Natalie Dormer - Jill and Dragon CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hey. I'm Natalie. And this is a dragon.

Dragons are very rare.

I'm going to read you a story about a little girl and her fiery friend.

It's called Jill and Dragon and it's by Lesley Barnes.

"Happily ever after", said the last page in Jill's huge book.

But Jill noticed that not everyone at the end of the story

looked so happy.

"Why are you sad, Dragon?" asked Jill.

"The King hates me," said Dragon,

his pathetic eyes looking up at her from the page.

"All I can do is burn, scorch, singe,

"char and barbecue everything in the kingdom."

"Don't worry, Dragon, you can come and live with me," exclaimed Jill.

DOG BARKS

"I'm going to teach you how to do all my favourite things,"

said Jill to Dragon.

Jill taught Dragon all about flower-arranging.

Jill taught Dragon about fashion.

Jill taught Dragon how to play the trumpet.

TRUMPET BLARES

And finally, Jill taught Dragon how to host a tea party.

CHATTER

Dragon looked sadder than ever.

"I don't belong anywhere.

"All I do is burn with fiery breath," he said.

Something at the tea table had caught Jill's eye

and she exclaimed, "I have an idea, Dragon."

The next morning, armed with a fork,

Jill jumped onto Dragon's back and they flew into the huge book.

Angry knights greeted Jill and Dragon on the page.

Jill, feeling brave, jumped off Dragon and shouted,

"Take us to the King!"

Jill pulled the piece of bread out of her pocket,

put it on the end of her fork and held it above her head.

Carefully, Dragon began to char the bread,

creating a striking,

if rather flattering, portrait of His Majesty.

The knights passed the toast portrait to the King.

The King took the toast from the knights, he nibbled a corner,

then a second corner and then a third.

After a long pause, his face lit up with a huge grin.

He proclaimed, "This toast is truly fit for a king."

TRUMPETS BLARE

But wait! Dragon was not finished yet.

Jill pulled out more slices of bread

and Dragon created even more intricate and wonderful designs.

As Dragon toasted bread, day turned into night.

The fire from Dragon's breath sent colourful sparks into the air,

which lit up the sky like fireworks.

The King bowed before Dragon

and said, "Dragon, you belong here.

"Come and live in my castle and make me toast."

"We all have a happy ending now," said Jill to her dog

as they read the last page in her book once more.

Now, wasn't it nice of Jill to make sure Dragon had a happy ending, too?

Would you like to eat a piece of toast made by a dragon?

Like this one!

It looks just like Jenson, doesn't it?

Hm! It's a big slice of toast.

Maybe I'll save that for my breakfast.

Join me again soon for another Bedtime Story.

But now it's time for sleep. Sweet dreams.