Audiobook Narration Practice Script · Children's picture book read-aloud
Juniper Bean Is Not Sleepy
Children's picture book read-aloud script for audiobook practice: stubborn Juniper Bean insists she's not sleepy. Cozy bedtime voices and pacing.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Length
- 164 words · ~1 min 6 sec
- Skills
- read-aloud warmth, character voices, pace control
- License
- CC BY 4.0
The script
When the moon came up over Willow Lane, everybody got ready for bed. Everybody except Juniper Bean.
'Time for sleep,' said the cat, curling up on the stair. 'Not me,' said Juniper Bean. 'I'm not sleepy. Not one bit.'
'Time for sleep,' said the dog, flopping down on his rug with a great big sigh. 'Not me,' said Juniper Bean. 'I'm not sleepy. Not even a little bit.'
'Time for sleep,' whispered the goldfish, drifting down to the bottom of his bowl. Blub. Blub. Blub.
'Not me!' said Juniper Bean, and she jumped on the bed, and she hopped on the rug, and she danced all the way around the goldfish bowl.
Then she sat down. Just for a second. Just to rest her feet.
Her eyes went droopy. Her yawn went wide. Her head went down, down, down on her soft, squishy pillow.
'Not sleepy,' whispered Juniper Bean.
And by the time the moon peeked in the window, Juniper Bean was fast asleep.
Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0. Original script drafted with AI assistance and edited by SceneDub; any resemblance to existing characters is coincidental.
Practise it now
The teleprompter scrolls at the speed you set in words per minute. Tick "Record audio while reading" to capture a take; the audio stays in your browser until you download it.
Coaching notes
- Each 'Time for sleep' gets sleepier: a lazy cat, a big sighing dog, then a bubbly goldfish whisper. Kids love hearing the pattern change.
- Juniper's 'Not me' should get bigger and bouncier as the story goes, peaking on the jumping, hopping, dancing sentence. Read that one with real momentum.
- From 'Then she sat down' to the end, slow way down and lower your volume. 'Down, down, down' should sound like sinking, and the last line should be barely above a whisper.
Try it three more ways
- Read it as a tired parent at the end of a very long day who is also nodding off.
- Read it with Juniper as a growly, grumpy little kid instead of a bouncy one.
- Read it for a classroom of excited preschoolers, with big animal voices and lots of energy.
Take it further
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the "Juniper Bean Is Not Sleepy" script?
164 spoken words, about 1 min 6 sec at a conversational 150 words per minute and 1 min 16 sec at a slower 130 wpm. Your take will vary with pauses and character choices.
Can I use this script in my voice acting demo reel?
Yes. SceneDub's original scripts are licensed CC BY 4.0. You can perform, record, edit, and publish them, including in demo reels, classes, and auditions, as long as you credit "Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0" where you share the recording or the text.
How should I practise this script?
Read it silently once, then perform it with the direction above: cozy, playful, gently winding down, starts lively, slows to ~110 words per minute by the end. Record a take with the teleprompter, listen back, and try one of the alternate reads to stretch your range.