Kicking a Ball CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hello, I'm Ben.

Are you ready for tonight's bedtime story?

Great.

Ever since I was a little boy,

I've always loved kicking a ball,

and that's what tonight's bedtime story is all about.

Kicking A Ball.

And it's by Allan Ahlberg with pictures by Sebastien Braun.

What I like best, yes, most of all,

in my whole life, is kicking a ball.

Not eating an ice cream, or riding a bike.

BICYCLE BELL RINGS

No, kicking a ball is what I like.

Not reading a book, or writing a letter.

No! Kicking a ball is 20 times better.

My legs might be skinny, my feet might be small,

but I get a kick out of kicking a ball.

Yes, kicking a ball!

Kicking a ball with Clive and Trevor,

Malcolm and Paul,

or even without them, just me and a wall.

DOG BARKS

Not punching a ball, or bashing a ball,

serving a ball or smashing a ball.

Not throwing a ball, or blowing a ball.

Not bowling, or batting, or patting a ball.

Not pinging or ponging, or potting or putting,

but booting and shooting,

yes, kicking, oh, kicking!

Just kicking a ball.

A ball in the playground, a ball on the grass,

a shot on the run, a dribble, a pass,

a ball before breakfast, a ball before bed...

HE YAWNS

..a dream of a ball, a goal in the head.

CHEERING

Don't want a ball that's odd or screw,

that you hit with a mallet or a billiard cue.

Don't want a ball that's made of meat.

I'd really rather SCORE than eat.

DOG BARKS

Not a ballcock or a ballpoint.

Or a plastic ball-and-socket joint.

Not a ball bearing - bit too small,

but putting it more or less baldly...a ball!

DUCKS QUACK

Kicking a ball, kicking a ball -

that's surely the purpose of life after all.

Not climbing a mountain in far Nepal,

or diving for pearls in the Bay of Bengal.

Not sailing a yacht on a tight haul,

in a sudden squall, to Donegal.

But kicking a ball, kicking a ball.

Kick, kick, kick, kick...

kicking a ball.

And later on, as the years pass,

I'll still be running across the grass.

Kicking a ball, kicking a ball,

with Clive and Malcolm, Trevor and Paul.

Reading the paper, having a shave,

forcing the goalie to make a save.

Kissing my wife, bathing our baby...

BABY LAUGHS

..kicking a ball and scoring, maybe.

Till baby toddles and tackles,

and then starts the ball rolling all over again.

TODDLER GIGGLES

What I like best, yes, most of all

in my whole life is kicking a ball.

In freezing cold or blinding heat,

ever and always, a ball at my feet.

Caked in mud, covered in sweat,

scoring the goals I'll never forget.

CHEERING AND SHOUTING

Yes, life's a circle, endless and small,

and when all's said and done, the world's a ball.

Oh, I had such a ball reading that story,

and I hope you had a ball listening.

Now it's time to get nice and comfortable

and curled up into a tiny ball as you get ready to go to sleep.

I'll see you again soon.

Night-night.

SNORING