Goodnight Gorilla | A Bedtime Story for Kids
📖 Story Summary
This funny and gentle bedtime story for kids follows a sleepy zoo at night, until one naughty little gorilla secretly follows the zookeeper home! With quiet humor and adorable animals, this heartwarming story teaches children about bedtime routines and playful surprises.
Listen to Goodnight Gorilla a Bedtime Story for Kids. (Audio)
The Story: Goodnight Gorilla
🌃 A Quiet Night at the Zoo
The moon was shining brightly over the zoo.
The stars sparkled in the dark sky.
It was time for bed.
The zookeeper walked slowly from cage to cage with a big ring of keys in his hand.
“Goodnight,” he said kindly.
But someone small and sneaky was watching him.
A little gorilla.
And guess what?
He had the keys!
🦁 “Goodnight, Lion.”
The zookeeper stopped at the lion’s cage.
“Goodnight, Lion,” he said.
The lion gave a sleepy yawn.
Click!
The little gorilla unlocked the cage.
The lion quietly stepped out and followed behind the zookeeper.
But the zookeeper didn’t notice at all.
🐘 One by One…
“Goodnight, Elephant.”
Click!
“Goodnight, Giraffe.”
Click!
“Goodnight, Seal.”
Clap, clap went the seal’s flippers.
Click!
Each time the zookeeper said goodnight, the little gorilla unlocked another cage.
Soon, a funny parade of animals was walking quietly behind him.
Lion.
Elephant.
Giraffe.
Seal.
Armadillo.
Even a tiny mouse followed along.
🏠 A Big Bedtime Surprise
The zookeeper walked home.
The animals followed.
He went inside his house.
The animals tiptoed in too!
The zookeeper was very sleepy.
“Goodnight, dear,” he said to his wife.
“Goodnight,” she replied.
They climbed into bed.
But suddenly—
“ROAR!”
The wife sat up quickly.
She turned on the light.
And what did she see?
Lion.
Elephant.
Giraffe.
Seal.
Armadillo.
Gorilla.
All squeezed into the bedroom!
🔑 Back to the Zoo
The zookeeper’s wife was not happy.
She picked up the keys.
One by one, she marched the animals back to the zoo.
“Goodnight, Lion.”
“Goodnight, Elephant.”
“Goodnight, Giraffe.”
Click. Click. Click.
Finally, she put the little gorilla back in his cage.
She closed the door firmly.
And took the keys.
🐭 One Tiny Surprise
Everything was quiet again.
The zookeeper and his wife climbed into bed.
“Goodnight,” they whispered.
But in the dark, a tiny squeaky voice said:
“Squeak!”
It was the little mouse.
And everyone giggled.
The moon kept shining.
And at last…
Everyone went to sleep.
🌟 Moral of the Story
- Bedtime routines are important.
- Being sneaky can lead to funny surprises.
- Responsibility means fixing mistakes.
- Even small actions can create big adventures.
🧐 Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ Who took the zookeeper’s keys?
2️⃣ Which animals followed him home?
3️⃣ Who returned the animals to the zoo?
4️⃣ Why is it important to follow bedtime rules?
5️⃣ What was the funny surprise at the end?
📌 Important Note
This story is a simplified retelling inspired by the classic children’s book Goodnight Gorilla. We are not the original creators of the story. It has been rewritten in simple words to make it easier for young readers to understand and enjoy. Our goal is to present a gentle and fun bedtime experience while keeping the story easy to imagine and suitable for kids.
