness.; There, clinging to a thick branch, a sloth moved with painstaking slowness, its shaggy fur blending perfectly with the bark.
sloth: A slow-moving mammal that lives in trees.; There, clinging to a thick branch, a sloth moved with painstaking slowness, its shaggy fur blending perfectly with the bark.
shaggy: Having long, thick, untidy hair.; There, clinging to a thick branch, a sloth moved with painstaking slowness, its shaggy fur blending perfectly with the bark.
blend: Mix or cause to mix together.; There, clinging to a thick branch, a sloth moved with painstaking slowness, its shaggy fur blending perfectly with the bark.
imperceptible: Too small or slight to be noticed.; Then, with an almost imperceptible shift, the sloth settled, its limbs perfectly still, suspended in a deep, long stretch of undisturbed quiet.
undisturbed: Not interrupted or bothered.; Then, with an almost imperceptible shift, the sloth settled, its limbs perfectly still, suspended in a deep, long stretch of undisturbed quiet.
profound: Very great or intense.; Nora felt an odd sensation, a profound heaviness in her own limbs, mimicking the sloth’s contented languor.
mimicking: Copying or imitating.; Nora felt an odd sensation, a profound heaviness in her own limbs, mimicking the sloth’s contented languor.
languor: A state of tiredness or inactivity, often in a pleasant way.; Nora felt an odd sensation, a profound heaviness in her own limbs, mimicking the sloth’s contented languor.
thickets: A dense group of bushes or trees.; Her journey led her through shadowy thickets to a cozy, cavernous den, where a massive bear lay curled, a gentle rumbling emanating from its chest.
cavernous: Large and deep like a cave.; Her journey led her through shadowy thickets to a cozy, cavernous den, where a massive bear lay curled, a gentle rumbling emanating from its chest.
emanating: Coming out from something.; Her journey led her through shadowy thickets to a cozy, cavernous den, where a massive bear lay curled, a gentle rumbling emanating from its chest.
hibernate: To spend the winter in a dormant state.; It was not a hibernate-for-the-winter sleep, but a profound, deep rest, its breathing slow and steady.
solace: Comfort or consolation in a time of sadness or distress.; The bear seemed utterly undisturbed by her presence, finding complete solace in its quiet refuge.
refuge: A place that provides shelter or protection.; The bear seemed utterly undisturbed by her presence, finding complete solace in its quiet refuge.
vital: Absolutely necessary or important; essential.; Nora now understood the sheer variety of rest, each creature finding its perfect, vital peace.
recede: Go or move back or further away from a previous position.; The vibrant colors of the imagined rainforest, the shimmering ocean, and the shadowy cave began to recede, dissolving like wisps of morning fog.
wisps: Small, thin pieces or streaks of something.; The vibrant colors of the imagined rainforest, the shimmering ocean, and the shadowy cave began to recede, dissolving like wisps of morning fog.
dissolving: Disappearing or fading away.; The vibrant colors of the imagined rainforest, the shimmering ocean, and the shadowy cave began to recede, dissolving like wisps of morning fog.
solidifying: Becoming firm or hard.; Nora felt the familiar contours of her own room solidifying around her, the distinct patterns of her wallpaper replacing the ancient trees.
contours: The shape or outline of something.; Nora felt the familiar contours of her own room solidifying around her, the distinct patterns of her wallpaper replacing the ancient trees.
fatigue: Extreme tiredness.; A profound fatigue settled over her, a weightiness she could no longer deny.
weightiness: The quality of being heavy or serious.; A profound fatigue settled over her, a weightiness she could no longer deny.
respite: A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.; Her adventurous spirit, though still curious, now longed for its own quiet respite.
crescent: Having a curved shape like a crescent moon.; With a gentle sigh, Nora turned onto her side, pulling her soft blanket closer, the crescent moons and stars on her pajamas now feeling like comforting friends.
rejuvenate: To make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively.; Every creature, no matter how clever or energetic, found its own way to rejuvenate.
fluttered: Moved quickly and lightly.; A peaceful calm washed over her, and her eyelids finally fluttered closed, welcoming the deep, restoring sleep she so truly needed.

Talk about it

Questions to ask after reading together.

1
Why did Nora imagine the owl closing its eyes when it hunts at night?
2
How did imagining the sloth help Nora feel sleepy?
3
What is your favorite way to find rest like Nora?

The Garden in the Empty Lot

Grade 5 · 10 pages · by River Collins