0:00:00 > 0:00:01Hello, I'm Rosamund.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06I love Christmas. Do you?
0:00:06 > 0:00:08It's just a wonderful time of year, isn't it?
0:00:08 > 0:00:12I love the tree and all the sparkly lights and the decorations
0:00:12 > 0:00:15and all the yummy food, and the rustling,
0:00:15 > 0:00:18and the giving and receiving of gifts.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22And tonight's bedtime story is about a very special Christmas gift.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Would you like to hear about it?
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Great.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30This story is called Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo!
0:00:30 > 0:00:33by Emma Chichester Clark.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Blue Kangaroo belonged to Lily.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40He was her very own kangaroo and it was his first Christmas.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43"Look", whispered Lily,
0:00:43 > 0:00:45"it's snowing -
0:00:45 > 0:00:48"just for you, Blue Kangaroo."
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Lily made her own Christmas cards.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52She drew robins and holly
0:00:52 > 0:00:55and she stuck stars on them.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58"I've made one for everyone," she said,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01"and one just for you, Blue Kangaroo."
0:01:02 > 0:01:06"Just for me?" thought Blue Kangaroo.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09"I wish I could make one for Lily."
0:01:09 > 0:01:13The next day, Lily and her mother made Christmas decorations.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18They cut up coloured paper and stuck it with glue.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21"It's going to be so pretty," cried Lily,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24"and it's just for you, Blue Kangaroo!"
0:01:24 > 0:01:27"And for you." said her mother.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31In the afternoon, Uncle George and Lily's father
0:01:31 > 0:01:34brought home the Christmas tree.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37"It's Blue Kangaroo's first Christmas, Uncle George."
0:01:38 > 0:01:41"Well, then," said Uncle George.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44"here's a treat just for you, Blue Kangaroo."
0:01:44 > 0:01:48"Just for me?" thought Blue Kangaroo.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50"What will I do with a tree?"
0:01:55 > 0:01:59The next day, Lily and her mother wrapped up presents.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01"I hope you're not looking,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05"because this one's just for you, Blue Kangaroo." said Lily.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Lily helped put the presents under the tree.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11"Just for me?" thought Blue Kangaroo.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13"I wish I had one for Lily."
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Later on, Aunt Jemima and Aunt Florence came.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Aunt Jemima brought mince pies
0:02:21 > 0:02:24and Aunt Florence brought gingerbread men.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27"One for you, Lily, and one for your little brother.
0:02:27 > 0:02:34"And this one is just for you, Blue Kangaroo," said Aunt Florence.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37"Just for me?" thought Blue Kangaroo.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39"It's just like me!"
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Lily's grandparents arrived in the evening.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48"It's Blue Kangaroo's first Christmas," said Lily.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Everyone sang carols around the tree
0:02:50 > 0:02:54and then Lily sang one all by herself.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56"Just for you, Blue Kangaroo!"
0:02:56 > 0:03:00"Just for me?" thought Blue Kangaroo.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02"I wish I could sing for Lily."
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Before bed, Lily hung up her stocking.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12"Do you think Father Christmas will come?" she asked.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16"He'll come when you're fast asleep." said her mother.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20"Good night, Blue Kangaroo." whispered Lily.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22And she closed her eyes tight.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27But Blue Kangaroo lay wide-eyed through the night.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32- Suddenly, there was a funny noise. - BELLS JINGLE
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Blue Kangaroo's whiskers bristled.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37His ears tingled.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42"Is it Father Christmas?" he wondered.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45A big, yellow moon was shining through the house
0:03:45 > 0:03:48and everything was quiet.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50- Then he heard it again. - BELLS JINGLE
0:03:50 > 0:03:54"It must be Father Christmas." thought Blue Kangaroo.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56"Perhaps he can help me?"
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Blue Kangaroo waited.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02The noises got louder,
0:04:02 > 0:04:03then crashing,
0:04:03 > 0:04:04and bomp!
0:04:06 > 0:04:09"Father Christmas?" he whispered.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11"What can I do for you,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15"little Blue Kangaroo?" asked Father Christmas.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20"Well, Lily says everything is just for me,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23"but I want something just for her
0:04:23 > 0:04:27"and I haven't got anything." said Blue Kangaroo, sadly.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31"Has she been good?" asked Father Christmas.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35"Oh, yes!" said Blue Kangaroo.
0:04:35 > 0:04:41"Then you might just find something in my sack." said Father Christmas.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43"Have a look."
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Blue Kangaroo looked and he found something
0:04:47 > 0:04:50just exactly right.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Father Christmas wrote a label for Blue Kangaroo,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56so that he could hang his present on the tree.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Then they had some milk and cookies.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03"Good night, Blue Kangaroo." said Father Christmas.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05"Lily is a lucky girl,
0:05:05 > 0:05:09"to have such a good kangaroo as you."
0:05:09 > 0:05:13In the morning, Lily ran downstairs with Blue Kangaroo.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16She found that there were three stockings
0:05:16 > 0:05:19hanging on the mantelpiece.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21"Look!" said Lily.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23"It says, just for you,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26"my good friend, Blue Kangaroo,
0:05:26 > 0:05:27"from Father Christmas.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30"How did that happen?" she asked.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Then Lily noticed something else.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36"Look!" she said.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38"A little blue heart on the Christmas tree.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40"That wasn't there yesterday.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43"Who can it be for?"
0:05:43 > 0:05:45The little blue heart had a ribbon,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48with a tiny Christmas card tied onto it.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Lily read the message out loud.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It said, "Just for you, Lily.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58"With love from Blue Kangaroo.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02"Oh, Blue Kangaroo!" whispered Lily,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04hugging him tight.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07"Just for me, from you!"
0:06:07 > 0:06:10"Yes," thought Blue Kangaroo, happily.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12"Just for you, Lily.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14"Merry Christmas."
0:06:15 > 0:06:19That story was called Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo!
0:06:19 > 0:06:24I felt really happy when Lily got her present from Blue Kangaroo.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25Did you?
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Now it's time for you to snuggle down under your cosy bed covers
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and have sweet, Christmassy dreams.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34Night, night.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36SNORING