Mr Bear's Holiday CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hello, there. My name's Matt, and I wonder if you can help me.

I'm on an adventure and I'm trying to follow this map.

I started here...and I want to get to here.

But don't know which way to turn. What do you think?

In tonight's bedtime story, Mr Bear has a map,

and I'm not sure that he knows where he's going, either.

The story is called Mr Bear's Holiday.

"Look, Small, a postcard has come for you," said Mrs Bear,

"from the Grizzle Bears. Lucky them, they're on holiday."

"Can we go on holiday?" said Small Bear,

"On a plane, or a rocket, or a ship or a train?"

"A holiday?" said Mr Bear. "That's a good idea.

"How about...in a tent?"

"What's a tent?" asked Small Bear. "Wait and see," said Mrs Bear,

"let's have breakfast first." Afterwards, they got ready.

Mr Bear found the tent, Small Bear found the sleeping bags,

Baby Bear found the map. Mrs Bear organised the food.

Sun cream, candles and sunglasses, hats, cups, forks, knives, spoons,

matches, elastoplasts, and four honey sandwiches, just in case.

By lunchtime, they were ready.

"I love holidays," said Small Bear, as they set off.

"Where are we going?" "Wait and see," said Mr Bear,

staggering under the weight of the rucksack. "It's an adventure."

It was a very long adventure.

First they stopped to change Baby Bear's nappy.

"Are we there yet?" said Small Bear. "Not yet," said Mr Bear.

A little later they stopped to eat their sandwiches.

"When are we going to be there?" said Small Bear.

"Soon," said Mr Bear, "be patient."

A long time later they stopped to look at the map.

"Do you know where we're going?" said Small Bear.

"Sort of," said Mr Bear. "Not far now," he added hopefully.

The sun was beginning to slip behind the trees

when Mr Bear finally stopped.

"Here we are," he groaned, dropping the rucksack.

Small Bear looked around.

"Is this a holiday?" she said suspiciously.

"No!" snapped Mr Bear. "It's an adventure."

Small Bear's bottom lip began to quiver.

"Let's go and find some wood for the fire," said Mrs Bear,

"and leave Dad and Baby Bear to put up the tent."

Mrs Bear and Small Bear headed for the woods.

Mr Bear unrolled the tent. Several hundred moths flew out.

Baby Bear clapped her paws in delight.

"Oh, dear," said Mr Bear, "poor tent."

Baby Bear watched the tent in silent wonder

as Mr Bear struggled heroically. Ropes snapped and poles bent,

but at last the tent was up.

"There!" said Mr Bear. "Perfect for the four of us."

"But I found my friend," said Small Bear, running back,

"Flora loves holidays." "Yes," sighed Mrs Bear,

"we met Flora and her family in the woods, we could hardly say no."

The first stars were just appearing in the sky as the Bear family,

and their guest, sat down to supper.

"I'm sorry it's a bit burnt," said Mrs Bear.

"It's delicious," said Mr Bear, "this is what holidays are about.

"Firelight, starlight and supper in the open air."

A large cloud blotted out the stars, and from nowhere

a chill wind began to blow. The bears huddled around the fire,

Flora climbed onto Small Bear's lap,

Mr Bear rummaged in the rucksack. "Oh, dear," he said.

"What's the matter?" said Mrs Bear.

"I, er, forgot to pack the sleeping bags," said Mr Bear.

Baby Bear began to cry.

Small Bear's bottom lip began to wobble dangerously.

"Never mind," muttered Mrs Bear, glaring at Mr Bear,

"we'll just huddle together in our nice warm tent."

It wasn't much warmer in the nice warm tent.

"Look," said Small Bear, "I can see the stars through the roof."

"Yes," said Mrs Bear, "and you can feel the wind, too."

"What's that?" said Mr Bear.

"What?" said Mrs Bear.

"That snorting sound," whispered Mr Bear,

"outside, listen!"

The bears fell silent.

Flora's ears twitched.

"Look," said Mrs Bear in a trembly whisper, "there, on the wall."

"Argh!" screamed Mr Bear.

"It's a monster!" wailed Small Bear.

"Moo-oo!" said the monster.

Mr Bear stuck his head out of the tent to investigate.

"Oh, dear!" he said.

"Moo! Snort!" said the monster, leaning on the tent.

"Quick! Let's go!" yelled Mr Bear, stuffing the little bears

into his rucksack and pulling Mrs Bear and Flora after him.

They sprinted away from the tent just as it collapsed

under the weight of a curious cow.

The bears walked home by moonlight.

As they returned Flora to her burrow, a shadow

swooped down from the treetops. The Bear family yelped.

"It's only me," said Mr Hoot-towitt,

"you're all so jumpy, I think you need a holiday."

"We've only just had a holiday," said Small Bear.

"Did you have a nice time?" said Mr Hoot-towitt.

The bears smiled a secret smile.

"Well," laughed Mr Bear,

"I think we all need another holiday to recover...from our holiday."

And that story was called Mr Bear's Holiday.

I think I should go back home for some honey sandwiches before

I carry on with this adventure - I'm feeling pretty hungry.

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