The Little Moon Owl

One night, when Lily cannot sleep, she sits by her window in her yellow star-patterned pyjamas and wonders about the sparkling sky. A gentle glow floats down to her windowsill: a tiny moon owl, no bigger than a teacup, with soft silvery-white feathers, huge golden eyes and a thin blue ribbon tied around one ankle. The owl can talk, and she loves questions. She leads Lily into the garden, where an old brass telescope waits under the apple tree, and explains that it only sparkles for children who ask questions.

Looking through the telescope, Lily sees the stars blaze, twinkle and seem to dance. The moon owl shows her the Big Dipper, which looks like a giant spoon, and a pattern of stars shaped like a flying swan. When Lily decides the swan should have a name of her own, the owl encourages her: curious children can name the star pictures they find. Lily calls it the Dancing Swan, then spots a cluster of tiny lights and names it the Sleepy Cat. As she snuggles under her blanket, she asks why stars sparkle and why some are bright and some dim, and the owl answers each question patiently. This gentle tale by Aysel Banu YAVUZAL can be read on Masal İzle.