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ISABEL ADE-HALL
Isabel enjoys tap and ballet dancing at Susan Kielb School of Dance. She heard about the competition after a friend recommended she entered. Isabel is currently reading Marley and old classics such as The Secret Garden.
LAPPING WATER
A story told by Duck
I watched the dark and drizzly day turn into a sunset on the lapping water. Across the golden water I can see what looks like an island breaking the surface, and I think what a safe place to go to sleep. I spread out my wings and skid across the water to the mini-island.
I realise that the island is very dull just like Hippo, and then I think, "Where is Hippo?" He was meant to be back from his outing. I hear a grunt and the island shakes. I hear a low voice, "Who’s on my back?"
It sounded like Hippo. It is Hippo. "You woke me up!" grunted Hippo, "I’ll never get back to sleep."
"Yes, you will," I say "I’ll tell you a story...Once a princess was cursed by a spinning-wheel"
Hippo snored.
"Are you listening?" I said.
"Yes." Replied Hippo yawningly.
"Right, then… given to her by an…"
Hippo yawned.
"All your yawning and snoring is making me feel sleepy, so please stop! …ugly witch"
Hippo snored
"Are you sure you’re listening?"
"Yes" yawned Hippo.
"The princess fell asleep for a hundred years, and became Sleeping Beauty".
"Meaning me?" yawns Hippo.
"You’re neither beautiful nor a princess," I say. "So, where was I? …and a handsome prince came and kissed her, and that woke her and all the castle forever."
"I could be the handsome prince!" exclaimed Hippo.
"No you couldn’t," I scream
"Well you said," replied Hippo.
"I was talking about sleeping beauty and the prince in the story."
"Whatever! I’m going to sleep now, so shh," said Hippo.
The story must have worked because Hippo fell fast asleep. Anyway I’m feeling sleepy already, so night night.
CHARLOTTE ANGLIM
Charlotte heard about the Book at Bedtime competition though her Aunt who is also an English teacher. She enjoys horse-riding, swimming and has a red belt in Karate! When she is older she would like to work with animals and be a vet.
HIPPO AND DUCKS’S JUNGLE JOKES
Once upon a time there was a Hippo who liked to roll around in the mud and then wash it all off in the lake. His best friend was Duck who never liked rolling in mud but always liked to be clean and tidy. She always swam in the lake close by Hippo and they made jokes together.
"What did the sea say to the shore?" Quaked Duck.
"I don’t know. What did it say?" said Hippo
"Nothing, it just waved!" Duck replied.
Hippo giggled and snorted and then rolled over in the water splashing Duck.
At that moment Water Snake came along and hissed
"You’re making a terrible splash, you are dissssturbing me."
"We’re only telling jokes." Quacked Duck. "Do you know any good ones?"
Water Snake thought for a moment and then hissed.
"What snakesss are good at sumsss?"
"I don’t know." Said Duck and then Hippo.
"Adderssss" he sneered and then was off in a splish and a splash.
"I know one," said Cheetah who was lying in the sun on the bank. "What does a Cheetah always do?"
"I don’t know." Said Duck and Hippo at the same time "What does he do?"
"Cheetah, cheats all the time!" said Cheetah with a big grin on his face.
Hippo and Duck thought this was very funny and Hippo rolled over again making a big wave that splashed Cheetah.
Cheetah said crossly "What did you do that for?" shaking the water off his ears and splashing Hippo back. Then they all had a big water fight.
Cheetah left when the sun started to set so Hippo and Duck came out of the lake and saw Ellie the Elephant coming down to have a drink.
"Hello Ellie," said Hippo.
"Do you know any good jokes?" Quacked Duck.
"Yes," said Ellie "What games do Elephants like to play best?"
"Hide and seek?" said Hippo.
"Tag?" quacked Duck.
"No, squash of course!" beamed Ellie and squirted them with water from her trunk.
Duck and Hippo thought this was very funny and started another water fight.
It was nearly dark now and Deer came along with her baby Bambi.
