Eve Myles - The Dawn Chorus CBeebies Bedtime Stories

CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Hello there.

My name's Eve and I like to sing.

Do you like to sing?

So does a friend of mine called Peep in tonight's bedtime story.

You must meet him.

The story is called The Dawn Chorus and it's by Suzanne Barton.

Deep in the forest, the trees rustled and the animals stirred.

BIRDS SING The day had just begun.

Perched on his branch, Peep woke to the sound of a beautiful song.

"Who's that singing?" he wondered.

Peep stretched out his wings and fluffed up his feathers

and decided to follow the tune.

He soared on the breeze to the edge of the forest

where, high up in the tree, he found an owl.

"Is it you who's singing?" asked Peep.

"It's not me-e-e!" hooted the owl.

So, Peep glided down to the field below, weaving through the corn,

and soon he spotted a mouse.

"Is that your wonderful song?" said Peep.

"It's not me!" squeaked the mouse.

Peep hopped through the poppies and followed the song

down to the river bank.

As he watched the water sparkle and swirl, up popped a frog.

"Have you been singing?" said Peep.

"No," croaked the frog, "the song is coming from over there."

Peep looked up and saw an ENORMOUS tree on the top of a hill.

The tree was full of birds and they were all singing.

Peep landed on one of the branches and listened.

"That was beautiful!" said Peep when they had finished.

"I've never heard anything so lovely."

"Thank you," chirped a friendly bird. "We're the dawn chorus."

"What's the dawn chorus?" Peep asked.

"We sing together each morning," said the bird.

"Our song lets everyone know that it's the start of a new day."

Peep thought for a moment.

"Can I sing with you? Please?"

"Come for an audition tomorrow," said the conductor.

"We start at dawn."

Peep was so excited that he flew straight home

and practised all evening,

and when he couldn't sing another note, he fell fast asleep.

The next morning, he awoke in a panic.

"You're going to be late for your audition," called the owl.

Peep blinked his sleepy eyes in the bright sunshine.

SHE GASPS "Oh, no!" he cried.

And he flew as fast as he could.

But it was too late.

"I'm sorry, Peep, the day has begun.

"The dawn chorus has already sung," said the conductor.

"Can I have one more chance?" begged Peep.

"Come back tomorrow," said the conductor.

"But you MUSTN'T be late."

That day, Peep practised and practised,

he sang so sweetly that all of the forest animals stopped to listen.

The hours passed and Peep felt very tired but he wouldn't go to sleep.

He didn't want to miss his audition again.

He watched the stars as night fell. OWL HOOTS

Just before dawn, Peep set off for the audition.

But when he got there, he was SO tired that all he could do was...

"Oh, dear, Peep," the conductor sighed.

"Perhaps you're just not meant to sing."

Peep felt very sad as he walked away.

"Now I'll never be part of the dawn chorus!" he said to himself.

He flew home all alone,

and as the sun started to set, he sang softly.

After a while, Peep heard another sweet song drifting towards him,

and not far away, he saw a bird who looked just like him.

"Why can I sing in the evening," asked Peep,

"but not in the morning with the dawn chorus?"

"Because you're a nightingale just like me," said the bird.

"Nightingales don't sing at dawn - they sing at night."

And so, as the stars came out and the moon shone brightly,

the two nightingales sang the most beautiful song of all.

What a lovely story.

Shh.

If you're really quiet,

you might be able to hear the nightingale singing outside, too.

Shh.

I'll see you again soon with another bedtime story.

Night-night.