Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids

Episode Summary: "The Yawn That Spread Around The World" (January 8, 2026)

Episode Theme & Purpose

Main Theme:
This episode, "The Yawn That Spread Around The World," gently explores how something as small and invisible as a yawn can travel from one animal to another, all around the world, making everyone sleepy and drawing bedtime near. The story traces the magical spread of a bedtime yawn, encouraging relaxation and fostering a sense of global connection and calm at bedtime.

Purpose:
Carefully designed as a bedtime story for children, the episode helps young listeners wind down by weaving together soothing storytelling, familiar animal characters, and a tranquil, connected tale that ends with all creatures—and listeners—drifting to sleep.

Key Discussion Points & Story Insights

1. The Magic of Yawns & Bedtime Routines (02:43–04:10)

• Narrator introduces the contagious nature of yawns, playfully inviting the audience to try saying "yawn" three times and see if they can resist yawning.
  • "Yawn. Yawn. Yawn. A yawn is your body's way of announcing that it's time to start thinking of falling asleep." (03:05)
• This sets up the story’s central motif: a single yawn gently and inevitably spreading across creatures, prompting sleepiness everywhere.

2. The Yawn’s Journey Begins: The Little Joey and Koala Family (04:10–08:45)

• In a sunlit Australian pool, a little joey kangaroo enjoys splashing with friends until a quiet family of koalas arrives.
• The baby koala floats on its mother’s belly, snuggles in, and yawns—starting the journey of the yawn.
  • "[The baby koala] spread his arms and fully embraced the stretch and the yawn. And then he snuggled down with an extra little wiggle and started gently snoring." (08:12)
• The yawn is ‘caught’ by the watching joey, who yawns, prompting his mother to call him to bed, and then ripples through the other young kangaroos.

3. The Yawn Moves Through the Animal Kingdom

Cockatoo (09:15–11:30)

• A cockatoo flying overhead catches the joey’s yawn mid-flight, feeling sleepier as she drifts toward her nest.
  • "The yawn within her made her feel sleepier and sleepier and sleepier." (09:50)
• The yawn is then passed to the rest of her flock as they settle into dreams.

Crocodile (11:30–15:00)

• At the base of the tree, a young crocodile—after a joyful day of play and bubble blowing—tries to hide his tiredness, but can’t suppress the yawn.
  • "He tried pushing down the yawn that had built up inside him, but it was impossible. And finally, there it was. A giant crocodile yawn stretching wider than any yawn ever had before." (14:05)
• The crocodile’s yawn signals bedtime, and he snuggles into his own muddy bed.

Monkey (15:00–17:45)

• In another country, a monkey observes the crocodile through a telescope and feels his own yawn brewing.
• After a day of playful fruit games and swinging in the temple ruins, the monkey’s yawn arrives as dusk falls.
  • "It was in one of those moments... that he saw the crocodile yawn. The little monkey felt a yawn brewing inside him and he tried to keep it there, but finally he could stop it no more, and he yawned a huge, glorious yawn that he felt right in his toes." (16:54)

Tiger (17:45–20:30)

• A tiger in the jungle, watching the monkey, catches the next big yawn.
• Memories of playing watermelon ball with other tigers and pleasing the visiting scientists provide peaceful background.
  • "He yawned the biggest tiger yawn that has ever been known, his huge mouth stretching wide as he squeezed his eyes shut and pushed his paws into the floor." (19:32)

Elephant (20:30–23:30)

• The tiger’s yawn rumbles through the jungle and is felt deeply by a baby elephant on his tire-swing.
  • "And finally he could hold the yawn inside no longer. And he yawned and yawned for all he was worth, stretching his mouth wide." (22:20)
• The elephant’s mother gently calls him to bed, tucking him into a soft straw nest.

4. The Yawn Engulfs the World: Closing Reflections (23:30–End)

• The narrator elegantly wraps up as the yawn ripples across the globe—from baby koala to every creature, nation, jungle, and village.
  • "So that every creature in every corner let out a giant, glorious, toe-stretching, eyes-tight shut... yawn. It's something that happens every single day." (24:15)
• A comforting listing of animals dreaming sweet dreams, and the world gently coming to rest under the starlit sky.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It's as though [yawns] have invisible little legs or a minute silent engine or some other hidden mode of transport."
  — Narrator, (00:28)

• "Yawn. Yawn. Yawn. A yawn is your body's way of announcing that it's time to start thinking of falling asleep."
  — Narrator, (03:05)

• "The little crocodile had counted five bounces at one point, which is an awful lot for creatures that are covered in spikes and rough skin."
  — Narrator, (13:40)

• "The tigers stream of the huge leaves they use as sails to glide across the lakes, and the elephants dream of the tires and swings that push them higher and higher into the sky."
  — Narrator, (25:45)

• "All around the world, creatures hop and crawl and slide and swing their way into their nests and dens and homes. They wrap themselves in soft grasses and feathers and leaves, and turn their heads this way and that on their pillows, and all of them get to fall asleep dreaming of the days they've had."
  — Narrator, (25:10)

Important Timestamps

• [02:43] – Story begins: Introduction to the magical, contagious yawn
• [04:10] – Joey, kangaroos, and the arrival of the koalas
• [08:12] – The baby koala’s first, story-setting yawn
• [09:15] – Cockatoo catches the yawn mid-flight
• [11:30] – Crocodile’s day and bubble-blowing fun
• [14:05] – Crocodile’s giant, uncontrollable yawn
• [15:00] – Monkey observes and joins the spreading yawn
• [16:54] – Monkey’s enormous sunset yawn
• [17:45] – Tiger recalls adventures and lets out a legendary yawn
• [19:32] – "Biggest tiger yawn that has ever been known"
• [20:30] – Elephant’s bedtime yawn and snuggle
• [23:30] – Narrator ties all the yawns into a global lullaby
• [25:45] – Dreams of animals; world under starlit sky

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a gentle, soothing tone throughout, with the narrator’s voice and language crafted to lull listeners towards sleep. The imagery is vivid and comforting, and the playful, empathetic narration offers reassurance and a sense of security.

Summary

"The Yawn That Spread Around The World" is a whimsical, calming bedtime journey, showing how something as small as a yawn unites different creatures in a sleep-inducing relay. Echoing the universal experience of growing sleepy as night falls, the story delivers both imaginative delight and deep comfort, gently guiding children (and their parents) toward restful sleep. The episode is ideal for establishing warm bedtime routines and reminding listeners that they are part of a cozy, interconnected world gently unfolding into dreams.