"Hello Bambi." Quacked Duck kindly "Do you know any jokes?"
"Yes," said Bambi in a rather shy voice "Which deer have the shortest legs?"
"You!" Said Duck and Hippo together.
"No." said Bambi "The shortest one!" he giggled.
"But that is you." said Duck
"Oh, is it?" said Bambi
"Yes!" giggled Hippo and they all had a big giggle.
When Bambi and his mum left, Hippo and Duck realised that it was very dark and quiet in the jungle and it must be time for bed. So quietly they both went home to their beds.
"Goodnight Hippo," quacked Duck as she put her head under her wing.
"Goodnight Duck," yawned Hippo as he lay down in the mud.
Soon they were both fast asleep.
The End
KIRI CHEESMAN
Kiri enjoys playing Hockey for the Henley Hockey Under 8’s team as well as playing the piano. She heard about the competition through her school and thought it would be fun to enter. When she is older she would either like to be a clown or a doctor!
THE LOST BEST FRIEND
Hippo and Duck were best friends and always together. One night when Kiri was reading, Hippo and Duck leapt out from the pages and said "Hello!"
Kiri was at school, when Mummy was tidying up. Mum put Hippo and Duck under her arm. They belonged in Kiri’s bedroom. When suddenly Hippo dropped out from underneath her arm falling on his head behind the sofa. Duck quacked but Mummy didn’t hear because of the hoover.
Hippo woke with an egg bump on his head. He knew it was bedtime and he was all alone. "Boo Hoo, Ouch, " he sobbed feeling the lump. In the moonlight Hippo saw some enormous shadows. The armchair chair that Daddy sat in, the beanbag cushions where the children watched Spongebob on, the standing lamp with the upside down lampshade and the lounge door with a high handle.
He crawled over to snuggle up in the beanbag but it tried to swallow him up. He rolled on the fireside woolly rug but it was too scratchy. Then he climbed into Daddy’s comfy chair and used newspapers for covers and fell fast asleep.
Hippo woke up as footsteps ran down the stairs. Kiri ran into the lounge. "Where are you Hippo?" Hippo tried to uncover the newspapers, but Hippo was stuck under the big black and white pages.
"Duck and I miss Hippo so much." Said Kiri really sad.
"My papers!" shouted Daddy. He picked up the scrambled pages then called to Kiri.
"What’s up Daddy?" Kiri asked. Daddy smiled then surprised her with Hippo. Kiri and Duck were delighted and Hippo was pleased to see them too!
That night Kiri smiled at bedtime. "Now I won’t lose you!" Everyone nodded. Kiri opened her book and Hippo and Duck jumped in. Kiri always knew where to find Hippo and Duck and Hippo and Duck were always together especially at bedtime!
BRYHER GREET
As well as reading, Bryher enjoys playing the Violin and will soon be entering for her Grade 1 exam. She heard about the competition in Primary Times and would like to be a writer when she is older.
WHAT A SILENT NIGHT!
"Good night Hippo," squeaked Duck.
"Good night Duck," yawned Hippo.
"I hope you enjoy your sleep in our luxurious bed," added Duck.
It was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Then suddenly there was a strange noise!
There were MEOWS, RIBBITS, TWIT-TWOOS, and WOOFS!!. The noise came from the animals in the garden.
"What a racket!" shouted Hippo pulling the pillow over his ears.
"How are we ever going to get to sleep?" yelled Duck.
They were both fed up with the noise.
But then there was silence!
Duck looked outside. The animals must have sore throats as they were sucking lozenges and gargling.
"Hippo look out the window" said Duck.
He looked and was shocked.
The animals were trying to speak but they couldn’t.
"Ahh that’s better!" said Hippo.
Hippo and Duck started to settle down. Then another loud noise came from outside. It was the Midnight Crier!
Are you are wondering who the midnight crier is? Well, it’s someone like a town crier but he does all his crying at night! And he’s really annoying!
"Now I know why they tell us to go to bed early on the news!" said Hippo.
"Me too!" replied Duck.
