James McAvoy - Superworm CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Oh, hello. Shh-shh...

I'm James. Teddy and I like to play at superheroes.

Do you?

Tonight's bedtime story is about a real superhero.

He's only small, but he's very special.

Would you like to hear all about him?

Good.

The story is called "Superworm"

and it's by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Superworm is super-long,

Superworm is super-strong.

Watch him wiggle! See him squirm!

Hip-hip hurray for Superworm!

GASP

-Help! Disaster!

-BICYCLE BELL RINGS

Baby Toad has hopped on to a major road.

"Quick, whatever can we do?

"Look, a Superworm lasso!"

-The bees are feeling bored today.

-BUZZ

They need a nice new game to play.

Cheer up, bees. No need to mope.

It's Superworm, the skipping rope.

Beetle's fallen in the well.

SPLOSH

Is he drowning? Who can tell?

Not to panic, all is fine -

it's Superworm, the fishing line!

Then toads and beetles, bees and bugs,

brother snails and sister slugs,

Uncle Ant and earwig aunt

clap and cheer and chant this chant -

"Superworm is super-long,

"Superworm is super-strong.

"Watch him wiggle! See him squirm!

"Hip-hip hurray for Superworm!"

The chant is carried on the air

to Wizard Lizard, in his lair.

He mutters in his servant's ear,

"Find that worm and bring him here."

The servant Crow is black and grim.

Everyone is scared of him.

-The all let out a fearful shriek

-GASPS

to see their hero in his beak.

The wizard waves his magic flower.

"Now, Superworm,

"you're in my power -

"and you must tunnel, writhe and coil,

"to find my treasure in the soil."

Superworm is very cross

to have a lizard as his boss.

But when he tries to slink away,

the wizard's magic makes him stay.

For days, he tunnels, twists and winds,

but all the treasure that he finds

is two small buttons, half a cork,

a toffee and a plastic fork.

The lizard flicks an angry tail.

"Have one last try - and if you fail

"to find that treasure down below,

"I'll feed you to my hungry crow."

The Crow is flapping through the night.

Everyone looks up in fright.

They see him perch upon an oak

and listen to his dreadful croak.

CROAK

"Superworm is good to eat."

CROAK

"Superworm's a special treat."

CROAK

"He'll be juicy, fat and firm..."

CROAK

"Hip-hip hurray for Superworm!"

"Action quickly, at the double -

"Superworm's in frightful trouble!

"We must help him, if we can.

"We must hatch a cunning plan."

The garden creatures leave their home,

carrying a honeycomb.

They jump and fly and crawl and creep

and find the lizard fast asleep.

They chew the petals off his flower,

to rob him of his magic power.

The caterpillars fetch some leaves,

while busily, the spider weaves.

The web is strong, the web is tough.

The web is plenty big enough.

The wizard wakes.

"This isn't funny!

"I'm wrapped in leaves and stuck with honey!"

Then up the bees and beetles fly

and lift the web into the sky.

"This is the place!" and bang, crash, thump.

-The wizard is in the rubbish dump.

-CLANK

And now, from somewhere underground,

there comes a distant rumbling sound.

The Earth begins to heave and then...

Superworm is back again!

Superworm the swing,

the slide,

the Hula Hoop,

the fairground ride.

Superworm the belt, the hat,

the crane,

the train,

the acrobat.

Then toads and beetles, bees and bugs,

brother snails and sister slugs,

Uncle Ant and earwig aunt

clap and cheer and chant this chant -

"Superworm is super-long, Superworm is super-strong.

"Watch him wiggle! See him squirm!

"Hip-hip hurray for Superworm!"

That was called "Superworm".

I think there was more than one superhero in that story.

Superworm's friends were all heroes too.

Now, it's time for you to zoom off to bed.

Even little superheroes need their sleep.

I'll see you soon, for another bedtime story.

Sweet dreams.