Suranne Jones - The Snowflake Mistake CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hello, I'm Suranne. Are you snuggled up, cosy and warm?

Good, because it's very chilly in tonight's bedtime story. Brr!

In fact, it's snowing.

We're going to an ice palace to help Princess Ellie make snowflakes,

but it doesn't quite go according to plan.

It's called The Snowflake Mistake,

and it's written by Lou Treleaven with pictures by Maddie Frost.

High, very high, almost too high to see, an ice palace

floats like a ship on the sea, where clouds are collected

before they float by to make all the snowflakes that fall from the sky.

"Squish!" goes the roller to squash the clouds thin.

"Crunch!" goes the puncture to stamp the flakes in.

"I want them all perfect!" commands the Snow Queen.

"If any don't match, they're not fit to be seen!"

But young Princess Ellie would much rather play

and chase all her friends in the sky every day.

It's fun with the birds, choosing storm clouds to ride,

or whizzing along down the big rainbow slide.

One morning, the Queen has some business to do,

appointing an artist to paint the sky blue. She calls the Princess.

"You must mind the machine! Make sure the flakes match!

"It's your turn to be queen."

"Goodbye!" calls out Ellie then runs off outside

to search for the birds as they take turns to hide.

But all of a sudden, the sun slips away.

The palace is cloaked in a cloud of cold grey.

"Snow!" shouts out Ellie with all of her might. "We need to make snow!"

But there's no-one in sight. "What should I do?

"I'm supposed to be queen!

"I'll use double speed on the snowflake machine!"

ALARM SIREN WAILS

"Splat!" goes the roller to mash the cloud thin.

"Crash!" goes the puncture to bash the flakes in.

"Boing!" goes a spring.

There's a bang and a pop! And everything comes to a horrible stop.

Ellie climbs up the tower to view the sad scene.

Where white was expected, there are still fields of green.

No snowballs are flying, no snowmen stand tall, no sledges are sliding.

It's no fun at all!

Poor Ellie stares down at the far below land then jumps up with joy.

"I can make them by hand! I'll cut up some clouds.

"They'll be different, I know, but no-one will mind,

"just as long as there's snow!" "Snip, snip!" go her scissors.

"This job will take weeks!"

The birds flutter in and peck shapes with their beaks.

Soon, snowflakes pile up. Some are big, some are small.

"They're perfect!" says Ellie. "Let's scatter them all!"

The hills become white like a pile of iced buns.

The children catch flakes on their noses and tongues.

The rooftops are tucked into spotless white sheets,

and snowmen stand proudly on driveways and streets.

The Queen comes back home. Snowflakes rest in her hand.

"These all look so different! I don't understand!"

"I'm sorry," says Ellie. "I made a mistake.

"I broke the machine so we handmade each flake.

"They're all different sizes, but nobody minds.

"They love having snowflakes, whatever the kind."

The Snow Queen peers down at the scene far below.

"I've never seen anything quite like this snow!

"Each flake is unique in its own special way but,

"seen all at once, it's a dazzling display!" She hugs Ellie proudly.

"You've been very clever. I love the new flakes!

"It's the best snowfall ever!"

High, very high,

almost too high to see, an ice palace

floats like a ship on the sea, where a queen and her daughter make

snowflakes together to throw from the sky in the cold winter weather.

Wow! I'm so pleased that Princess Ellie managed to save the day.

Aren't you? Aren't you?

And remember, the next time it's snowy,

look up into the clouds and you might just see the Snow Queen

and Princess Ellie making snowflakes together!

I'll see you all soon for another bedtime story. Goodnight.