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[COVER]

🎨 __N1__, a happy little girl in pyjamas, standing in a wicker basket of a softly glowing cream-and-lavender hot-air balloon floating over sleepy rooftops at dusk, hugging a small teddy bear; warm honey light from a tiny lantern, first stars appearing. Plenty of open sky at the top.

1

The moon is up, the bath is done, The day has folded up its sun. But __N1__ whispers, snug and small: "I'm not even tired at all!"

🎨 __N1__ the little girl sitting up in bed under a cosy duvet, wide awake with a cheeky smile, hugging a teddy bear; a soft lamp glows, the window shows a deep-blue evening sky with the moon.

2

Then at the window — bump! — hello! A balloon with a gentle glow, Its basket lined with blanket fluff, Just right for bears and bedtime stuff.

🎨 A softly glowing cream-and-lavender hot-air balloon bumping gently against the bedroom window, its wicker basket lined with fluffy blankets; __N1__ kneeling on the bed looking amazed, teddy bear peeking too.

3

"Hop in," it hums, "there's room for two — One seat for Bear, one seat for you. We'll take the sleepy sky-road round, And float you softly back to town."

🎨 __N1__ climbing carefully from the windowsill into the balloon basket, holding the teddy bear; the balloon glows warm and friendly, little lantern swinging; the bedroom behind, night sky ahead.

4

Up, up they go — oh my, oh my! The rooftops wave as they float by. The chimney pots all nod goodnight, And streetlamps blink their bedtime light.

🎨 The glowing balloon rising gently over cosy town rooftops at night; __N1__ and the teddy bear peeking over the basket edge, delighted; chimney pots and warm streetlamps below, deep-blue star-sprinkled sky.

5

They pass the clouds, all tucked in tight, Like woolly sheep in quilts of white. "Shhh," says __N1__, "they've gone to sleep — We mustn't wake a single sheep."

🎨 The balloon floating past plump white clouds shaped like sleeping woolly sheep, each tucked under a wisp of cloud-blanket; __N1__ holding a finger to her lips with a gentle smile, teddy copying.

6

The stars lean close to have a peek: "A visitor! It's been a week!" They sprinkle sparkles on her nose, And giggle-twinkle as she goes.

🎨 Little smiling stars leaning in around the balloon, sprinkling tiny golden sparkles that land on __N1__'s nose; __N1__ laughing, sparkles glittering on the teddy bear's ears too.

7

The Moon looks up from moonly things, Like polishing her silver rings. "Hello, dear __N1__! My, you've grown! Come warm your hands beside my glow."

🎨 A big kind crescent moon with a gentle face, softly silver, greeting the balloon; __N1__ holding out both hands to the warm moonlight glow, teddy bear on the basket rim; tiny silver rings of light around the moon.

8

They share a cup of cocoa-cloud, (Not too hot and not too loud), And Moon tells tales of long ago, When little stars were learning glow.

🎨 __N1__ and the moon sharing tiny steaming cups made of cloud, cocoa-warm light; the teddy bear holding its own miniature cup; a cosy floating tea-party in the night sky, baby stars listening around them.

9

But then a yawn — a big one — POP! It starts down low and won't quite stop. The Moon smiles wide: "Ah yes, I see. It's time to tuck you in for me."

🎨 __N1__ caught mid-enormous-yawn, eyes going sleepy, the teddy bear yawning too; the moon smiling knowingly; the balloon beginning to turn gently homeward through the stars.

10

The balloon drifts down the sleepy street, Past dreaming dogs and parked-up fleets, And lands as light as snow can land, Right on the sill where journeys planned.

🎨 The glowing balloon descending gently over the quiet street toward __N1__'s window; a dog asleep in a doorway below, parked cars dozing; __N1__ drowsy in the basket hugging the teddy.

11

Into bed and duvet-deep, Bear tucked close and half asleep, The balloon whispers, soft and true: "I'll keep a seat kept warm for you."

🎨 __N1__ tucked snugly back in bed, eyes almost closed, teddy bear under her arm; at the window the glowing balloon waves a little rope like a hand, warm and friendly.

12

So if one night you're wide awake, And hear a bump the window makes — It's just a friend with room for two. Goodnight, dear __N1__. It waits for you.

🎨 The bedroom dark and peaceful, __N1__ fast asleep with a tiny smile, teddy bear tucked in; through the window, far away in the starry sky, the little glowing balloon floating off past the moon. Calm final bedtime scene.