Nicola Stephenson - The Bunny That Couldn't Be Found CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hello, I'm Nicola.

It's time for me to read you a bedtime story.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Then I'll begin.

Tonight's story is called The Bunny That Couldn't Be Found.

It's by Angela Mitchell and illustrated by Sarah Horne.

As Johnny Bunny slipped through his doggy flap,

Princess Lolly yawned and stretched.

"Mmm, what a lovely dream, Johnny Bunny," she called sweetly.

"Where's my adorable pooch?"

She looked under the covers. He wasn't there.

She looked under the bed. He wasn't there.

She looked in the royal closet.

He wasn't there either.

She flung open the windows and looked all around her kingdom.

Johnny Bunny wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Bunny's missing!" she screamed. "Oh, where can he be?"

"Your Highness, I thought I heard a strange noise," yawned the guard.

"My Bunny's missing! Johnny Bunny has gone!

"Call the sergeant pronto!" ordered Princess Lolly.

"The palace must be searched."

"Your Highness, we've been informed that your pet has gone missing.

"What are we looking for?"

"Bunny!" sobbed Princess Lolly. "Johnny Bunny!"

"A Bunny?" said the sergeant to the policemen.

"A bunny?" "A bunny!" "A bunny!"

"Can you describe him, Your Highness?" said the sergeant.

"He's white, with an adorable black patch over one eye,"

sobbed Princess Lolly.

"Do not fret, Your Highness. We will search the palace high and low,

"and find your bunny," assured the sergeant.

"Here, bunny, bunny," they called.

"He's not here, Sarge."

Johnny Bunny wondered why they were calling him,

so followed them to the throne room.

"Bunny!"

"Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!"

"He's not here either, Sarge."

"Bunny! Sweet, adorable bunny!"

On hearing the sergeant's loving tone

Johnny Bunny tried a few of his cute tricks.

"Pesky dog," growled the sergeant, and pushed Johnny Bunny away.

"Bunny! Here, bunny, bunny!"

Could a tasty morsel be on offer? On hearing his name again,

Johnny Bunny ran, lost his grip and slid along the shiny ballroom floor,

slamming into the search party.

"Will someone please remove this pesky dog!" shouted the sergeant.

Johnny Bunny fled to the safety of the kitchen.

"Animals? In my kitchen? Never, never!" flustered the cook.

"I'll skin that rabbit alive if I catch him!"

"Doesn't her Highness think we've got better things to do

"than chase after a bit of fluff?

"Stop moaning and do your duty," ordered the sergeant.

Johnny Bunny couldn't understand

why these grumpy fellows were still calling his name but ignoring him.

Not even a bone or a tasty morsel. Nothing! Grr!

"Here, bunny, bunny!"

Johnny Bunny sidled up to the sergeant once more.

"Pesky mutt! You're hampering our investigation!"

As they entered the garden, the sergeant ordered,

"Search the carrots! Lift every leaf.

"Pull them up if you have to. I want that rabbit found."

"Yes, Sarge," sighed the policemen.

"He's probably hopped all the way to the next kingdom."

"Oh, my feet!"

"If I find that rabbit, I'll make a pie of him."

Suddenly, the guard strolled into the garden.

"Where do you think the bunny has gone?" said the sergeant.

"I really couldn't tell you," replied the guard.

"Really couldn't tell you."

Poor Johnny Bunny. He was tired and hungry,

and a little dizzy with all the to-ing and fro-ing,

so he decided to return to the royal bedroom for a little nap.

"Bunny! My Bunny! Johnny Bunny is back!"

The princess's cry could be heard throughout the palace.

The guard, the sergeants and all the policemen came rushing in.

"My bunny's back," sobbed Princess Lolly.

"But that's not a rabbit," said the sergeant, confused.

"Quite," said the guard.

That story was called The Bunny That Couldn't Be Found.

Johnny Bunny caused quite a lot of confusion, didn't he?

But I'm glad he found his way home to Princess Lolly.

Now why don't you get under the covers

and cuddle your favourite teddy really tight?

See you all again soon for another bedtime story. Sleep tight!