Birthday bedtime story
Happy Birthday Moon
None Join Bear on a journey to find out what moon would like for a birthday present. One night, Bear looked up at the moon and thought it would be nice to give the moon a birthday present, but he didn't know when the moon's birthday was. He climbed a tall tree to have a chat with the moon, but the moon couldn't hear him. So he went on a journey across the river, through the forest, and up to the mountains where he finally had a chat with the moon. Read along with Bear's journey to find out when the moon's birthday is and what the moon would like for a birthday present. show full description Show Short DescriptionBedtime Stories
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One night, Bear looked up at the sky and thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice to give the moon a birthday present?” But Bear didn’t know when the moon’s birthday was, or what to get him. So he climbed a tall tree to have a little chat with the moon. “Hello, Moon!” “Maybe I’m too far away,” thought Bear, “and the moon cannot hear me.” “Now I am much closer to the moon,” thought Bear. “Hello!” This time his own voice echoed off one of the other mountains. “Hello!” “Oh, boy!” he thought. “I’m talking to the moon.” “Tell me, when is your birthday?” “Tell me, when is your birthday?” “Well, it just so happens that my birthday is tomorrow!” “Well, it just so happens that my birthday is tomorrow!” “What do you want for your birthday?” “What do you want for your birthday?” “I would like a hat.
” “I would like a hat.” “Oh, goody!” thought Bear. “Now I know what to get the moon for his birthday.” “Good-bye!” “Good-bye!” That night Bear put the hat up in a tree where the moon could find it. “Hurray! It fits just right!” “So the moon got me a hat, too!” “Wait!” “Hello!” “Hello!” “I lost the beautiful hat you gave me.” “I lost the beautiful hat you gave me.” “That’s okay. I still love you!” “That’s okay. I still love you!” “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
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The Little Witch's Birthday
The Little Witch's Birthday| Bedtime-Story
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bedtime-story.com | "Oh Mum. Why can't I go outside to play with the other children?" whined Sally Applebarrel. "You know why, dear. Besides, Dr Twigg is coming to see you any minute. Now run along and get washed up, like a good little girl." |
Sally huffed and puffed, but it didn't do any good, so she finally wandered off to get cleaned up before their visitor arrived.
| There was a knock at the door. "Good morning Doctor Twigg," Sally's mum greeted the doctor as she swung open the door. "How are you?" The Doctor's face was covered in the largest bushiest beard anybody had ever seen.
|
Little Sally hadn't been feeling well for months and months, and although Doctor Twigg had been visiting Sally almost daily, always bringing with him the latest medicines, he hadn't yet been able to find a cure for Sallly's mystery illness.
"Good morning to you, Mrs Applebarrel," said Dr. Twigg. "And how are you this fine day?"
Sally peeked around the corner. "Ah, good morning Sally," said Dr. Twigg, beaming a great big smile in her direction. "Are you feeling well today, young lady?"
"I'm just a little bit tired Doctor. But I would like to go outside and play with my friends. Please tell my Mummy it would be alright," pleaded Sally.
"Very well Sally, tell your mother I said you may, but on one condition. Stay away from Black Heart forest."
Black Heart forest was dark and spooky and strange things had been known to happen there. Sally wasn't well and Dr. Twigg didn't want her exposed to anything that might place her in danger. His warning expressed his concern for his favourite little patient. "Alright, I promise, Dr. Twigg," agreed Sally.
"Mummy, I'm going out to play, smiled Sally. "Doctor Twigg says I can. I'll be back home in time for supper," and with that, a happy Sally dashed out the door, off to meet her friends, Mary and Saul, the local Blacksmith's children.
Mary and her little brother Saul were regular visitors to Black Heart forest. The pair loved playing tag in the shadows of the tall dark trees.
"Come on Sally, let's play hide and seek!" yelled Mary, and the three of them scampered off.
Suddenly Sally stopped. "Wait!" she cried. "I can't go into that spooky old forest. Ive promised my Mum and Doctor Twigg."
At that Saul began to dance around Sally, taunting her with "Scaredy-cat, Scaredy-cat."
"Who's a scaredy, scaredy cat then?" asked Mary with a sniff. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Sally. We've never seen anything spooky, have we Saul?" Saul started to shake his head then paused. "Well...there is that strange old woman who lives in the cottage down by the stream. But its not that spooky..." Still, Saul shuddered ever so slightly when Sally wasnt watching. In truth, she was sort of spooky.
The old woman always dressed in black and was thought to live all alone.
