The Tale of Tom Kitten

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s cozy, funny, and non-scary, with a warm domestic setting. Great for bedtime because the mischief is gentle and the ending feels like ‘time to settle down.’

Story Synopsis

Tabitha Twitchit is expecting friends for tea, so she scrubs and dresses her kittens—Mittens, Moppet, and Tom Kitten—in clean, proper clothes. The kittens look adorable, but the outfits feel stiff and uncomfortable, especially for Tom. As soon as their mother steps away to prepare for company, the kittens start to play. They tumble, chase, and roll, and the fancy clothing can’t keep up: buttons pop off, pinafores twist, and Tom’s little suit comes apart piece by piece. Soon the kittens are half-dressed, then mostly undressed, giggling and squirming. In the middle of the chaos, some ducks wander in and the kittens’ lost clothes become part of an even bigger mix-up. When Tabitha’s guests arrive, she expects three spotless kittens—only to find confusion upstairs and the sound of mischief instead. By the end, everyone learns that dressing up is hard work when you’re full of playful energy—and that sometimes the best thing after a busy day is to calm down and rest.

Story Excerpt

Once upon a time, there were three little kittens named Mittens, Tom Kitten, and Moppet. They loved to tumble about the doorstep and play in the sunny dust. One afternoon, their mother, Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit, was expecting friends for tea. She called her kittens indoors to wash and dress them before the company arrived. First, she scrubbed their faces until they shone. Then she brushed their soft fur and carefully combed their tails and whiskers. Tom Kitten was feeling mischievous and wiggled and scratched a little, but his mother was patient. Mrs. Tabitha dressed Moppet and Mittens in clean pinafores. Then, for her son Tom, she took out some very elegant and rather uncomfortable clothes. Tom had grown so much that when he put on the little suit, several buttons popped right off. His mother sighed and sewed them on again. When the three kittens were all dressed, Mrs. Tabitha sent them into the garden to play quietly. “ Now, keep your clothes clean, children! ” she said. “ You must walk on your hind legs. Stay away from the ash - pit and the pigsty, and do not bother the Puddle - Ducks. ” Moppet and Mittens tried their best to walk down the…

In One Glance