The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s suspenseful but cozy: winter stores, animal neighbors, and a safe ending. It’s excellent for bedtime reassurance after a day of worries—everything comes back to calm.

Story Synopsis

Timmy Tiptoes is a careful squirrel who spends autumn gathering nuts, storing them for winter. He and his wife, Goody Tiptoes, take pride in being prepared. But the woodland is busy, and other animals are always watching where the nuts go. One day, a human accidentally creates trouble—Timmy is trapped in a narrow, dark place where he can’t get out. Time passes, and Goody Tiptoes grows frightened. She looks for him and asks neighbors for help. Some animals are kind; others gossip or accuse, and confusion spreads through the community. Meanwhile, Timmy endures the uncomfortable wait. He hears sounds from outside and feels the winter air closing in. In classic Potter fashion, the danger is real but not cruel—more like a scary inconvenience that makes everyone’s nerves tight. Eventually, Timmy is found and released. He returns home, and the household quiet returns: warm nuts, familiar corners, and the relief of being together again. The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes is a story about how worry can grow when we don’t know what happened—and how comfort returns when the missing piece comes home.

Story Excerpt

Once upon a time, in a tall tree with leaves all around, there lived a plump little grey squirrel named Timmy Tiptoes. His nest was cozy and warm, tucked up high where the branches swayed in the breeze. And he had a dear little wife called Goody. One crisp autumn morning, Timmy sat outside their nest, whisking his fluffy tail back and forth. " Little wife Goody, " he said happily, " the nuts are ripe! We must gather plenty for winter and spring. " Goody was busy tucking soft moss under the roof of their nest. " Our home is so snug, " she said. " We shall sleep soundly all winter long. " " And then we shall wake up very hungry when springtime comes, " said Timmy wisely. " We need lots of nuts! " So off they went to the nut thicket together. When Timmy and Goody arrived, they found other squirrels already there, scurrying about and chattering. Timmy took off his little jacket and hung it on a twig. Then he and Goody got to work, quietly filling their bags with nuts. Every day they made trip after trip, carrying heavy bags of nuts back home. They stored them carefully in hollow stumps near their tree. When those stumps were full, they found a hole high up in an old woodpecker tree. They poured the nuts inside, and the nuts rattled down, down, down into the darkness. " However will you get them out again? " asked Goody, peering into the hole. " It's like a money - box! " Timmy chuckled. " I shall be much thinner by springtime, my love. I'll squeeze right in! " They collected so very many nuts, because they were careful and never forgot where they put them. But not all the squirrels in the wood were so careful. The most forgetful squirrel of all was called Silvertail. He had buried his nuts in the…

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