"ROLL UP, ROLL UP the midnight race is about to begin. ROLL UP, ROLL UP, so far there is ONE – TWO – THREE – FOUR – oh, ZERO competitors! Never mind, the race must begin!" shouted the Midnight Crier.
The race continued for a couple of minutes.
Finally, the midnight crier called "Air wins! That’s all from me tonight folks! Same time tomorrow for the midnight quiz."
Finally Duck and Hippo got one-hour sleep. In the morning they looked at each other and said, "WHAT A NIGHT!"
ALED JONES
Aled wrote ‘The Zoo Animals’ after being set the task to write a bedtime story for homework. His favourite book is the old classic by David Almond, ‘Skellig’. Aled’s other passion besides reading is playing rugby for his local team, The Glynneath Under 11s.
THE ZOO ANIMALS
One sunny day all the animals in the zoo were happily playing, some of the animals were playing Tag, some were playing Hide and Seek and some were playing What time is it Mr. Wolf?
However, not everyone in the zoo was as happy as the animals. The postman had brought some news that the zoo keepers did not want!
Night fell on the zoo and the animals lay in their pens as they slowly driffted off to a peaceful sleep. Each animal dreaming of the games they had played that day.
The next day the animals woke to find everything was not as it should be! Some of the animals were missing. The elephant's pen was completely empty.
"What is happening?" said Duck to Hippo.
"I don't know." Hippo replied, "But it doesn’t look good!"
Shortly after they heard a penguin crying. Duck went over and said "What is the matter?"
"Well don’t you know? The zoo is closing." said the Penguin.
"Oh no!" Said Hippo
"And we all have to go to the wild," continued Penguin.
"That is terrible," said Duck.
So the animals set off for the wild. They were taken by the park ranger and it was a long long way, but they made it. The animals walked and walked until they could not walk anymore, then the Hippo said to Duck.
"What’s that over there?"
They walked a little bit further; a blur became a building which became a zoo! The animals ran as fast as they could to the zoo. The animals were welcomed there and before long they were playing their normal games, some were playing tag, some were playing hide and seek and some were playing "What time is it Mr. Wolf?"
SARAH LECHMERE
Sarah’s favourite book is Anne of Green Gables. She enjoys reading, but also enjoys going to Brownies and is learning to play the piano. She heard about the competition through reading an article in Primary Times.
TOM’S TOYS
Once upon a time, there was a small boy called Tom. Tom had ginger hair which he stuck up on one side of his head and flattened on the other. Tom had two cuddly toys which stayed with him all the time. Their names were Hippo and Duck. Hippo and Duck were Tom’s most treasured possessions, he would not go anywhere without them. They went to school with him, they went shopping with him, they even sat on the table while he was eating.
One day his Mum said they were going to the dentist. Tom reached for Hippo and Duck. His Mum turned "You can’t take them with you, look we’ll get a surprise for them, come on".
Tom put Hippo and Duck down and followed his mother. In the doorway he stopped and looked back sadly. When he was at the dentists its was strange not having Hippo and Duck, strange not giving them to Mum and strange not strapping them into their car seats on the way back. On the way home they stopped at the Dolls Shop and Tom bought Duck a mini swimming pool and Hippo a toy box.
When they got home, Tom ran up to his bedroom to give Hippo and Duck their new things. He found them on his bed as he expected, put their new things in their houses and started to play with them. After that Hippo and Duck stayed at home all the time. But one thing Tom never did without them was to go to bed.
KATIE QUINN
Katie heard about the Book at Bedtime competition in the South Shields Gazette. She enjoys reading and dancing and has been asked to dance at the Pride of South Shields at the Customs House.
THE DREAM CLOUD
One summer's day in Dreamland, Duck and Hippo were by the pond. While Duck was in the pond, Hippo was staring up at the crystal blue sky.
"What are you looking at Hippo?" asked Duck.
"Shhhh. Look! It's floating cotton wool!" cried Hippo.
"I don't think it is Hippo, it's far to big," replied Duck.
