“Do I have to go to bed now, Grandpa Jake?” asked Tristan. He wanted to stay up longer.

“Sleep is good for you,” said Grandpa Jake. “It keeps you healthy, helps you grow, and gives you energy for the next day. How about I tell you a story?”

Our story begins on a sunny afternoon. The dinosaurs were about to go home from school.

“Tomorrow we will be going on a nature hike,” announced Mr. Nuggin.

“Hooray!” cried the students.

“We’re going to leave early in the morning. Please get a good night’s rest.”

“I’m going to stay awake the whole night,” Wesley later told his friends. “That way I’ll be the first one ready.”

“If you don’t sleep tonight, you’ll be very tired tomorrow,” said Crispin.

“No, I won’t! You’ll see,” said Wesley.

That night Wesley did his best to stay awake. He got snacks from the kitchen. He read stories. He even tried to count all the stars in the sky.

The next day, Suds and Crispin made their way to the meeting spot.

“Hello,” said Wesley. “I was up and ready before anybody else this morning. And I stayed up all night long!”

When the hike started, Wesley was right in the front. But as the hours passed, he started to go slower.

“This path sure is steep! I don’t know why I feel so out of breath. I’m never tired on hikes.”

As the day wore on, Wesley got more and more tired, and soon he began to feel very cold.

Not long after, Mr. Nuggin turned to count all his students. “Oh dear! Where is Wesley?”

They began searching for Wesley everywhere. He was nowhere to be found!

Suddenly Crispin saw something! There was little Wesley, shivering and coughing.

“It looks like we’re going to have to head home,” said Mr. Nuggin as he looked at Wesley.

The dinosaurs were disappointed. “But we haven’t made it to the top yet!”

“I don’t think Wesley can make it any further. We can try this hike again another time,” replied Mr. Nuggin.

Wesley was sick in bed.

“Just a few more days of rest and you should be all better,” said his mother.

“I think Crispin, Suds, and Dixie are mad at me,” Wesley told his mother. “I ruined the hike! I was so excited that I stayed up all night!”

“That explains why you got so tired and sick!” said his mother.

“I’m so sorry. If I had known this was going to happen, I would have gone to bed when I was supposed to.”

“I’m sure you would have,” replied his mother, “but sometimes you need to obey even though you don’t understand all the reasons.”

When Wesley returned to school, he told his class, “I’m very sorry that everyone had to stop our hike early because of me. I should have gone to bed when my parents and friends told me to.”

“Thank you for explaining your lesson to the class, Wesley,” said Mr. Nuggin. “We forgive you. Don’t we, class?”

“We sure do!” agreed the dinosaurs.

Several weeks later, Mr. Nuggin announced that there would be another field trip. Everyone was so excited, especially Wesley.

“Mom, we’re going on a hike tomorrow! Can I go to bed early and get some extra sleep?” asked Wesley.

The next day Wesley was full of energy. The group made it to

the very top of the mountain.

“If I was going on a hike, I’d be sure to sleep super well the night before,” said Tristan.

“I’m glad to hear that,” said Grandpa Jake, “but it’s important to get good rest every night.”

“Why?” wondered Tristan.

“Your body is strengthened when you sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep you’re more likely to get sick,” explained Grandpa Jake.

“I don’t like being sick,” Tristan said. “I’d better go to bed and get a good night’s sleep. Goodnight, Grandpa!”

Moral:

Your body needs proper rest in order to stay healthy. If you sleep well and eat well, you will be less likely to get sick.