Nathaniel and Bodhi: The Night of the Wise Bear
A mindful bedtime story about big feelings, quiet breaths, and the magic of a giant teddy bear
Why We Wrote This Story
At Little Yoddha Steps, we believe in creating calming routines that help children feel emotionally safe — especially at bedtime. This gentle story supports emotional development through breathing, imagination, and connection with something soft, familiar, and comforting.
Inspired by our giant teddy bears, this bedtime story is about a little boy named Nathaniel who learns to manage big feelings… with the help of a magical bear named Bodhi.
Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers ages 2–6, this story invites cuddles, calm, and even forgiveness — with a quiet moment of peace before sleep.
🎧 Want to listen instead? You can now enjoy this story as a free audiobook, perfect for bedtime wind-down. ▶️ [Click here to listen]
📖 The Story
Nathaniel was grumpy.
The kind of grumpy where your arms feel stiff, your chest feels tight, and your eyes feel hot — but no tears come out.
His big sister, Sophia, had knocked over his block tower right before bedtime.
She didn’t mean to. She said she was sorry.
But he had worked so hard on it. Four whole floors. A garage for his favorite car. It wasn’t fair.
Now he sat on his bed, arms crossed tight, holding his biggest, fluffiest teddy bear in his lap.
It was a huge bear — soft, brown, and almost as tall as the dresser.
The one he used as a pillow during stories.
The one he squeezed when he felt sad.
“I don’t want to forgive her,” he mumbled into the bear’s fur.
“I don’t even want to sleep.”
The room was quiet. Only the moonlight whispered through the curtains.
Nathaniel’s eyes fluttered closed anyway, and as they did… something changed.
The giant teddy bear in his lap shivered.
Then wiggled.
Then… stood up.
Not just stood up — it stretched to its full size, towering beside the bed with a warm, gentle glow in its eyes.
Nathaniel blinked.
“Whaaa…?” he gasped.
The bear chuckled.
“Hi there. I’m Bodhi,” it said in a voice like a yawn and a hug.
“You’ve had a big day.”
“You’re… you’re my bear!” Nathaniel whispered. “You’re HUGE!”
“I’ve always been your size on the inside,” Bodhi smiled.
“But in dreams, I get to stretch out.”
Bodhi reached out a big soft paw.
“Let’s go somewhere quiet — a place where we can learn what to do with big feelings.”
In a blink, they were in a glowing forest.
Blue trees shimmered above.
Fireflies floated like little stars.
Nathaniel stood next to Bodhi, whose huge, fluffy body made him feel safe — like a walking blanket of calm.
They found a soft circle of moss and sat down together.
“Breathe with me,” Bodhi said.
“In… and out. Like a sleepy dragon.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes and followed.
In... and out...
The thunder in his chest began to fade.
After a few quiet breaths, Bodhi reached into his fur and pulled out a glowing glass jar.
“This is your Heart Jar,” he said gently.
“When we breathe through big feelings — anger, sadness, all of it — a little light floats in here.”
Nathaniel looked down at the jar.
“Even when I’m mad at Sophia?”
“Especially then,” Bodhi smiled.
Nathaniel thought about her face when she said sorry.
The way she helped him with puzzles.
The way she always gave him the last cookie.
He closed his eyes.
“It’s okay, Sophia,” he whispered. “I forgive you.”
The jar lit up — warm and gold, like sunlight in a bottle.
“That’s your heart making room for peace,” Bodhi said softly.
Suddenly — Nathaniel opened his eyes.
Soft morning light was peeking through the curtains.
His giant teddy bear sat just as he left it — soft, still, and quiet.
But… did it just wink?
Nathaniel squinted.
“Hmmm…”
He slipped out of bed, heart warm and light.
Tiptoed down the hall.
Found Sophia sitting on the rug, coloring.
She looked up — surprised.
Before she could say anything, Nathaniel ran to her and gave her the biggest bear hug he could.
She blinked… then smiled… and hugged him right back.
“I’m sorry about your tower,” she whispered.
“It’s okay,” he said. “I love you, Sophia.”
💛 The End
(And maybe... the start of a lifetime of peaceful dreams and breathing bears.)
🧸 Bring Home a Bedtime Buddy Like Bodhi
This story was inspired by the giant plush teddy bears at Little Yoddha Steps — cozy companions designed to help children feel grounded, safe, and loved.
Whether used for:
- Bedtime snuggles
- Calm-down corners
- Emotional support during big feelings
…our teddy bears are more than just toys. They’re guardians of calm.