"Well what do you think it is then?" asked Hippo.
"Well...I think it is...ummmm," Duck struggled.
"I know! Why don't we ask wise old Turtle?" suggested Hippo.
"Great idea!" replied Duck excitedly.
So they set off. First, they looked in Turtle's home, a damp, cosy cave. But he wasn’t there. Next, they looked in The Sleepy Forest, Turtle's favourite place to have a nap. But he was not there either! Finally, they came to Dreamer's Cove and...there he was! Dozing off under a large green parasol.
"Hello Turtle!" Duck and Hippo said together. Turtle shot up like a flash.
"Hello there lads, what can I do you for?" said Turtle in a sleepy tone.
"Well, we wanted to ask you a question," replied Hippo.
"Go on then lads, tell me, we haven't got all day!" Turtle said, rather rudely.
"We want to know what the big white fluffy thing is in the sky," Duck said.
"You mean you don't know?" said Turtle, shocked.
"No," Hippo and Duck said together.
"The big white fluffy thing in the sky is a Dream Cloud. They are amazing things. They send whoever's on them into a deep sleep. The Dream Cloud only wakes them up when they have had enough sleep. But they are VERY hard to catch. I've been trying to catch one for years, so I doubt you boys will be able to catch one by the end of the day," Turtle managed to get this all out in one breath.
"Well we are going to catch one," Duck said "And no-ones is going to stop us!"
10 minutes later Duck and Hippo where chasing a Dream Cloud round and round Dreamland with no luck. They were soon out of breath and lay down on the long, green grass. Then, a Dream Cloud seemed to drift towards them. Duck grabbed it and began sprinting back to Dreamer's Cove, much to Hippo's dismay.
When Hippo finally made it there Duck had already told Turtle everything, and, before Duck and Hippo knew it, Turtle had climbed onto the Dream Cloud and had drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.
AAMIR ALI RAFIQ
Aamir’s favourite author is Roald Dahl and he has collected all his books. He hopes to be a famous writer when he is older and enjoys science and mathematics.
NIGHTMARES TURN INTO DREAMS
Duck settled into bed. Hippo had already gone to bed and was snoring away. SNORE! SNORE!! SNORE!!! He was snoring like a roaring rollercoaster. Duck could just squeeze onto the bed. Just as Duck was nodding off she was woken up by what sounded like an earthquake but turned out to be Hippo screaming his head off.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.... I had a nightmare!!!!" screamed Hippo.
"About what?" Duck shouted.
"THAT THE JAM TARTS WERE CHASING ME!!!!!"
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Duck. "Go back to bed."
As soon as Duck said that she nodded off. As Hippo was nodding off he was woken up by what sounded like a screeching car which turned out to be Duck.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... I had a nightmare!!!" screamed Duck
"About what?" Hippo shouted.
"Somebody was shaving my bottom off!"
"Hee! Hee! Hee!" Hippo laughed. "Go back to bed"
Then they both nodded off.
Snore snore snore went hippo.
Cheep cheep cheep went duck.
Time went on 1.10, 2.20, 3.30, 4.40, 5.50, 6.00, 7.00.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Screamed Duck and Hippo together "I HAD A NIGHTMARE. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! HELP. STOP COPYING ME."
"What did you have a nightmare about?" said Hippo panicking.
"That I had turned into a pig!!! What did you have a nightmare about?" said Duck panting.
"That I had turned into a disco dancer!!"
They both glanced at each other. Their glance turned into a smirk. The smirk turned into a grin and the grin turned into a laugh.
"Ha! Ha! Hee! Hee!" They both laughed.
"I think we have both been silly. I think we’ve been having dreams," said Duck.
Then there was a glint of sun. "Oh!" Hippo sighed. "I can’t get up. Let’s stay in bed and have some more dre..."
Snore Snore, Cheep Cheep
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
And then it started all over again......
LAUREN STRACHAN
Lauren sought out the Book at Bedtime competition online as she enjoys writing so much. She hopes to one day be a journalist and write for a national newspaper. She enjoys reading Cathy Cassidy books.
