Zoe Leads the Robot Parade

A free robot bedtime story, written for ages 3–5 and ready to read aloud in about 3 minutes. Tonight's hero is Zoe.

At the summer carnival, Zoe hurried to the robot show. A tall silver robot stood on a round stage. It had square blue knees and green light eyes. A fan went whirr-whirr in its tummy. “Robots are my favorite!” Zoe said.

Zoe raised both arms. The robot raised both arms. Zoe tapped her head. Clink! The robot tapped its head. Zoe wiggled her elbows. Clink-clonk! The robot wiggled, too. “You copy me!” Zoe cried. Its green eyes blinked.

Then drums began. Boom-ba-boom! It was time for the robot parade. A red star marked the finish. The crowd clapped along. But the robot did not march. It stood on the little stage. Boom-ba-boom went the drums again. Still no march.

“Come on, robot!” people called. The robot’s green eyes stayed on Zoe. Zoe noticed that. It had copied every move she made. It needed to see marching. Soon the song would be done. Zoe knew what to do.

The ring looked very wide. Zoe’s toes curled in her yellow sandals. She took one brave step forward. Then one more. She stood before the robot. Both faced the red star. “Copy me,” Zoe said.

Zoe lifted one knee. Clonk! The robot lifted one knee. Zoe planted her foot. Bang! The robot planted its foot. Zoe marched. The robot stepped off the stage. Left, right. Left, right. Clink-clonk, clink-clonk!

Across the ring they went. Zoe marched past the striped popcorn booth. The robot marched behind her. The drums matched their feet. Boom, clonk! Boom, clonk! The crowd marched in place. A summer breeze shook the bright flags.

At last, Zoe stepped onto the red star. The robot stepped there, too. The drums gave one last BOOM! Everyone cheered. Zoe held up her palm. Cool silver fingers touched it. Zoe grinned, palm to silver palm.