Zog CBeebies Bedtime Stories

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Hello, there. I'm Dan.

I'm trying to learn some new tricks on my yo-yo,

but as you can see it's proving harder than I thought.

If I keep going, and practise really hard,

I might be able to do some fancy moves.

It could take me a while, though.

Tonight's bedtime story is about a dragon who also tries really hard.

It's called Zog. There it is.

It's by Julia Donaldson, and illustrations are by Axel Scheffler.

Madam dragon ran a school, many moons ago.

She taught young dragons all the things that dragons need to know.

Zog, the biggest dragon, was the keenest one by far.

He tried his hardest every day to win a golden star.

All the dragons in year one were learning how to fly.

"High!" said Madame Dragon, "Way up in the sky!

"Now you've been shown, you can practise on your own.

"You'll all be expert flyers by the time you're fully grown."

Zog went off to practise, flying fast and free.

He soared and swooped and looped the loop, and crashed into a tree.

Just then a little girl came by. "Oh, please don't cry!" she said.

"Perhaps you'd like a nice sticky plaster for your head."

"What a good idea!" said Zog, then up and off he flew.

His plaster gleaming pinkly as he zig-zagged through the blue.

A year went by, and in year two the dragons learned to roar.

"More!" said Madame Dragon, "Louder, I implore!

"Now that you've been shown, you can practise on your own,

"and you'll all be champion roarers by the time you're fully grown."

Zog went off to practise, he roared with fearsome force.

He kept it up for hours on end, but then his throat grew hoarse.

Just then the girl came by again, she said, "What rotten luck!

"Perhaps you'd like a nice, soothing peppermint to suck?"

"What a good idea!" said Zog, then up and off he flew.

And breathing fumes of peppermint, he zig-zagged through the blue.

A year went by, and in year three the dragons learned to blow.

"No!" said Madame Dragon, "Breathe out fire, not snow!

"Now that you've been shown, you can practise on your own.

"And you'll all be breathing bonfires

"by the time you're fully grown."

Zog went off to practise.

He blew with all his might, he twirled around in triumph,

and his wingtip caught alight.

Just then, the girl came by again. She said, "You poor old thing!

"Perhaps you'd like a nice stretchy bandage for your wing?"

"What a good idea!" said Zog, then up and off he flew,

his bandage flapping wildly as he zig-zagged through the blue.

The year four dragons were learning - can you guess?

"Yes!" said Madame Dragon, "How to capture a princess.

"Now you've been shown, you can practise on your own.

"You'll need to catch a hundred by the time you're fully grown."

Zog went off to practise, he tried and tried and tried,

but he simply couldn't manage.

"I'm no good at this!" he cried.

"I'll never win a golden star." Just then, he saw the girl.

"Perhaps," she said, "you'd like to capture me. I'm Princess Pearl."

"What a good idea!" said Zog, then up and off he flew,

the princess gripping tightly as they zig-zagged through the blue.

"Ah!" said Madame Dragon. "Our first princess so far.

"Congratulations, Zog, my dear. You've won a golden star."

Zog was proud and happy, and Pearl felt good, as well.

She took the dragons' temperatures, and nursed them when they fell.

A year went by, and in year five, the dragons learned to fight.

"Right!" said Madame Dragon, "Here comes a real, live knight!"

Up spoke the knight. "My name," he said, "is Gadabout The Great.

"I've come to rescue Princess Pearl. I hope I'm not too late."

Zog breathed fire and beat his wings.

"You can't, she's mine!" he roared.

"Oh, no she's not!" yelled Gadabout, and waved his trusty sword.

The other dragons gathered round, and watched them, all agog.

Who was going to win the fight? Sir Gadabout or Zog?

Then Princess Pearl stepped forward, crying, "Stop, you silly chumps!

"The world's already far too full of cuts and burns and bumps.

"Don't rescue me, I won't go back to being a princess.

"And prancing round the palace in a silly, frilly dress.

"I want to be a doctor, and travel here and there,

"listening to people's chests, and giving them my care."

"Me too!" Exclaimed the knight, and he took his helmet off his head.

"I'd rather wear a nice, twisty stethoscope," he said.

"Perhaps, Princess, you'll train me up?"

And Pearl replied, "Of course, but I don't see how the two of us

"could fit upon your horse."

Then Zog said, "Flying doctors! I'd love to join the crew!

"If you'll let me be your ambulance, then I can carry you."

"Bravo!" Said Madame Dragon. "An excellent career!"

And all the year five dragons gave a loud, resounding cheer.

Then Madame Dragon told the horse, "I really hope you'll stay.

"I'll let you be my pupils' pet, and feed you lots of hay."

"What a good idea!" said Zog, then up and off he flew,

the flying doctors waving as they zig-zagged through the blue.

That story was called Zog, and Zog was very determined, wasn't he?

He kept practising hard,

and in the end, his teacher was very pleased with him.

I'm going to keep practising my yo-yo skills.

But for you, it's probably time you had a sleep,

and a dream about what you'll practise tomorrow.

See you next time.