For years most of the villagers had privately referred to her as a witch, but not one of them was interested in venturing into the forest to find out if she really was or not.
"What could be so spooky about an old lady's cottage?" asked Sally curiously.
"Well," said Saul pausing briefly, "It's got a large black cauldron outside which bubbles away night and day."
"It smells horrible too," added Mary.
"I could tell you whether a cottage and a cauldron is spooky or not, said Sally. But I'd have to see it first, wouldn't I? Come on then...
And just like that...Doctor Twiggs warning was forgotten.
Sally's mind was now racing with excitement as they wandered deeper and deeper into the woods. She wanted to see the cauldron and the cottage, and the old woman who lived there.
"Ive just remembered something," Sally told Mary. "I must be home in time for supper, I've promised my Mum. Its funny how she remembered that part of her promise.
She had certainly forgotten all about Dr. Twigg's warning.
The three children ran through the forest. After a while Mary stopped. "I'm thirsty," she said. "Lets go down to the stream near the cottage so I can get a drink of water."
| This was Sally's chance to see the old woman's cottage for herself. And sure enough, just across the stream, the old thatched cottage came into view. It had small round windows, an iron studded front door, and a large cauldron was busily bubbling away in the front garden. As her friends were drinking Sally carefully made her way over a old rickety bridge and edged towards the small untidy garden near the front door. Suddenly the cottage door burst open and out ran a little girl, followed closely by a small black kitten. |
The little girl caught sight of Sally and stopped in her tracks. "Hello!" she said curiously.
"Who are you?" Sally was surprised at how nice she seemed.
"Hello," Sally replied. "My name is Sally Applebarrel. I'm from the village. Thats a nice kitten you have there? May I stroke him please?" asked Sally.
"No," snapped the little girl with a frown. "He'll scratch you. He doesn't like strangers."
But then the little girl stopped frowning. "How old are you Sally Appletree?" she asked curiously.
Sally began to giggle. "You've got my name wrong, its not Appletree, it's Applebarrel. And I'm eleven years old. How old are you?"
"I'm eleven too" said the little girl. "But only for two more days after today, and then it'll be my birthday. I'm having a birthday party," she sniffed, "but you can't come, because only other witches are invited."
Sally stood there quite silently for a moment wondering whether she had heard the little girl correctly, then looked around nervously to see where her friends were.
"Uhh.... did you say witches?" she asked.
"Of course I did. I'm not a boring little girl like you. I'm a little witch, so I can work magic spells. And I'm not supposed to play with children like you. So go away. Get out of my Grandmothers garden before I put a spell on you!
The little girl began to say some magic words and Sally became rather frightened. She turned around and began to run. Sally wasn't about to stay behind to find out what those strange words the little witch had begun chanting actually meant.
Sally dashed across the bridge and rejoined her friends. She whispered shakily that the little witch had said she was going to put a spell on them if they didn't leave right away, so the three of them turned and began to run as fast as they could. The little witch had definitely frightened them.
When they reached the edge of the forest they stopped to catch their breath."What a nasty rude girl she turned out to be!" grumbled Mary in a trembling voice.
"Well, I hope she has a horrible birthday party," sobbed a thoroughly frightened Sally, who by now was gasping for air.
The three children were still trembling when a large figure suddenly came into view, causing them to huddle together even closer.
"Now what's all this, then? What have we here?" asked a booming voice which came from behind a big bushy beard. It was Doctor Twigg, and what a welcome sight he was to the children.
Dr. Twigg took in the scene in an instant. Sally was pale as a ghost and she was having trouble catching her breath.
"You two kids go straight home to your mother," he told Mary and Saul, "she'll have your supper ready by now. I'll take Sally with me."
On the way home Doctor Twigg quizzed Sally. "You haven't gone anywhere near that old cottage in the forest, have you Sally? asked the doctor. You didn't drink any of the water from that stream? His voice was grumpy, but he was truly worried. |
Sally nodded. "Oh Doctor Twigg... I feel funny. My head is spinning and my legs are shaky... I don't know what's wrong with ..." but before Sally could finish her sentence she collapsed.
The Doctor quickly scoooped her up in his arms and ran all the way to her house. Sally's mother put her to bed and there she lay, as still as a statue. She wasn't dead, but she didn't look really alive either.
"Let her rest," said the doctor to Sally's mother. He looked very worried. He reached into his medical bag and withdrew a small bottle. "Give her this medicine if she wakes," he said. "I'll come back tomorrow to see how she is." As the doctor left the house, Sally's mum was crying silently.
