Doctor Ranj - Norman, the Slug who Saved Christmas CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hello. I'm Dr Ranj.

Thank you for joining me for a Christmassy bedtime story.

Have you ever wondered how Father Christmas delivers

all of the presents in one night?

Well, sometimes, he needs a bit of help and tonight's story

is all about a very unlikely little helper.

It's called Norman The Slug Who Saved Christmas

and it's written and illustrated by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet.

Norman was very excited, it was Christmas Eve.

His stocking was up and he'd even left

a snack for Father Christmas's reindeer.

Meanwhile, far above, Father Christmas sneezed.

"Achoo!"

And, without him knowing it, a sack fell from his sleigh.

Down on the ground, Norman snuggled in his bed.

"I hope I've been a good slug," he said to himself.

"I hope Father Christmas comes.

"Yes, I have been a good slug," thought Norman.

And he was just closing his eyes

when...thwack!

"Gosh!" thought Norman,

"I didn't know I'd been that good!"

"Thanks, Father Christmas!"

Norman dived straight in, there was wrapping paper everywhere.

But then he spotted something.

"What's this label?" said Norman.

"The scooter is for Jess," he read.

"The ukulele is for Billy.

"And the football is for Susie."

"Oh, no! What have I done? None of these presents are for me."

"Billy, Jess and Susie will wake up tomorrow

"and think that Father Christmas has forgotten them.

"I better get these presents to Wiggleton as fast as I can."

But Wiggleton looked a very long way away.

How would Norman get all the presents there?

And that is when he had an idea.

Heave! He pushed over the sign.

"Fantastic! That will do nicely," thought Norman.

Then he set to work, gathering all the other things he needed.

He was very busy.

Ta-da!

Now it was time to rewrap the presents.

But how?

Norman didn't have any sticky tape.

But, luckily, if there's one thing slugs don't need, it's sticky tape.

With a slither and a slother, the presents were ready.

"Phew!"

Now it was time to put his plan into action.

"Hey, snails," he called,

"I need your help."

"We need to deliver the Shelby family's presents or

"their Christmas will be ruined."

"But, Norman," said the puzzled snails,

"how will we do that?"

"Like this!" said Norman.

"Giddy-up, whee!"

Crash!

Finally, they arrived at 11 Slime Avenue.

"Erm, Norman," said a snail,

"how will you get to the chimney?"

"I won't," Norman replied,

"I'm going to use the cat flap."

CAT MEOWS

He heaved and pushed until the last present was safely through.

"Quick, Norman!" cried the snails, "the children are coming."

Norman needed to hide.

But where?

Ta-da!

Norman loved being a bauble

and nobody would ever know that a slug had saved Christmas Day.

Thank goodness Norman and the snails were there to help.

They really did save Christmas, didn't they?

It's time to get snuggled up and close your eyes.

Perhaps you'll dream of saving Christmas, just like Norman.

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

Night-night and merry Christmas.