Mark Rhodes - Twist and Hop, Minibeast Bop CBeebies Bedtime Stories

CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Hello! I'm Mark. And I've been invited to a party.

Would you like to join me? Brilliant!

Put your dancing shoes on and let's visit our minibeast friends

in tonight's bedtime story.

It's called Twist and Hop, Minibeast Bop!

And it's written by Tony Mitton, with pictures with Guy Parker-Rees.

Down by the woods, I'll come and see

here in the stump of a fallen tree,

there's something strange that's made us stop.

Goodness me! It's a minibeast bop!

And, oh, what luck! It's just begun!

Let's crouch down here and watch the fun.

On come the ants with slickety-clicks.

How many legs does each have? Six!

And here come the beetles, looking so fine.

They've given their shells a brilliant shine.

But poor old Snail, he'll miss the fun.

He set out late and snails can't run.

He's feeling sad. He'd love to go.

What a shame that snails are slow.

The worms wriggle up so softly.

Listen, and see how their silky skins can glisten.

The slugs slide on. They made good time.

They slithered here on gooey slime.

Says Snail, "I know I'm not so fast, but maybe I'll get there at last."

The ladybirds turn every head.

They look so bright in black and red.

But jeepers creepers, look at this!

Did you ever see such ballgown bliss?

The butterfly frocks bring gasps and sighs.

Just see those colours and feast your eyes.

From way up there, poor Snail looks down.

And then his face begins to frown.

He shrinks within his curly shell.

Is he sulking? Can we tell?

Do you hear the band begin to play? The dancing's getting underway

as minibeasts, far too many to number, roll on,

doing the wriggly rumba.

Tiny piano and mini guitar get them doing the cha-cha-cha.

Then, as the rhythm comes alive, everyone shakes to a jittery jive.

Beetles boogie and bugs go mad.

It's the wildest dance they've ever had.

But suddenly, the music stops as bee band leader's baton drops.

In that hush, they hear him shout,

"Boulder coming! Make way! Look out!"

And from the rim, with a rumbling sound,

comes a rolling rock that shakes the ground.

The minibeasts all look on in awe

as it grinds to a halt on the ballroom floor.

The beetles tremble, the insects wail,

but from the boulder, out pops Snail.

"Pardon me for stopping the song, but I simply had to roll along.

"To slide down would have been too slow,

"for then, I might have missed the show."

Bee lifts his baton and gives a grin, then says,

"Let's boogie. Band, begin!"

The band pumps out a lively bop,

which makes the minibeasts wriggle and hop.

They jump and jive, they rave and shout.

Even the woodlice leap about.

And though he's slow, Snail moves with grace.

When it comes to gliding, he's an ace.

The glow-worms glimmer their shimmering light

as the minibeast bop hops on all night.

Wow! The party is still going on.

But don't worry, it won't disturb our sleep.

Maybe we'll dream of glow-worms glimmering

and butterflies shimmering.

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