But Sally didn't wake up later that day, or the day after that.
Very soon word started to spread around the tiny village about just how poorly little Sally was doing.
"She's such a sweet little girl, her poor mother must be heartbroken," sighed Julia Gunn, the parson's wife.
Her neighbor nodded. "The whole village hopes and prays that Sally gets better quickly," she agreed.
The news of Sally's strange illness had even reached deep into the forest. A woodcutter, on his way to market had paused to tell an old woman and her granddaughter who lived in a cottage deep in Black Heart forest about the little girl who had collapsed at the edge of the forest.
Although the grandaughter was interested in the news the old woman wasn't. She was too busy trying to explain to her granddaughter how important it was to become an evil witch, so she roughly sent the woodcutter on his way and turned to the child again.
| "Listen to me child," she said sharply. "There are four rules to witchdom. Rule one. Get yourself a black cat. Rule two. Always keep two broomsticks in case one breaks down. Rule three, you should look the part. Try to grow some warts and boils on your nose. |
Most important however, is rule four.
Rule four says Never do a good spell for anybody, especially on your birthday, for to do so would mean that you and all the other witches of the forest would disappear forever."
Disappear forever? The very idea sent an ice cold shiver right down the little witch's back.
| "Now be off with you... I've got some magic potions to brew," growled the old witch as she shooed the little girl outside, shutting the heavy door behind her. |
| The little girl soon became very bored. "It's just no fun playing on my own," she sighed, "I wish I had some friends to play with." As she gently stroked her cat, the little witch remembered Sally and her friends. |
"I was very rude to that poor little girl, wasn't I Merlin? And now I've heard she's become ill, and the woodcutter said she's doing poorly.
I wonder if there is anything I can do to help her?" the little witch mused, and then she began to think.
"I know!" she told her cat. "I could go visit Sally. Maybe I could put a spell on her to make her well again!" but even as she thought, the warning drifted into her head. She didn't particularly want to be responsible for making all the witches of the forest disappear, now did she?
But after another two hours of boredom she decided to seek out Sally Applebarrel.
Even though by now it was getting late in the day, the little girl jumped onto her broomstick and flew through the forest towards the village. Once there she would see if there was anything that could be done.
| When she got to the village the little witch noticed that everyone was very quiet. Sally was not doing well. She wasn't doing well at all, and everybody felt terrible about it. "I must do something to help. The window to Sally's bedroom was wide open. The little witch quietly climbed through the window and stood next to Sally's bed. |
" said the little witch to herself, and headed towards Sally's house. "Sally, please wake up," she whispered. "You can come to my party, and and you can even bring as many friends as you want."
But Sally just lay there, and her face against the pillow was very pale and very still.
The little witch looked out the bedroom window and in the distance she saw a handful of children still running around and playing games in the moonlight, even though it was now long past eleven in the evening. Nobody in the village could sleep while Sally was so ill, neither the adults, nor the children.
Children playing together had always looked so happy and carefree to the little witch. She couldn't remember ever having fun like that, even with her magic spells.
In fact, the more she thought about the idea of growing up to become an evil witch, the less she liked the idea.
"I don't think I'd like to be a witch anymore. It's dull and boring to have to be nasty to everybody all the time. I'd rather play and have fun like all these children do," she thought to herself.
The little witch thought some more. "The thing is..." she told herself, "if I make Sally well, that would mean all the witches in the forest would disappear, including me. But if I don't try to make her better, I'll never have any friends at all. Ill just become old and lonely, and I'll end up turning the people I don't like into frogs. That's not much of a choice!"
| The little witch's mind was in a terrible muddle. Just then she heard Sally's mother sobbing quietly in the other room. |
The little witch knew Sally's mother was about to come into the bedroom, so she hurriedly tiptoed over to Sally's wardrobe in the corner of the room, stepped inside, and softly pulled the cabinet door almost closed behind her.
Sally's mother came into the room and sat on the edge of her daughter's bed.
It was now or never for the little witch. Should she sacrifice herself to make Sally well, or leave her to her fate and become a fully-fledged evil witch? The little witch peered out through the crack in the door so she could see the clock on the mantle-piece. It was five past midnight, officially her birthday. She made her decision. She decided to say her magic spell.
Sally smile and breathe once more
I'll chase the fever from your door.
Both eyes open, laugh, be well
A gift of life with my last spell.
