Hello, friends. Have you checked out our new channel on Apple Podcasts? Over the past few years,

Clark and I have worked hard to bring you stories and science content that entertains and

educates while helping your little ones relax and drift off to sleep.

On our new channel, you'll find ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and for the first time,

classic tales, presented just as they were meant to be heard, one chapter at a time.

It's a wonderful way to experience these timeless stories together, helping to make bedtime

a cozy, shared adventure. Look for Sleeptight Media on Apple Podcasts, and let's make bedtime the best part of the day.

Hello, I'm Cheryl, and this is Sleep Tight Relax, a calming bedtime podcast for the young and young at heart.

In this story, Little Bear wakes up and starts thinking about what he is going to have for breakfast.

He does his stretching and listens to the sounds of the others in the house.

As he heads downstairs, he hears Joe Otter wondering about his homework and decides to give him a surprise.

Did you know that in the north bears sleep in the winter, but they don't hibernate?

Hybernating animals have a very low temperature. Bears just take a long, long nap.

Sometimes they wake up and go out in the winter. Most experts think polar bears are the

largest bears, with males weighing between 900 and 1,500 pounds.

Brown bears are the next largest.

Now, before we continue with our story, let's start by making sure you are comfy and taking some great,

big belly breaths. Breathing in slowly through your nose and slowly out through your mouth.

Notice how your belly rises as you fill yourself up with air.

Breathe in and breathe out.

Notice how relaxing it feels as you release the breath.

Breathe in.

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