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Emilia Counts Sleepy Sheep

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Goodnight, Emilia · Story 4

About “Emilia Counts Sleepy Sheep”

Emilia is still wiggly at bedtime, so she counts the sleepy sheep hopping over a little gate on the moonlit hill, one to ten, from a big fluffy sheep to the littlest lamb, who can't quite get over... Then she counts them back down, ten to one, as the whole flock falls asleep, and so does Emilia.

Counting is the whole wind-down in this one. Emilia is still wiggly at bedtime, so from her bed she watches a flock of sheep hop over a little gate on the moonlit hill, one per number, each a little different: a black sheep, a curly one, a ram with horns curled like a snail, one in pajamas, one who naps on the gate. The littlest lamb, number ten, needs a secret boost that only the viewer sees. After the biggest yawn of the day, the count goes up once more, then slowly back down from ten to one as the flock, and then Emilia, falls asleep.

This story is coming to YouTube soon. You can read it below and print its coloring page now.

What Emilia learns

  • flock
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10

Tips for grown-ups

  • Count the way the narrator does, slowly and evenly, about one number per breath. On the countdown from ten to one, let your voice get a little softer with each number.
  • Notice that Emilia never gets out of bed. She sits up to peek out the window beside it, so counting from bed can be the thing to do when your child feels wiggly.
  • The AAP suggests taking care of needs like a drink of water, a light on or a door left open before lights out, so they don't turn into reasons to delay sleep. Do those first, then start the sheep.
  • When "one more" starts, offer one more countdown instead of one more story. The AAP also suggests not going back in once you know your child is safe and well, since even a quick check can teach that calling out brings you back.
  • A study reported by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that young children fell asleep faster with a short nightly routine of a bath, lotion or massage, and quiet time such as cuddling or a lullaby. This story's piano lullaby counts the sheep again, and you can hum it yourself for that quiet step.

Talk about it

After watching, ask:

  • Why did Emilia count sheep?
  • Which sheep had curls, like Emilia's hair?
  • What was sheep number six wearing?
  • Who was last to hop over the gate?
  • What do we call a group of sheep?
  • Can you count back down from ten with me?

Try this together

Line up ten socks or small toys at the foot of the bed as the sheep. Hop each one over a pillow gate as you count up, then lay them down one at a time while you whisper the numbers back from ten to one.

Free coloring page

Coloring page: Emilia in her pajamas counting sleepy sheep as one in pajamas and a nightcap hops over the little white gate under the crescent moon, while the mama sheep waits her turn

Emilia Counts Sleepy Sheep: print it (US Letter or A4) or color it on screen.

Read the story

Emilia Counts Sleepy Sheep. The lights are down low,
but Emilia's still wiggly, from her head to her toe.
How many sheep till she's sleepy? Let's count and see.
Get cozy, and whisper the numbers with me.

She peeked out with Pip. A flock, a group of sheep,
stood in line by a gate, waiting their turn to leap.

One: a big, fluffy white sheep, as soft as a cloud.
Two: a black sheep, who said "baa," but not very loud.
Three: a sheep full of curls, like Emilia's hair.
Four: a sheep with brown spots, a few here and there.
Five: a ram, a daddy sheep, horns curled like a snail.
Six: a sheep in pajamas, from her ears to her tail.
Seven: a sheep who yawned in the middle of her hop.
Eight: a sheep who napped on the gate, right on top.
Nine: a mama sheep, who turned back around to wait.
Ten: her littlest lamb, who came last to the gate.

The lamb hopped and hopped, but the gate was so tall,
for someone so tiny, the littlest of all.
Then, somehow, she was over... and into Mama's hug.
Goodnight, mama sheep. Goodnight, lamb. Snug as a bug.

Emilia yawned the biggest yawn of the day.
All of her wiggles had hopped far away.
It took ten sleepy sheep! Let's count them again.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Sheep like to sleep close to each other, it's true,
so the flock huddled up, the way woolly sheep do.
Their thick coats of wool kept them cozy all night.
Goodnight, sheep. Goodnight, flock. Sleep tight.

Then she lay down with Pip, all tucked in her bed.
Her eyes felt so heavy, and so did her head.
Let's count them back down, now the hopping is done.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Her eyes closed... and Emilia was fast asleep.
Goodnight, Emilia. Goodnight, sleepy sheep.

And up on her ceiling, star number four glowed bright.
Next time: the moon who couldn't sleep a wink all night.

Shh... let's count the sheep once more, in a lullaby.

The lullaby: “Goodnight, Sleepy Sheep”

The story ends with its own lullaby, sung softly while everyone falls asleep. Sing it at bedtime, slowly.

Goodnight, sleepy sheep, by the little white gate,
the moon is up high, and it's getting so late.
One, two, three, four, five, over they go,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten, all in a row.
And the littlest lamb, when the gate was so tall,
hopped over to Mama, the last of them all.
Goodnight, sleepy sheep, the whole flock in a heap,
close your eyes, little one, and drift off to sleep.

Goodnight, sleepy sheep... goodnight, sleepy sheep...

Questions parents ask

Does counting sheep really help a child fall asleep?

There's no magic in the sheep themselves. What helps a wiggly child is having something calm and repetitive to do in bed instead of getting up, and a slow count is exactly that. If sleep troubles go on for weeks, ask your child's doctor.

Can we use this story without a screen?

Yes. The whole story is printed on this page, and this website has no ads, so you can read it aloud in a dim room, count the sheep on your fingers, and hum a lullaby to finish.

Does the littlest lamb get stuck?

Only for a moment. She hops and hops at the tall gate, then somehow she is over and in her mama's hug. Sharp-eyed children may spot who gave her a boost.

Sources

Our tips follow these pages. They are general information, not medical advice: ask your child's doctor or dentist about your child.