Free Bedtime Story Preview
Read for free or generate custom stories starring your child.
The Great Sleepy Boulder
Hoot-hoot! Hello there, young explorers! I'm Professor Hoot. Today, Alex and I are at the base of Rock-a-Bye Hill. Oh my feathers, look! A giant, round boulder is sleeping right in the middle of our path to the Crystal Caves!
Professor Hoot Says:
"Did You Know? Inertia is a fancy word for being stubborn. Objects like to keep doing exactly what they are already doing!"
Scene: Professor Hoot, a wise brown owl with glasses and a bowtie, standing next to Alex, a child in a silver spacesuit, looking at a massive, round gray rock on a grassy path.
Benny the Bunny ran up and gave the rock a tiny poke. 'Move, please!' he squeaked. But the rock didn't move an inch. That is Inertia in action! Because the rock is sitting still, it wants to stay sitting still. It’s like the rock is a very heavy sleeper that doesn't want to wake up.
Professor Hoot Says:
"Did You Know? The heavier an object is, the more inertia it has, which makes it harder to start moving!"
Scene: A small brown bunny pushing against a giant boulder with its tiny paws while Professor Hoot points at the rock with a wing.
'We need more oomph!' I chirped. Big Ella the Elephant came over to help. She tucked her head down and gave a mighty push. 'Heeeeeave-ho!' Together, the animals pushed and pushed. To beat inertia, you have to use a lot of force to get a heavy object to change its mind!
Professor Hoot Says:
"Did You Know? Force is just a push or a pull that tells an object to stop being so lazy!"
Scene: A large elephant and a bunny pushing together against the giant boulder. Dust is kicking up from their feet.
Suddenly—*creak*—the boulder started to roll! But wait! Now it wouldn't stop! It zoomed past the trees and down the hill. This is the second part of Inertia: once something starts moving, it wants to keep moving in a straight line forever and ever!
Professor Hoot Says:
"Did You Know? In outer space, if you threw a ball, inertia would keep it moving forever because there is nothing to stop it!"
Scene: The giant boulder rolling fast down a green hill while the animals look surprised. Alex is waving their arms in excitement.
Finally, the boulder landed in a giant pile of fluffy purple moss. 'Phew!' said Alex. The moss provided a big enough force to stop the roll. So remember, explorers: things that are still stay still, and things that are moving keep moving. That is the magic of Inertia!
Professor Hoot Says:
"Did You Know? Seatbelts in cars protect you from inertia by stopping your body from moving forward if the car stops quickly!"
Scene: The boulder safely tucked into a soft pile of purple moss at the bottom of the hill. Professor Hoot is high-fiving Alex.
Professor Hoot's Quiz!
Test your knowledge about Inertia! Can you get all 3 questions right?
More Magical Stories You Might Love 📖
View All →
Leo and the Lavender Broom
Leo helps a kind little witch find her lost magical broom, and together they sweep away Leo's bad dreams.
Barnaby's Cozy Living Room Safari
Join Maya and Barnaby the puppy on a cozy living room safari to track down a beloved lost blanket before bedtime!
Flicker's Brave Bright Blink
Can a shy little firefly find the courage to light up the dark forest and make new friends with Sam's help?
Leo and Buster's Beautiful Blunder
Leo and a little bulldozer named Buster discover that a messy mistake can lead to their most beautiful creation yet.