Sally's eyes fluttered and then began to open. A tearful Mrs. Applebarrel gasped and put her hands up to her mouth.
"Hello, Mummy," whispered Sally. "What are you crying for? She smiled up at her mother. "I've just had the most lovely dream. It was about a little witch who turned into a good fairy so that she could make sick children well again with her magic spells.
"
| Mrs. Applebarrel was both stunned and thrilled. She quickly sent a neighbor to fetch Dr. Twigg. When he arrived, he examined Sally and told her mother that through some miracle Sally seemed to be as fit as anyone he had ever seen. The villagers prayers had surely been answered. By morning, the news had spread through the village and beyond. Everyone was happy. |
A few days later, the woodcutter mentioned to some friends in the village that the inhabitants of the cottage in the forest must have moved away suddenly, because the place looked to him as if everybody had simply up and disappeared.
Not long afterwards, on very starry night, Sally was lying in her bed, nearly sound asleep, when a beautiful pink light began to fill her room.
"Hello, Sally." A lovely child's voice came from within the light. "Remember me? I'm the little witch you met in the forest.
I wanted to help sick children so I was turned into the good fairy you dreamed of. I'm so glad that you're well again, but I have a favor to ask of you. Please find my kitten and take care of him for me. Rename him 'Lucky', Sally. I think he'll like that don't you?"
But before Sally could answer the soft light began to fade away.
Please, Sally? she heard. And the light slowly dimmed until it completely disappeared.
I'll take care of him forever, I promise. And thank you for taking care of me, my friend, said Sally.
| The next day Sally went into the forest and rescued the little cat. And true to her word, she renamed him Lucky. The lucky kitten would spend the rest of his life with Sally, a constant reminder that the two of them owed their lives to a little girl who chose to put others before herself. And always would. |
THE END
by Michael Bellerby
Bedtime-Story Edited Rev.
- Bedtime-Story & Michael Bellerby Copyright 2001 - All Rights Reserved
About the Author - Michael Bellerby lives in England. He's married and the father of two children, both under the age of nine at the time this story was published. Michael began his storytelling career as a youngster himself, dreaming up tales to tell his younger brother at bedtime. He also came to love poetry, and at present has some15 poems in print, including one in the British Poetry Review of 1996. In 1998, spinal surgery forced Michael out of work, and during those long lonely days, the many characters who inhabit his head began to come tumbling back into the world, to help keep him company. Michael's earlier book, Something Smells, sold out almost as soon as it was printed. Michael says it was such a great feeling that he was walking on clouds for weeks. You may write to Michael Bellerby at [email protected]
About the Illustrator - Wendy Thompson is also a resident of England.
She is an artist who works in a wide range of styles, and has had commissions ranging from wildlife illustrations for guide books to children's story book illustrations for a children's book publisher. In this tale you have seen two of Wendy's illustrations for Michael Bellerby's book, The Little Witch's Birthday. She has also illustrated Sweet Tooth Sally, and The Wierd Beard for Bellerby Books, and Freddy and the Farkles for Uro Publications. You may contact Illustrator Wendy Thompson at [email protected] and view the illustrations on her website at http://www.natural-artlines.freeserve.uk Bedtime-Story - Copyright Info
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Stories and Illustrations found on this site are exclusive to Bedtime-Story
Reproduction of any content without the express
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Bedtime story. Magic Birthday.
What does a baby need to sleep well and soundly? Of course bedtime stories ! Short good fairy tales for the night will calm the baby and give wonderful dreams.
Katyusha has her birthday today, she is 5 years old. The girl woke up early in a very good mood. "Hooray! Gifts, cake and guests!” she thought. Katya put her feet in slippers and ran to her parents.
- Mom, dad, get up! It's my birthday! nine0009
- Yes, daughter, we congratulate you, dear. Now you will receive a gift.
Katyusha closed her eyes and jumped with impatience first on one leg, then on the other.
Finally, mom and dad gave gifts to their daughter. Dad took out a big doll with long hair from the box, and mom got a beautiful fluffy dress, like a real princess. Parents kissed their daughter on both cheeks. The happy girl ran to the nursery to look at the new clothes.
- Mommy, can I put on a dress? - she called out. nine0009
- Of course, just don't get it dirty or tear it. In the evening, when the guests come, you will be in it, - Mom warned, - Dad left for work, and I'll go to the store for a cake. Be smart: behave yourself and do not open the door to anyone.
When mom left, Katya put on a dress and ran to show off in front of the mirror. The dress was peach-colored, with a fluffy skirt, and decorated with flowers on the chest.
