Captain Ellie and the Starry Sea

Read-aloud note

Read slowly, soften your voice near the end, and leave a small pause before the final goodnight line.

Story

Captain Ellie the elephant wore a purple captain hat and a bright yellow scarf. She stood at the wheel of The Happy Shell and called out, "All aboard!" And do you know what? Every single animal came running.

Zippy the zebra polished the deck. Mimi the mouse checked all the tiny buttons. Leo the lion held the big map. Ruby the rabbit packed carrots for snacks. And Coco the crocodile smiled and watched for waves. Splish, splash, splish! The ship sailed across the ocean. Then Ellie tapped the silver wheel with her trunk. Zoom! Up they went, gently, gently, into the sky. They saw fluffy moon clouds and birds sleeping softly in their nests. "Look up!" said Leo. A tiny star was falling, falling, falling. It landed right on the deck with a little pip.

Tip-tap, soft and small. Tip-tap, home we go.

"Oh dear," said the star. "I lost my way home." Captain Ellie smiled. "We will help you." Mimi pressed the tiny buttons. Zippy raised the shiny sail. Ruby passed out carrots for everyone. And Coco watched for the brightest, glowiest path through the sky. They followed it together, all the way to the Starry Sea, where stars float like little boats. The tiny star jumped up and zoomed right back home. "Thank you, friends!" it called. Captain Ellie waved her trunk. "A good crew helps everyone shine."

Then The Happy Shell turned slowly toward home. The moon came out big and round. And all the animals sang a soft, sleepy song all the way back. Splish, splash, splish.

Then came the gentle surprise: the little sound was making a tiny path for a friend.

The little friend helped right away, tucked the tiny clue into a cozy spot, and smiled. Tip-tap, softly we go.

Scenes

All Aboard the Happy Shell

Captain Ellie waves her trunk and calls, "All aboard!" Look who comes running! Zippy, Mimi, Leo, Ruby, and Coco. Everyone is ready.

Splish, Splash, Up We Go

Splish, splash, splish! The Happy Shell sails along. Ellie taps the silver wheel with her trunk, and zoom, up into the sky they go!

A Tiny Star Falls

"Look up!" says Leo. A little star is falling, falling, falling. Pip! It lands right on the deck. "Oh dear," says the star. "I lost my way home."

Following the Glowy Path

The crew works together. Mimi presses the buttons. Zippy raises the sail. Ruby shares carrots. Coco watches the bright, glowy path through the sky.

Sleepy Song Home

The little star zooms home. "Thank you, friends!" The moon is big and round. The crew sings a soft sleepy song. Splish, splash, splish. Tip-tap, softly we go.