Aaron McCusker - Ridiculous CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hello. My name's Aaron.

I've come to tell you a story about a rather adventurous tortoise

who doesn't want to go to sleep.

Does that sound like anyone you know?

After the story, you must go and get tucked up in bed.

Deal? Great!

The story is called Ridiculous!

and it's by Michael Coleman and Gwyneth Williamson.

HE YAWNS

"Winter is here," yawned Mr Tortoise.

"Time for bed," yawned Mrs Tortoise.

"But I don't want to go to bed," said Shelley,

"I want to see what winter is like."

"Ridiculous!" cried Mr and Mrs Tortoise.

"Whoever heard of a tortoise outside in winter?"

Soon, Mr and Mrs Tortoise were snoring, but Shelley went outside.

A duck spotted her.

QUACKING

"A tortoise out in winter?" he quacked. "Ridiculous!

"You don't have a beak. How will you break through the ice?"

Shelley shrugged. "He's right," she thought, "I can't do that."

Then she met a dog.

BARKING

"A tortoise out in winter?" he barked. "Ridiculous!

"You can't run around like me. How will you keep warm?"

Shelley didn't know.

MEOWING

Then she saw a cat.

"A tortoise out in winter?" she meowed.

"Ridiculous! You're too slow.

"How will you get out of the cold?"

Shelley wasn't sure. Shelley trudged up a hill, where she met a bird.

CHEEPING

"A tortoise out in winter?" she cheeped. "Ridiculous!

"How will you fly home to your family?"

Shelley gulped. "I can't fly," she thought, "I can't even hop."

A tear trickled down her cheek.

"They're right," she thought,

"a tortoise out in winter is ridiculous."

Suddenly, she slipped on some ice

and began to slide down the hill, faster and faster,

faster than the dog, faster than the cat,

until she hit a bump and flew through the air like a bird.

She landed on the pond and slithered towards her shed

but it was covered with ice.

"Ha! How will you break through?" laughed the duck.

"With my shell!" cried Shelley.

And she smashed her way through the ice and into her home.

"You haven't been outside, have you, Shelley?"

asked Mrs Tortoise, sleepily.

"Outside?" said Shelley.

"Whoever heard of a tortoise out in winter? Ridiculous!"

That story was called Ridiculous!

Thinking about being outside in the cold and ice has made me

feel a bit chilly.

I'm glad it's time to get tucked up warm and cosy in bed.

Off you go now. Sleep tight and I'll see you again soon.