The Beasties CBeebies Bedtime Stories

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CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Where did all of this come from?

Hello!

I'm Meera.

Look at all of these treasures under the bed.

There are shells...

and buttons...

and beads,

with lots and lots of storybooks.

Do you know who put them there?

I do.

I think it was Weevil, Floot and Ferdinand.

They are storytellers

and I am going to tell you their story now.

It's by Jenny Nimmo and Gwen Millward

and it's called The Beasties.

The Beasties came to Daisy's house on a night when she couldn't sleep.

Her new room was too strange and her new bed was too big.

As she lay awake, listening to the sounds in the street,

she didn't see Weevil, Floot and Ferdinand

creep into her room.

She didn't see them spread their treasures underneath her bed.

There were shells and buttons, feathers and pearls,

beans and flowers,

silver and gold.

As Daisy stared into the dark,

she heard a clicking sound.

"Huh! What was that?" Daisy's heart went pitter-pat.

Was it a tree, tapping at the window?

No.

It sounded like...

a story.

CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK!

"This feather belonged to a beautiful bird," said Weevil,

in his clickety voice. Click-click-click.

"When I was young, I travelled on a sailing ship.

"I used to feed a beautiful bird with crumbs from a biscuit tin.

"When the ship was wrecked in a terrible storm,

"the sailors escaped in their boats.

"But I was left alone on a shore, where dangerous creatures lived.

"But then, down came my friend, the beautiful bird,

"just in time to rescue me.

"She gave me this feather, for friendship

"and that's the end of my story." Click-click-click.

Daisy closed her eyes.

She dreamed that she was in the sky,

flying with the beautiful bird.

The very next night, as Daisy lay awake,

she heard a musical sound.

"Oh! What was that?"

Daisy's heart went pitter-pat.

Was it someone whistling a tune?

No.

It sounded like...

a story.

"This button was stitched to a princess's coat," piped Floot,

in his musical voice.

"When the princess was small,

"I used to sing her to sleep.

"One day, in a game of hide and seek,

"the princess disappeared.

"I searched for my princess everywhere.

"I thought she was lost for ever.

"And then, in the forest,

"one moonlit night,

"I saw a girl playing with wolves.

"I sang the princess's favourite song

"and she recognised the tune.

"I was lost," she cried.

"But now you have found me."

"She gave me this button, for faithfulness."

Daisy's eyes were already closed.

Floot's musical voice had sung her to sleep.

The following night, Daisy lay awake.

wondering if a story would begin.

Something rustled.

"What was that?" Daisy's heart went pitter-pat.

"What shall we do next?" said a growly voice.

Daisy jumped. There was another rustle.

Where was it coming from?

Daisy was really brave.

She put on her bedside light and slowly,

very slowly, looked under her bed

and saw...

The Beasties!

Daisy opened her mouth to scream,

but she didn't,

because The Beasties

were very, very small.

"Don't be afraid," said one.

"We're storytellers.

"My name is Weevil."

"I'm Floot," piped the next Beastie.

"And I'm Ferdinand," growled the last.

"Don't tell anyone you've seen us."

"I won't," said Daisy.

"But please, can I have another story?"

Floot looked thoughtful.

"I think you can tell your own story," he said,

and he held out a shell.

"All by myself?"

Daisy wasn't sure.

At first,

the shell looked very ordinary,

but then, she put it to her ear

and heard the sea.

Daisy thought hard, then she said, slowly...

"This shell belonged to a mermaid."

"Where was the mermaid?" asked The Beasties.

Daisy thought hard again.

"She was in the sea

"and the shell was in her hair.

"She was crying, because she was caught in a net

"and, so, I jumped onto a rock. I nearly fell,

"but I took her hand and pulled her out."

"The mermaid gave me the shell,

"for saving her."

Daisy smiled to herself and held the shell tight.

She closed her eyes and dreamed she was the mermaid.

"Night, night, Daisy," whispered The Beasties.

"Your bed won't seem so big any more

"and your room won't seem so strange.

"You can tell your own stories now."

And they crept out of her room.

That story was called The Beasties.

I hope you dream of mermaids, princesses,

beautiful birds and wonderful stories by The Beasties tonight,

when you snuggle down to sleep.

And I'll see you soon for another story.

Night, night.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd