Romola Garai - The Dragon Festival CBeebies Bedtime Stories

One, two, three, four - count the Dragons, watch them roar!

Oh! Hello, I'm Romola.

I'm practising being a cheerleader as I really want to join

the whirling, twirling Dragonettes.

I'm a good singer, I can dance

and I've got my pom-poms ready for the special Dragon Festival routine.

But you don't know who the whirling, twirling Dragonettes are, do you?

Well, let me tell you about them and lots of other dragons

in tonight's bedtime story.

The story is by An Vrombaut and is called The Dragon Festival.

Once upon a time, there was a princess

and her best friend was a dragon -

but not just any dragon.

Dear Dragon was a bubble-blowing dragon,

which, according to Florrie, is the best kind of dragon of all.

"Have you heard?" shouted the knights.

"Heard what?" asked Florrie.

"About the Dragon Festival."

"Dear dragons, far and wide, come tomorrow to the Dragon Festival

"and join us in a dramatic display of dragoneering.

"May the best Dragon win." Signed, Thunderfangs, the old and wise.

"How exciting!" said Florrie.

"Dear Dragon, you must take part!"

"But dragoneering means blowing fire," sighed Dear Dragon,

"and you know I only blow bubbles.

"The other dragons will laugh."

"Nonsense," said Florrie.

But Dear Dragon was still worried.

The next morning, dragons arrived from all over the land,

flying and jogging and rollerblading.

Florrie couldn't wait for the Dragon Festival to start.

Then, Thunderfangs the old and wise stepped forward.

"Let the dragoneering begin," he said.

"Six cheers for the Hexadragon!

"Make way for the one and only

"Smouldering Smog Squadron.

"Let's hear it for the whirling, twirling, Dragonettes.

"Get ready for the firework fun with the Bang Bang Dragon.

"And finally, introducing Dear Dragon."

But Dear Dragon was nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe, he's run out of fire!" sniggered the Bang Bang Dragon.

"I'll find him," said Florrie. "Please wait."

Princess Florrie looked everywhere.

Dear Dragon wasn't under the rug, or in the kitchen,

or up the cherry tree.

Finally, she found him hiding in the maze.

"What's the matter?" asked Florrie.

Dear Dragon sighed.

SHE SIGHS

"I'm not really a dragoneering sort of dragon."

"But you're Dear Dragon," said Florrie.

"The best kind of dragon of all!"

Meanwhile, the dragons were getting grumbly.

They wanted to know who had won the Dragon Cup.

"I bet it's me!" boasted Hexadragon.

"No, us!" the Dragonettes shouted.

"Quiet!" rumbled Thunderfangs.

And then a terrible thing happened.

"Fire! Fire!"

Some dragons shrieked, some dragons squealed, some dragons yelped -

but no-one knew what to do.

Except, of course, Dear Dragon.

He just took a deep breath and blew a mountain of bubbles.

Soon, all the flames were gone.

"Amazing!" shouted the dragons.

"How did you do that?"

"It's Dear Dragon's secret," said Florrie.

Thunderfangs nodded.

"Princess Florrie," he said,

"why don't you present the Dragon Cup to the winner?"

Florrie smiled because she knew exactly what to say.

"To Dear Dragon, the best kind of dragon of all."

And that story was called The Dragon Festival.

I'm not sure I want to be a whirling, twirling Dragonette.

Maybe I should practise blowing bubbles, just like Dear Dragon?

And while I do, it's time for you to go to bed.

I'll see you soon for another story.

Night-night.