A child in pyjamas looking from a cosy window at a glowing golden star

Nursery Rhymes · Traditional English nursery rhyme, from Jane Taylor's poem The Star

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

A little star shines above the sleeping world, guiding travellers with its tiny light. This familiar, slow rhyme is made for a quiet voice at the very end of bedtime.

The full traditional rhyme

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
They could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

'Tis your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveller in the dark:
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

The End

Next story: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
The Ugly Duckling Surprise me Tonight's story

About this story

A true one-minute bedtime rhyme for ages 1–3, with a slow rhythm and a final verse that naturally lowers the room's energy.

Read this next

  • Humpty Dumpty 1 min · Ages 1–3Another genuine one-minute rhyme for ages 1–3.
  • Hey Diddle Diddle 1 min · Ages 1–3Another genuine one-minute rhyme for ages 1–3.

Talk about it

The lesson

Even a little light can help someone find their way.

Questions to ask

  1. Where is the star?
  2. What does the star look like?
  3. What can you see in the sky tonight?

Words to know

blazing
Shining very brightly.
traveller
Someone going from one place to another.
spark
A tiny point of bright light.

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