0:00:02 > 0:00:05CBeebies Bedtime Story.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10Hello. My name's Maggie. Did you have a good day today?
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Maybe you learned something new.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Sometimes, when I try something new,
0:00:15 > 0:00:17it can be hard and a little bit scary.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Tonight's bedtime story is about someone who learned something new
0:00:21 > 0:00:25and they were a little bit afraid. Would you like to hear it?
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Great.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29The story's called Brave Little Owl
0:00:29 > 0:00:31and it's by Penny Little and Sean Julian.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Mummy and Daddy Owl were out hunting and Grandpa Owl was babysitting.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40"Go to sleep, and no messing around," he whispered.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42"It's Grandma Owl's birthday tomorrow
0:00:42 > 0:00:46"and I've got to think of something special to give her."
0:00:46 > 0:00:47"Oh, let us help, Grandpa,
0:00:47 > 0:00:50"please, please," begged the biggest baby owl.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55"We've got lots of good ideas." "Oh, all right," sighed Grandpa Owl.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58"So, what do you think would be her best present ever?"
0:00:58 > 0:01:01"For you to teach us to fly," shouted the twins.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04"We're really not sleepy and we're big enough."
0:01:04 > 0:01:07"Now that is a good idea," grinned Grandpa Owl.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11"But where's Little Owl?" "I'm asleep," said a tiny voice.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14"You can't talk if you're asleep," teased the boys.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16"You're just a scaredy-owl."
0:01:16 > 0:01:19"No, I'm not!" shouted Little Owl.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23But she shivered a bit as she peered out of the nest.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26The ground seemed a very long way down.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29"Come on, all of you," said Grandpa Owl.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31"Let's line up in a row and copy me."
0:01:31 > 0:01:35"We're first," shouted the twins and elbowed past their big brother.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39"No, I'm the oldest, so I go first," said the biggest baby,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41making the branch sway scarily.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43"Move over, or I'll push you off."
0:01:43 > 0:01:47"That's enough squabbling," said Grandpa Owl firmly.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49"Now be careful or..."
0:01:49 > 0:01:50Splosh!
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Little Owl had slipped and fallen off the branch.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57"Little Owl can't fly, but she can swim," hooted the boys.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Grandpa gave them a fierce glare,
0:01:59 > 0:02:01then swooped down and scooped her up.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Back on the branch, Little Owl fluffed up her feathers,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07spraying her brothers with muddy water.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10"Yuck! Stop!" they squealed.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13"Now, let's try again," sighed Grandpa Owl.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17"Open your wings, lean forward and..."
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Oops. Little Owl slipped again
0:02:20 > 0:02:22and dangled upside down from the branch.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26"Stop laughing, you lot," said Grandpa Owl sternly.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29"Not everyone's good at everything. It takes practise.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32"Now, let's see if we can fly to the old tree
0:02:32 > 0:02:38"on the other side of the woods," he said. "Ready. Steady. Go!"
0:02:38 > 0:02:42"Help!" cried Little Owl as she tumbled from the branch.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Little Owl fell and landed with a...
0:02:44 > 0:02:46crash.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48"Oof!" gasped Baby Badger.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51"I thought owls could fly."
0:02:51 > 0:02:54"They can," sniffed Little Owl sadly.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55"Every owl except me."
0:02:55 > 0:02:59And big, fat tears rolled down her feathery cheeks
0:02:59 > 0:03:01and plopped onto the ground.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05"My brothers were right. I'm a scaredy-owl."
0:03:05 > 0:03:06"Lots of things can seem scary
0:03:06 > 0:03:09"until you try them," said Baby Badger gently.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12"I used to be scared of my dark burrow,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14"but now it's not scary at all."
0:03:14 > 0:03:16"I was scared of heights," said a squirrel,
0:03:16 > 0:03:20scampering down the nearest tree. "But look at me now."
0:03:20 > 0:03:23"I was scared of owls," squeaked a little mouse nervously.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28"Well, actually, I still am scared of owls, but you seem really nice."
0:03:28 > 0:03:32"I was scared the first time the sun went in," laughed Sunny Bunny.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35"But now I know it always comes back."
0:03:35 > 0:03:40"Don't be scared, Little Owl," they cheered. "You can do it if you try."
0:03:41 > 0:03:44But Little Owl felt too sad to try again.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49It was growing cold and she couldn't even get back to her cosy nest.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Suddenly, a dark shadow passed over the moon.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56It was Grandpa Owl and he landed with a feathery whoosh.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00"There you are, my brave Little Owl," he smiled.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04He snuggled her tightly under a huge fluffy wing.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09"Can you keep a secret?" Little Owl nodded her tufty ears.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13"When I was a little owl like you, I was scared of flying too."
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Little Owl opened her big eyes wide in amazement.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18"You were?" she whispered.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23"I was," said Grandpa Owl. "But I never gave up trying."
0:04:23 > 0:04:25He wiped away her tears.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28"Your grandma has arrived. She's waiting for her present.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30"So, shall we give it one last go?"
0:04:30 > 0:04:34As Grandpa watched, Little Owl started to run.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39She felt the breeze tug at her as it lifted her gently off the hillside.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40To her surprise,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43her wings seemed to know exactly what to do on their own.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Flapping and gliding,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48she rose higher and higher into the starry night.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49As she looked down,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52she could see the whole new wonderful world below her.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55"Look at me," she hooted happily to her friends.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58"I'm not scared anymore. I can fly."
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Grandpa Owl flew over and joined Little Owl
0:05:00 > 0:05:04and they flew over the meadow to the other side of the wood
0:05:04 > 0:05:08where Grandma Owl and all the grandchildren were waiting for them.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Everybody cheered as Little Owl landed.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15"You're the best birthday present ever," whispered Grandma Owl.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18"And you're a very brave little owl."
0:05:18 > 0:05:22Little Owl never forgot the special night she learned to fly.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24And as she grew bigger and stronger,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26she always loved to soar through the sky
0:05:26 > 0:05:29under the beautiful, bright, silver moon.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35Well done, Little Owl. So brave and such a great flyer.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38And you see, it all turned out so well in the end.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Now, it may be time for little owls to wake up,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43but it's time for you to go to bed.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47So spread your little wings, and flap away to your bedroom
0:05:47 > 0:05:50to get yourself cosy for a good night's sleep.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54I'll be back very soon with another bedtime story. Sleep tight.