Every night before bed, six-year-old Brooklyn pressed her nose against the window and stared at the sky.
The stars twinkled like tiny diamonds, and the big, round Moon smiled down at her. “Goodnight, Moon,” she whispered. “One day, I’ll come visit you.” Beside her, her little brother Jaden, who was four and full of giggles, added, “And I’m bringing cookies!” 🍪
Illustration:
Brooklyn and Jaden in cozy pajamas by a glowing window, their faces lit by moonlight. A sleepy cat curls on the windowsill. The Moon looks warm and friendly.
Every night, their dad told stories about rockets, astronauts, and adventures beyond the stars. He said that if they dreamed big enough and helped others along the way, anything was possible. Brooklyn believed him. Jaden believed him even more.
Illustration:
Dad sitting on the edge of their bed, book in hand, while Brooklyn and Jaden cuddle under a star-patterned blanket. A toy rocket sits on the nightstand.
One quiet night, Brooklyn couldn’t sleep. The Moon looked extra big—so close she felt she could touch it. She tiptoed to Dad’s room. “Dad,” she whispered, “the Moon’s calling us.” Dad rubbed his eyes and smiled. “The Moon’s calling us, huh?” Jaden popped up from his blanket fort. “Then let’s go!”
Illustration:
Brooklyn tugging Dad’s hand, Jaden holding a flashlight upside down, both glowing with excitement. Outside, the full moon beams through the window.
They crept outside to the backyard—and gasped.
Where their sandbox used to be stood a shiny cardboard rocket ship!
It had buttons made from bottle caps, glowing Christmas lights, and a sign that read: “DESTINATION: MOON.” “Should we go?” Dad asked.
Brooklyn grinned. “Let’s do it.”
Illustration:
A whimsical cardboard rocket patched with tape and doodles, fairy lights glowing, lawn still damp with dew. The family gazes in wonder.
They climbed inside—Brooklyn at the controls, Jaden holding his cookie bag, and Dad in the captain’s chair.
Dad counted down:“Five... Four... Three... Two... One... BLAST OFF!” The rocket rattled, lights blinked, and suddenly—whoosh!—they zoomed into the night sky.
Illustration:
The rocket lifting off with a soft glow, stars swirling around them, their pajamas fluttering like superhero capes.
They soared past glittering stars and sleepy comets.
Jaden waved at a shooting star. “Hi, star! We’re going to the Moon!”
Brooklyn looked out the window. Earth looked small and beautiful, like a marble floating in black velvet.
Illustration:
A view from inside the rocket: Brooklyn’s face pressed to the glass, Jaden pointing at constellations, Dad steering with a smile.
When they landed, the rocket made a soft thump.
The Moon was quiet. Silvery dust sparkled like sugar.
No trees, no sound—just endless hills of glowing craters. Then they heard it… a tiny sniffle behind a rock.
Illustration:
A soft, glowing lunar landscape. The three explorers step out in pajamas and paper helmets. Behind a rock, two glowing bunny ears peek out.
A little Moon Bunny peeked out, its ears drooping.
“What’s wrong?” Brooklyn asked gently.
“My Moonlight Lantern went out,” the bunny sniffled. “Now my family can’t find their way home.”
Brooklyn looked at her dad. “We can help, right?”
Dad nodded. “Of course.”
Illustration:
A tiny silvery bunny holding a dark lantern, stars reflected in its eyes. Brooklyn kneeling beside it, Jaden offering a cookie.
Text:
They worked together—
Brooklyn held the lantern steady,
Dad twisted wires with his keychain,
and Jaden added cookie crumbs “for extra power.”
Click! The lantern burst into light—brighter than before!
The Moon Bunny hopped in circles. “You fixed it! You brought back the light!”
Illustration:
Warm golden light glowing between their hands, reflecting on smiling faces and shining bunny fur.
All around, little glowing bunnies popped out of craters.
They lit up the Moon until it shimmered like a silver sea.
Brooklyn whispered, “It’s beautiful.”
Dad smiled. “See? Big or small, anyone can shine a little light.”
Jaden nodded sleepily. “Even with cookies.”
Illustration:
Hundreds of glowing moon bunnies hopping joyfully, surrounding the family. The sky sparkles above them.
They climbed back into their rocket, waving goodbye to their new friends.
“Come back soon!” the Moon Bunnies called.
As they zoomed toward home, Brooklyn pressed her hand against the window.
“We really did visit the Moon,” she whispered.
Dad replied softly, “And you made it brighter.”
Illustration:
The rocket gliding past constellations, the Moon glowing behind them like a lantern in the dark.
When the sun rose, Dad woke up in the backyard with Brooklyn and Jaden curled up beside him under a blanket.
The cardboard rocket was still there—dusty, dented… and sprinkled with sparkling silver dust.
Brooklyn blinked. “Was it a dream?”
Jaden pointed to something on the grass. “Then how did that get here?”
It was the Moon Bunny’s lantern, glowing softly in the morning light.
Illustration:
Early sunrise, soft pink sky. The family snuggled together, the lantern glowing faintly beside them.
That night, when the Moon rose high again, it looked a little brighter—
and if you looked closely, you could almost see three tiny figures waving from Earth.
Brooklyn, Jaden, and Dad smiled up at it.
Because once you’ve shared your light,
the Moon always remembers you. 🌙
Illustration:
The Moon beaming down on their house, the family waving from the window, starlight glimmering all around.
The end