Princesses Are Not Perfect CBeebies Bedtime Stories

.

Now that you've had a drink of water, I can have a cup of tea.

Oh, hello. I'm Holly. I was just watering this pretty pot plant.

It needed a drink of water as it was thirsty, like me,

so I'm going to have a nice cup of tea and a delicious cake.

There are cakes in tonight's bedtime story -

the best cakes you've tasted, baked by a beautiful princess.

The story is by Kate Lum and Sue Hellard

and is called Princesses Are Not Perfect.

Once, there were three princesses,

Princess Allie, Princess Mellie and Princess Libbie.

They lived in a rose-coloured palace by the sea.

They weren't the kind of princesses who'd sit around doing nothing.

They grew things in the garden, baked things in the bakehouse

and built things in the workshop. Each princess had her speciality.

Princess Allie loved to bake.

She made the best cakes you've ever tasted,

covered with royal decorations.

When she baked, she felt completely happy.

Princess Libbie loved to build things.

If you wanted anything made,

Princess Libbie was the person to ask.

When she was hammering, she didn't think about anything else.

Princess Mellie loved her garden.

She could make anything grow, no matter what the weather.

When she gardened, she felt all was right in the world.

One sunny morning, the princesses were sitting in the dining room,

having breakfast and making plans.

The next day, all the children in the princessdom

were coming to the palace for the summer party.

Suddenly, Princess Mellie, who had not slept well,

said, "I don't see why I always have to be the one to garden."

The other princesses looked at her in surprise.

"Garden, garden, all day long," complained Mellie.

"Dirt here, weeds there. I'm sick and tired of it!"

"Well, what would you like to do instead?" asked Allie.

"Bake," said Mellie. "I want to bake things.

"I'm sure I could bake just as well as you.

"Princesses are good at everything."

As soon as they had finished eating,

they ran to the house keeper, Mrs Blue. "Mrs Blue!" they announced.

"We are switching jobs. From now on, Allie will be the builder.

"If you want anything made, go to her. Mellie will be the baker.

"If we need any treats, let her know.

"And Libbie will be the gardener. Go to her, for fruits and flowers."

Mrs Blue looked worried. "Yes, your princesses," she said.

"But do you think this is a good idea?"

"Of course, Mrs Blue," said Allie, Mellie and Libbie.

"Princesses are good at everything."

"Very well," said Mrs Blue. "Tomorrow is the summer party

"for all the children in the princessdom.

"We need 100 small baskets of berries."

"No problem, Mrs Blue," said Libbie.

"We need 100 cup cakes with pink roses," said Mrs Blue.

"No problem, Mrs Blue," said Mellie.

"We need 100 little chairs," said Mrs Blue.

"No problem, Mrs Blue," said Allie.

Several hours later, Princess Libbie had picked the blueberries,

Princess Allie had built the chairs,

Princess Mellie had baked the cup cakes.

The three princesses limped into the dining room.

Mrs Blue had prepared a delicious supper

but none of them felt like eating.

"How did the building go?" asked Princess Libbie.

"Perfectly!" snapped Princess Allie.

"How did the gardening go?" asked Princess Mellie.

"No problem!" insisted Princess Libbie.

"Princesses are good at everything."

"What about the baking?" wondered Princess Allie.

"Easy," said Princess Mellie. "Princesses are good at everything."

With that, the princesses went off to bed.

Princess Allie couldn't sleep.

She rolled this way and that way.

She sighed loudly. She rubbed her tired feet.

"There is only one thing that will cheer me up,"

thought Princess Allie at last, "and that is a good bout of baking".

She got up, put on her royal robe and sneaked out to the bakehouse.

Meanwhile, in her room, Princess Libbie couldn't sleep.

She stretched and yawned. She brushed her hair.

She brushed her dog and finally she gave up.

"Only one thing will cheer me up, " said Princess Libbie,

"and that is a good hour with my tools."

So she got up, put on her royal robe and sneaked out to the workshop.

Poor Princess Mellie couldn't sleep either.

She tried counting sheep. She tried counting goats.

She tried drinking cocoa. Nothing helped.

"The only thing that will make me feel better,

"is to spend time in my garden," sighed Princess Mellie.

So she got up, put on her royal robe and sneaked out to the gardens.

The next morning, all three princesses were late to breakfast

but all three princesses were smiling.

"I had a wonderful night," declared Libbie.

"Best night ever," smiled Mellie.

"Yes, it was perfect," laughed Allie.

They ate breakfast quickly and ran upstairs to be dressed and ready

for the children's summer party.

By noon, 100 children had arrived.

They played games, ran races and splashed in the sea.

Then Mrs Blue ushered them all into a giant tent.

It was decorated with roses, golden plates and piles of treats.

Everything was perfect, except...

"Where are the chairs?" cried Mrs Blue.

"Here they are, Mrs Blue," laughed Princess Libbie.

And she wheeled in 100 perfect little chairs.

Princess Allie stared.

"And where are the blueberries?" wondered Mrs Blue.

"Here we go!" cried Princess Mellie

and she brought in 100 baskets of lovely blueberries.

Princess Libbie stared.

"And what about the cup cakes?" reminded Mrs Blue.

"No problem," called Princess Allie

and she carried in 100 perfect cup cakes.

Princess Mellie stared.

The children were very happy.

They sat in the chairs, munched the berries

and they loved the cup cakes.

"Princesses make great things," said one little girl.

"How can they do so much?"

"That's easy," said another girl. "Princesses are good at everything."

The princesses looked at each other. Then they started to laugh.

"Princesses," said Princess Allie, "are good at what they love."

"You don't have to be good at everything to be a princess."

"That's very true, your princesses," said Mrs Blue,

"very true indeed."

And that story was called Princesses Are Not Perfect.

I'm glad they sorted things out in time for the party

and I hope you have a good night's sleep,

just like the princesses did, as it's time for you to go to bed.

I'll see you soon for another story. Night night.

I think I'll just try a cake. Maybe two. Ssh!