0:00:06 > 0:00:08Hiya, I'm Jenny.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Tonight's Bedtime Story is called The Crow's Tale,
0:00:12 > 0:00:17and it was written and illustrated by Naomi Howarth.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21It's a beautiful story about bravery and friendship
0:00:21 > 0:00:23and I can't wait for you to hear it.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28In the dark depths of winter far, far away,
0:00:28 > 0:00:32snow started falling at the cold break of day.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36In a freezing, thick blanket, it covered the land,
0:00:36 > 0:00:41and the animals knew that they needed a plan.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45They were tired and famished and frozen from cold,
0:00:45 > 0:00:50until wise Owl came up with a plan, brave and bold.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53"A perilous journey will need to be done.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57"Our bravest and best must go to the Sun.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01"Without the Sun's warmth, we'll have nothing to eat.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06"So - which one of you will ask for some heat?"
0:01:06 > 0:01:09All of the animals wanted to go,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13but no-one could do it except Rainbow Crow.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16With his radiant feathers and sweet singing voice,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19the animals knew they had made the right choice.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24The magnificently-coloured kaleidoscope Crow
0:01:24 > 0:01:30was the one who would battle through ice, wind and snow.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35Up through the storm brave Crow quickly flew,
0:01:35 > 0:01:41though the snow blurred his vision and the wind - how it blew!
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Closer and closer he came to the Sun,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48but his troubles and trials had only begun.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Crow flew through the blizzard,
0:01:51 > 0:01:58then to his delight he entered Sun's kingdom of dazzling bright light.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01"Oh, please, Mr Sun, we beg you to help,
0:02:01 > 0:02:06"to stop the snow falling. Oh, please make it melt."
0:02:06 > 0:02:09But wizened, old Sun was in such a deep slumber,
0:02:09 > 0:02:13he opened his eyes and roared loud as thunder,
0:02:13 > 0:02:18"What is all this racket? I've no time for whining.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22"I'm tired, I have just spent a whole summer shining.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25"What I will give you is a long branch of fire,
0:02:25 > 0:02:30"which will help keep you animals warmer and drier."
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Thanking the Sun and grasping the light,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37Crow turned around for the long homeward flight.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Through terrible storms, he tossed and tumbled,
0:02:41 > 0:02:46while the heavens shook and the skies loudly rumbled.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Holding the bright, burning branch with his foot,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Crow's colourful feathers got covered in soot.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58Sooty and croaky, scorched, singed and blackened,
0:02:58 > 0:03:03Crow was unrecognisable, from his beak to his back-end.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07Courageous, undaunted, he pressed on alone
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and all of the animals welcomed him home.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14They marvelled and wondered, surprised and amazed
0:03:14 > 0:03:20at the power and the strength of the fire as it blazed.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24But, seeing his feathers, Crow started to weep,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28and bright droplets of tears slid down his beak.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30DRIP, DRIP
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Waking from slumber, high up in the sky,
0:03:33 > 0:03:38the all-seeing Sun saw Crow bitterly cry.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42"What's wrong, my dear friend? Oh, what can it be?
0:03:42 > 0:03:48"You've shown kindness and keenness and such bravery."
0:03:48 > 0:03:51"The animals loved me for my colourful wings,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55"and now I can crow but once I could sing.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59"My feathers," said Crow, "are as burnt as can be.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03"Now none of the others will ever like me."
0:04:03 > 0:04:09"Dear Crow," said the Sun, "you are selfless and brave.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14"It's not how you look, but how you behave.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18"Can you not see what the others can see?
0:04:18 > 0:04:23"You're as beautiful as you can possibly be."
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Crow looked at his feathers. It was then that he knew,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33from the deep shades of violet and bright hues of blue,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37that his glossy new self was a gift from the Sun,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41to honour and treasure the deed he had done.
0:04:42 > 0:04:48Pretty or ugly, slim, thin or fatter,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52your beauty inside is the heart of the matter.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58See, the Crow learned then a very important lesson -
0:04:58 > 0:05:02that it's what's on the inside that matters.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03He's a good friend.
0:05:03 > 0:05:09And I like to show my friends I care by giving them a big hug.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Like my friend here, Hoot.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Night-night, Hoot. Aw...
0:05:15 > 0:05:18And night-night, you, too.