The Bedtime Worlds We Build: One Quiet Story for Kids Who Feel Deeply
I didn’t start out wanting to write a children’s book.
I started out wanting to tell a story for kids who sit quietly while the louder ones get noticed. For the kids who don’t always laugh the loudest, run the fastest, or say the funniest things but who feel everything deeply.
Bedtime can be chaos. For the parent on duty, it can feel like the final challenge of the day. The clock is ticking, everyone’s tired, and you’re somehow expected to create a calm, screen-free moment of connection before lights out. And yet, those ten minutes before sleep are where some of the most important parenting happens.
My wife works with young children and sees firsthand how deeply they feel everything, especially the quiet ones. The kids who don’t fight bedtime but instead ask gentle, impossible questions like, ‘Why don’t I feel like the other kids?’ or ‘Is it okay if I don’t want to be funny like them?’
That’s what led me to create Wally the Rabbit. A small, sleepy-eyed bunny with a red scarf and a soft heart. Wally is the main character in my storybook “The Adventures of Wally the Rabbit: Wally and the Forest of Faces”. He lives in a forest full of bold, funny, loud animals… and he doesn’t quite fit in.
One day, Wally stumbles into a part of the forest where magical trees smile down at him with glowing faces, each one different. There’s a silly face, a shy face, a sleepy face… even one that looks like Wally.
The trees tell him: “We’re all different and that’s what makes the forest beautiful.” It’s a short story, but it’s rooted in something bigger, the idea that being yourself is the bravest thing a kid can do.
But Wally isn’t alone in the forest and neither is your child.
As I wrote his story, more characters began to show up. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just there, quietly waiting to be known. Like the kids who take time to speak. The ones who feel deeply, even if they don’t always show it.
These are not wild adventures or high-stakes conflicts. These are small emotional journeys, the kind that happen quietly, in a child’s mind, often right before sleep. The kind of feelings that don’t always get space in traditional stories, because they don’t shout, they whisper.
You’ll meet:
– Benjamin Bear, who needs time to decide and reminds us that slow isn’t wrong
– Suzy the Llama, who worries she’ll get it wrong and shows us that courage often is rewarded
– Ally the Alligator, who’s often misunderstood and helps us look beyond first impressions
– Ralph the Fox, who’s wild on the outside but tender on the inside and teaches us to hold space for contradictions
Each of these characters offers a different kind of mirror, a chance for children to see themselves reflected back with kindness, curiosity, and compassion. Their stories aren’t about fixing anything. They’re about understanding. They offer a way in for a parent, a caregiver, or a tired little soul who’s been carrying big feelings all day.
Over time, I hope these stories become a small, soft universe children can return to when they’re unsure, when they feel too much, or when they just want to be reminded:
“Nothing is wrong with you. You’re already enough.”
Some stories end with a lesson. But Wally’s story ends with a feeling, one that doesn’t rush, doesn’t fix, doesn’t demand a next step.
Just a quiet message for kids who need gentleness:
“You’re safe. You’re understood. You’re enough.”
Final Thoughts
We don’t always need bigger stories or louder lessons. Sometimes, the bedtime world we build is enough. Wally may not be the hero who saves the day, but he’s the kind of hero who reminds your child they are already enough. And sometimes, that’s the story that matters most.
The Adventures of Wally the Rabbit Series
The Adventures of Wally the Rabbit: Book 1: Wally and the Forest of Faces
A gentle bedtime story about being yourself — with a lovable bunny kids will adore.
Wally is a quiet little rabbit with sleepy eyes, a red scarf, and a heart full of wonder. He watches the other animals play, laugh, and shine… but he doesn’t quite feel like he fits in.
One day, Wally stumbles into a part of the forest he’s never seen before — a magical place where the trees have glowing faces, each one different. There, Wally learns a beautiful truth:
Being different is what makes the forest — and each of us — special.
This tender, illustrated story is perfect for bedtime and gentle moments, helping children ages 2–6 understand self-acceptance, confidence, and the magic of being themselves.
The Adventures of Wally the Rabbit : Book 2: Wally and the Whispering Well
Wally the Rabbit returns in a gentle new story about listening to your inner voice.
In a forest full of opinions, Wally hears whispers about a magical well — one that knows everything. Unsure of what to do, he sets off on a quiet adventure to find answers. But when the well finally speaks, Wally learns something unexpected: sometimes, the softest voice is the one that comes from within.
This beautifully illustrated story is perfect for sensitive children who think deeply and feel even more. With cozy forest scenes, calm narration, and an uplifting message, Wally and the Whispering Well offers children emotional reassurance and parents a bedtime story worth revisiting again and again.
Ideal for families who value:
- Emotional intelligence
- Gentle, slow-paced storytelling
- Stories that speak to quieter kids in a loud world
A comforting story for little hearts — and the grown-ups who love them.
About the Author
George Mckay is the creator of “The Adventures of Wally the Rabbit”, a storybook series for kids who feel deeply. Inspired by his wife’s lifelong work with children, George writes quiet stories that help kids feel seen, and gives parents tools to connect with them during the moments that matter most.
You can find more of his work (including stories and free resources) at ko-fi.com/bedtime_stories
Gift
Just for readers of Chapter Break, George McKay has shared some freebies! Check them out here.
Your gifts include:
- Wally and the Forest of Faces (PDF storybook)
- A Wally coloring sheet
- A bedtime reflection card
- A drawing activity
- A bonus phone wallpaper
- A personal welcome note
So visit the Wally the Rabbit World to get your gifts.
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