Bedtime stories about princesses.

Princess Lila lived in a castle with tall towers and a garden full of roses. Every night, before she went to bed, she walked through the castle in her slippers to say goodnight to everyone who looked after it.

First she went to the kitchen, where the cook was wiping the last pan. "Thank you for the soup, Cook," said Lila. "Goodnight." The cook smiled and blew out the candle.

Next she climbed to the top of the tower, where the guard was watching the stars. "Thank you for keeping us safe," said Lila. "Goodnight." The guard tipped his hat.

Then she tiptoed down to the stable, where her pony, Juniper, was munching hay. "Thank you for the ride today," said Lila, and stroked his soft nose. Juniper gave a sleepy snort.

At last Princess Lila climbed into her own bed, under a blanket stitched with silver stars. The castle was quiet, the candles were out, and everyone in it had been thanked. She closed her eyes and fell asleep, the happiest princess in the kingdom.

Princess Amara had a crown made of gold, with a tiny blue stone in the middle. In the daytime it was just a crown. But every evening, when the sun went down, it began to hum.

Hmmm, hmmm, it went, very softly, like someone singing in another room. Amara didn't know why. She asked the queen, who only smiled and said, "Listen carefully, and you'll find out."

So that evening, Amara listened. The crown hummed while she ate her supper. It hummed a little slower while she had her bath. And while she brushed her teeth, it hummed the slowest, sleepiest tune of all.

Amara yawned. "I think," she said, "you are telling me it's bedtime." The little blue stone glowed, just once, as if to say yes.

So Princess Amara put on her nightgown and set the crown on the pillow beside her. It hummed a lullaby, soft and low, and long before the song was finished, the princess and her crown were both fast asleep.

Princess Wren had a window that looked right out at the sky. One night, when everyone else was asleep, she noticed the moon. It was all alone, with no stars nearby, and Wren thought it looked a little lonely.

"Don't worry, Moon," she whispered. "I'll keep you company." She pulled her blanket around her shoulders and sat by the window.

She told the moon about her day: the bird she had fed in the garden, the puzzle she had finished, the cake that had been just a little too sweet. The moon listened, round and patient.

Then Wren sang the moon a quiet song, the one her grandmother sang to her. As she sang, one star came out, then another, then a whole sky of them, gathering around the moon like friends.

"There," said Wren with a yawn, "now you're not lonely at all." She climbed back into bed. The moon shone softly through her window, all night long, keeping her company in return.