- How beautiful I am in it, - Katyusha praised herself, - Oh, mother's pearl necklace will go very well with this dress! nine0009
The girl ran and got her mother's jewelry box. Katya pulled out beads from pearls and put them on her neck.
- That's better! - Katya was delighted and began to jump and spin in front of the mirror.
Suddenly, the string of beads broke and the pearls scattered around the room.
- Oh no, - Katya whispered with horror, - these are mother's favorite beads. She will be very upset. I'm a bad daughter!
Katyushka sat on the floor and burst into tears.
Suddenly, something rang over her ear. The girl raised her eyes full of tears and saw a butterfly. nine0009
- How did you get here? She probably flew in through the window, - Katya asked and wiped her eyes.
When her tears dried, Katya noticed that it was not an ordinary butterfly. It was a tiny girl, only with wings.
- Fairy! - exclaimed Katya, - but fairies exist only in fairy tales.
- We very rarely show ourselves to people, - the fairy rang out in a thin voice, - only as a last resort. You are a good girl, and your tears were so bitter! Good children shouldn't cry, especially on their birthday.
So I was sent to help your grief. nine0009
Katyusha told how she took her mother's beads without asking and tore them.
The fairy waved her magic wand and the pearls flew into the air, lined up in a row, strung on a string.
Katya couldn't believe her eyes - the beads were safe and sound. She took them carefully and put them in their place in the box.
- Thank you, thank you very much, - thanked the girl.
- Please, just never take other people's things without asking again! And now, - said the fairy, - I want to show you our country, - none of the people have seen it. This is my birthday present to you. nine0009
The fairy sat on the girl's shoulder and they ended up in a magical land.
It was a huge green meadow. In the center was a large lake. In its crystal-clear water, mirror fish frolicked. And a rainbow spread over the lake, shimmering with all colors. Wonderful flowers grew around, Katya had never seen such. In almost every flower sat a fairy who looked like her friend.
“Perhaps they live in flowers,” the girl thought. The fairy told Katya about her country, then they swam in the lake, sat on the rainbow, dangling their legs, laughed and made faces at their reflection in the mirror lake. nine0009
Suddenly there was a loud knock.
- Mom is back, - the girl realized, - it's time to go back.
Katya said goodbye to the inhabitants of the fairyland and promised to be obedient. The fairy waved her magic wand and Katyusha was at home.
Mom returned from the store with a huge cake in her hands.
- Oh, how elegant you are in this dress, daughter. By the way, my pearl necklace will suit you very well, try it on.
Katya laughed and hugged her mother. It was the best birthday of her life. Magical Birthday! nine0009
Author Elena Potapova
Let short good bedtime stories become a good tradition and bring you and your baby closer.
Birthday - Bedtime story.
Bedtime story
Stories and fairy tales for children and teenagers
The kid did not go to play with the hares. He did not like to play snowballs, because all the snowballs got to him more often, and then there was this unexpected and frightening birthday, which must be celebrated in the right way. But how exactly to meet him - the Kid did not know at all. nine0091 Thinking, he walked along the path around the house to calmly decide what to do with this birthday. It wasn't very cold. Soon it began to snow. Large beautiful snowflakes swirled in the air in an unusual dance. They fell so slowly that it seemed that if they wanted to, they would fly from the bottom up. Snowflakes flew around the Kid, as if teasing him: they flew up to the very nose, but, having changed their minds, they were again carried away somewhere into the distance, into an impenetrable snowy shroud. Then the Kid noticed the father of the hare, who was talking about something with the Badger.
nine0091
The kid came closer and politely waited for the adults to pay attention to him.
- Baby? - the father hare noticed his son. Why don't you play with others?
- The bunnies told me, - began the Kid, - that my birthday is coming soon.
Papa Hare smiled.
- Have you blabbed? So they spoil the whole surprise.
— What is he like? – with hope in voice asked Kid.
— Who? Dad didn't understand.
- Well, it's my birthday.
Papa hare thought.
— I remember, — he began, — the frost was furious that day and the wind was strong, strong. nine0091 - That's for sure, - Badger picked up the conversation, - I remember that I went for firewood then and almost froze myself.
The kid, frightened, flattened his ears.
“But don’t worry,” papa hare waved his paw, “it’s not so cold this year. Spring is coming soon.
He turned around and walked towards the house.
- And the wind was such, - Badger continued to recall, - that it seemed to blow through you, and prickly, prickly.
