Jennie McAlpine - The Crow's Tale CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hiya, I'm Jenny.

Tonight's Bedtime Story is called The Crow's Tale,

and it was written and illustrated by Naomi Howarth.

It's a beautiful story about bravery and friendship

and I can't wait for you to hear it.

In the dark depths of winter far, far away,

snow started falling at the cold break of day.

In a freezing, thick blanket, it covered the land,

and the animals knew that they needed a plan.

They were tired and famished and frozen from cold,

until wise Owl came up with a plan, brave and bold.

"A perilous journey will need to be done.

"Our bravest and best must go to the Sun.

"Without the Sun's warmth, we'll have nothing to eat.

"So - which one of you will ask for some heat?"

All of the animals wanted to go,

but no-one could do it except Rainbow Crow.

With his radiant feathers and sweet singing voice,

the animals knew they had made the right choice.

The magnificently-coloured kaleidoscope Crow

was the one who would battle through ice, wind and snow.

Up through the storm brave Crow quickly flew,

though the snow blurred his vision and the wind - how it blew!

Closer and closer he came to the Sun,

but his troubles and trials had only begun.

Crow flew through the blizzard,

then to his delight he entered Sun's kingdom of dazzling bright light.

"Oh, please, Mr Sun, we beg you to help,

"to stop the snow falling. Oh, please make it melt."

But wizened, old Sun was in such a deep slumber,

he opened his eyes and roared loud as thunder,

"What is all this racket? I've no time for whining.

"I'm tired, I have just spent a whole summer shining.

"What I will give you is a long branch of fire,

"which will help keep you animals warmer and drier."

Thanking the Sun and grasping the light,

Crow turned around for the long homeward flight.

Through terrible storms, he tossed and tumbled,

while the heavens shook and the skies loudly rumbled.

Holding the bright, burning branch with his foot,

Crow's colourful feathers got covered in soot.

Sooty and croaky, scorched, singed and blackened,

Crow was unrecognisable, from his beak to his back-end.

Courageous, undaunted, he pressed on alone

and all of the animals welcomed him home.

They marvelled and wondered, surprised and amazed

at the power and the strength of the fire as it blazed.

But, seeing his feathers, Crow started to weep,

and bright droplets of tears slid down his beak.

DRIP, DRIP

Waking from slumber, high up in the sky,

the all-seeing Sun saw Crow bitterly cry.

"What's wrong, my dear friend? Oh, what can it be?

"You've shown kindness and keenness and such bravery."

"The animals loved me for my colourful wings,

"and now I can crow but once I could sing.

"My feathers," said Crow, "are as burnt as can be.

"Now none of the others will ever like me."

"Dear Crow," said the Sun, "you are selfless and brave.

"It's not how you look, but how you behave.

"Can you not see what the others can see?

"You're as beautiful as you can possibly be."

Crow looked at his feathers. It was then that he knew,

from the deep shades of violet and bright hues of blue,

that his glossy new self was a gift from the Sun,

to honour and treasure the deed he had done.

Pretty or ugly, slim, thin or fatter,

your beauty inside is the heart of the matter.

See, the Crow learned then a very important lesson -

that it's what's on the inside that matters.

He's a good friend.

And I like to show my friends I care by giving them a big hug.

Like my friend here, Hoot.

Night-night, Hoot. Aw...

And night-night, you, too.