0:30:50 > 0:30:57.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12Thank you, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
0:31:12 > 0:31:18Hello. I'm Alex. I was just practising for a talent show.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Someone else is practising for their talent show as well,
0:31:22 > 0:31:26and they're in tonight's bedtime story.
0:31:26 > 0:31:32The story is called The Talent Show and it's by Jo Hodgkinson.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38A sign stopped four friends in their tracks.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41The news sent shivers down their backs.
0:31:41 > 0:31:46A small red bird who'd seen it, too, flew down to get a better view.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51He quietly said, "I'd like a go, to try and win this talent show."
0:31:51 > 0:31:54The four friends laughed, "Ha! Don't be absurd.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58"You're much too small, you're just a bird."
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Then the friends went on their way to practise for this special day.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07At home they practised day and night to get the tunes to sound just right.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10They felt the rhythm, tapped their feet,
0:32:10 > 0:32:14until they'd found a steady beat. The bear and lion, snake and croc,
0:32:14 > 0:32:18played tunes that made the whole house rock!
0:32:18 > 0:32:21This band could play, this band could move,
0:32:21 > 0:32:24this band had really found their groove.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28But all of a sudden, the drums went, "Boom!"
0:32:28 > 0:32:31This wasn't a beat to match the tune.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Bear stood up and scratched his head,
0:32:34 > 0:32:36looked quite serious, sighed and said,
0:32:36 > 0:32:41"If we want to win this thing, one of the band will have to sing."
0:32:41 > 0:32:46So everybody took a turn to sing a song that they had learnt.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50But the only sounds that they could make were, "Grr." "Snap." "Growl."
0:32:50 > 0:32:52And "hiss" of snake.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55This came as quite a big surprise.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59"I know," said Croc, "let's advertise."
0:32:59 > 0:33:02They hung a sign up in the tree
0:33:02 > 0:33:04so singers passing by might see.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Well, not much time had passed before
0:33:07 > 0:33:10they heard a knock at their front door.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14As Bear looked out onto the street, he heard a voice down by his feet.
0:33:14 > 0:33:20"I saw the sign, so down I flew. I've come to have an interview."
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Bear growled, "There's nothing left to say,
0:33:23 > 0:33:27"you're much too small, now go away."
0:33:27 > 0:33:34Singers came from all around, but no-one had that missing sound.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37With no hope left, what would they do?
0:33:37 > 0:33:40The band sat down to think things through
0:33:40 > 0:33:42when suddenly they got a shock,
0:33:42 > 0:33:49a loud, resounding knock, knock, knock.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54They looked and saw an eerie sight, a stranger standing in the night.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58His coat was long, his glasses black,
0:33:58 > 0:34:02and on his head he wore a hat.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06He said, "I've come to help you win
0:34:06 > 0:34:11"this talent show. Can I come in?"
0:34:11 > 0:34:16He sang the most amazing songs,
0:34:16 > 0:34:18the band began to play along.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21They knew this was the missing sound,
0:34:21 > 0:34:25at last their singer had been found.
0:34:25 > 0:34:30But as he sang and danced around, the stranger's coat fell to the ground.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34And in their presence, now they saw,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37the bird they'd laughed at twice before.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40"Red Bird, will you forgive us, please?
0:34:40 > 0:34:44"We realise we were wrong to tease."
0:34:44 > 0:34:50Bird said, "You really were unwise to simply judge me by my size.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55"But now I see you understand, and I'd be glad to join your band."
0:34:56 > 0:35:01The next day at the talent show, the five were waiting for their go.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03But as they stepped into the light,
0:35:03 > 0:35:06the small red bird was filled with fright.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11He felt so small and all alone, he thought about his tree-top home.
0:35:11 > 0:35:18He wished that he could fly away, but then his friends began to play.
0:35:18 > 0:35:23The rhythm started in his feet and travelled quickly to his beak.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26The sound made by that little bird
0:35:26 > 0:35:30was quite the best the crowd had heard.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33The crowd got up, they danced and swayed
0:35:33 > 0:35:35to every tune the great band played.
0:35:35 > 0:35:41And as the crowd began to cheer, Bird saw he had no need to fear.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45The judges gave the band the prize.
0:35:45 > 0:35:52They judged on talent, not on size.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54What a great band.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59I think I might ask them to come and perform at my talent show.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04Well, I'd better get practising while you get ready for bed.
0:36:06 > 0:36:08Night-night.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:36:10 > 0:36:13E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk