The Cat and the Fiddle

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s playful but cozy, ending with music and laughter. Great for bedtime because it wraps the nonsense rhyme inside a warm ‘how it began’ story.

Story Synopsis

Bobby lives with his parents on a peaceful farm far from town. His favorite thing in the world is music, and when his father brings home a fiddle, Bobby plays it everywhere. One summer day, Bobby’s parents leave for town, and Bobby stays behind. The farm feels quiet—until Bobby begins to play. The sound seems to wake the whole place into silliness. The cat creeps closer, the cow wanders near, the little dog watches with bright eyes. Then the evening turns wonderfully absurd. As Bobby’s music continues, one strange thing leads to another: the cow makes an impossible leap, the dog reacts as if it can’t believe what it sees, and even the dish and the spoon seem to join the fun. By the time Bobby’s parents return, the house is full of the kind of laughter that comes from a story you can’t quite explain—only retell. Bobby turns the whole night into a new tune and sings the words that become the old rhyme: “Hey, diddle, diddle… the cat and the fiddle… the cow jumped over the moon…” For bedtime, this story is a gentle bridge between a real-world setting and a classic nonsense verse, helping kids enjoy imagination while still feeling safe at home.

Story Excerpt

Once there was a boy named Bobby who lived on a small farm with his mother and father. The farm was quiet and peaceful, far from town, with fields and a little brook that ran through the pasture. Bobby loved music more than anything. One day his father brought him a fiddle from town, and Bobby learned to play it. He wasn't fancy, but the tunes made him happy, and he carried his fiddle everywhere. One warm summer day, Bobby's parents needed to go to town to sell butter and eggs. " We'll be gone until evening, " his mother said. " I've left you bread and milk for supper. Be good, and play your fiddle while we're away. " Bobby waved goodbye as the wagon rolled down the road. He wasn't alone, though. The big black cat dozed on the kitchen floor. The little yellow dog barked and wagged his tail. And the spotted cow grazed peacefully by the brook. Bobby went to work in the garden, pulling weeds from the carrot bed. The little dog sat nearby, watching with bright eyes and a wagging tail. Sometimes he chased a butterfly or barked at…

In One Glance