HIPPO AND DUCK SAVE THE DAY!
Once upon a time in the land of Sleepysocks, super-hero duo Hippo and Duck were waking up in their cottage in the forest. They jumped out of bed, slid on their slippers and were full of energy for an exciting day ahead of them!
Well, wouldn’t everyday be exciting if you had super powers? Hippo had the power to be able to just touch someone and say ‘Goodnight!’ to make them sleep immediately, and Duck just had to hop on his webbed foot three times to make an uncomfortable, unclean bed be padded and fresh.
Hippo answered a call from Dr. Snores, a horse who lived with his wife on the other side of the forest.
"Please, Hippo! She’s barely slept a wink in five days! We’re going on holiday tomorrow, and I can’t have her being restless on the way. Help, please! I know you can do it!"
Hippo grinned.
"No job is too hard for Hippo and Duck! We’ll be there before you can say Quacking Snooze!" he replied triumphantly, and slammed down the phone.
Our fantastic pair arrived in two minutes, geared up in their super cloaks. Duck knocked on the door.
As soon as Dr. Snores opened it, they bustled into the Snores’ lounge. Mrs Snores laid wide awake, watching the door.
"Help me!"
Hippo chuckled and tapped her lightly on the ear.
"Goodnight!"
Nothing happened. He tried again. No luck. Duck hopped three times, yet still Mrs Snores stared back, terrified.
"Whatever can you do?"
They all thought together. Then Duck slapped his wing.
"If it’s been more than three days then we must do it together!"
So they hopped and tapped together at the same time, and immediately Mrs Snores fell asleep.
Hippo and Duck were thanked by Dr. Snores then they ran home and slept in their Silentnight beds.
LYDIA SYM
Lydia, a twin and the youngest of 5 children, enjoys reading a wide range of books that have been handed down from her older siblings. Lydia’s other favourite pastime is netball, and she plays for Thameside Under 11’s Netball club, the number one under 11’s Netball Club in the North West.
THE MUZWORZALS
Once upon a time there lived these tiny, tiny creatures called the Muzworzals.
There were many different colours and each one meant a different personality;
Red: Royal
Blue: Grumpy
Green: Perfect
Yellow: Loving
Pink: Jolly
Orange: Lazy
Purple: Cheeky
All the muzworzals lived in the great old oak, that was falling down.
One day Hippo and Duck were on a sleepover together. They went exploring in the forest. Suddenly Duck heard a noise, " Did you hear that Hippo?" Duck asked
"No, what was it?" replied Hippo.
"It sounded like tiny screaming."
"Screaming?"
"Yeah like..........help."
"Help, Help," said the noise
"I heard that," said Hippo. They bent down and there on the grass was a tiny pink figure.
"It’s pointing at the water bottle in your hand hippo" said Duck excitedly
"I'll just give him a mouthful," said Hippo. He bent down and gave the tiny thing a capful of water and to their astonishment the tiny thing became not so tiny but as big as them!
"Hi there, I'm Kippy!" it said
"Hi urr....... I'm Hippo and this is my best friend Duck," said Hippo. Then the muzworzal began to tell them about the falling oak tree and all the colours of his friends.
"Ok," said Hippo "You want us to get 1000 muzworzals out of 1 tree and transport them to another?"
"Yes please," said Kippy
"Lets go!" said Duck
So the three of them ran through the forest to the tree. When they got there, Kippy disappeared in to the tree and came out with a big grin on his face.
"What did you say to them?" said Hippo.
"They want you to lift up the tree and slant it on to that one over there!"
"Ok, come on Duck."
And with all their might they lifted the tree and did as they were told. Just then a blur of colour went from one tree to the next.
"Thank you ever so much" said Kippy in delight, "The Queen thanks you both for all your effort. I must go now. Bye." As he said this he began to shrink down to his normal size.
So the two of them ran back home and fell asleep. GOOD NIGHT!
The next day they told everybody about their adventure and guess what....... nobody believed them.
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