About the Author Illustrator:

Sue Clancy, an American artist, author, and illustrator who lives in Washington state is known for her whimsical, timeless, comforting, quirky and oddly cute art images and artist books often featuring animals. Though she is the author/artist for more than 6 books and numerous fine art exhibits she is still very carefully supervised in her art studio by a miniature longhaired dachshund and a tabby cat. Clancy loves to read, cook and play with words and pictures. You can see more about Clancy’s art here: www.sueclancy.com

The post A Scoop of Letter Soup first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Creativity

1. How many other animal words can you think of, to go with each letter?

Alphabet book written and illustrated by Akili and Me by Ubongo

OTHER CREDITS:

Animal Alphabet (English), written by Akili and Me by Ubongo, (© Akili and Me by Ubongo, 2021), illustrated by Akili and Me by Ubongo, published under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

* THE STORY ‘ANIMAL ALPHABET’ WAS CREATED BY AKILI AND ME BY UBONGO, AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS -BY-4.0 LICENSE. FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post Animal Alphabet first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Creativity

1. How many other nature words can you think of? What are the first letters of each?

Alphabet book written and illustrated by Adrija Ghosh

OTHER CREDITS:

ABCD – A Nature Alphabet Book (English), written by Adrija Ghosh, illustrated by Adrija Ghosh, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2020) under a CC BY 4.0 license, first released on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

* THE STORY ‘ABCD – A NATURE ALPHABET BOOK’ WAS CREATED BY PRATHAM BOOKS AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS -BY-4.0 LICENSE. FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post ABCD – A Nature Alphabet Book first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Copyright © Storyberries 2020

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Creativity

1. What is the first letter of your name?

2. How many things can you think of that you like, and that start with the same letter?

Fairy Tale bedtime story written by Jade Maitre

Illustrations by RawPixel, with thanks.

Storyberries' Animal Antics ABC | Free Books | Bedtime Stories

Learn your ABCs with Storyberries' free alphabet book, filled with animal antics!

URL: https://www.storyberries.com/free-alphabet-books-for-kids-animal-antics-abc-learn-to-read-books/

Author: Jade Maitre

Editor's Rating:
5

The post Animal Antics ABC! first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Sue Clancy 2020

Poem for Kids written and illustrated by Sue Clancy

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Conversation

1. What is your favourite animal in this story? Why?

2. What is your favourite letter of the alphabet? Why?

About the Author Illustrator:

Sue Clancy, an American artist, author, and illustrator who lives in Washington state is known for her whimsical, timeless, comforting, quirky and oddly cute art images and artist books often featuring animals. Though she is the author/artist for more than 6 books and numerous fine art exhibits she is still very carefully supervised in her art studio by a miniature longhaired dachshund and a tabby cat. Clancy loves to read, cook and play with words and pictures. You can see more about Clancy’s art here: www.sueclancy.com

The post Alphapets Too! first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

You can listen to an audio reading of the story by clicking on the arrow above !

It was Rosco’s first Christmas with the McKendrick family. Late in the evening on Christmas Eve, ten-year old James, seven-year-old Mandy, and Mom and Dad McKendrick were all in bed.

Rosco, their large German shepherd, lay near the front door, tossing and turning on his doggie bed. The lights on the Christmas tree had been shut off. The fire in the hearth had burned out. But Rosco was wide awake.

Rosco lay thinking anxiously about what Mandy had told him—that tonight, someone named Santa Claus would be visiting the house while everyone slept. Mandy had instructed her dog not to bark at Santa, because she wouldn’t want Rosco to scare Santa away.

She had told him what to expect. So Rosco was prepared for a jolly old man with a white beard and a red suit to come hurling down the chimney sometime after midnight.

What time is it now? Rosco wondered. And when will he get here? Rosco knew only one thing for sure—that he would be tired tomorrow after all the sleep he would miss tonight.

Rosco tried to relax and think about something else. His mind wandered as he remembered the many pleasant things this December had brought—a Christmas parade with floats, marching bands, and holiday carolers; Mandy’s school play; James’s trip to the ice-skating rink with friends, sugar cookies in the oven; and festive decorations all around the house.

Rosco had even gone on a horse-drawn sleigh ride with the whole family—well, more of a horse-drawn wagon ride really, but Mrs. McKendrick had called it a sleigh-ride. The ride had taken place at a farm in the countryside, on a chilly, dark evening.

The family had donned mittens and hats and sipped hot cocoa as the horses whisked them through beautiful fields and woods lit up by rows and rows of colorful Christmas lights. The horses wore jingling bells around their necks that made them sound just like the horse in Mandy’s favorite Christmas song. Rosco had loved it!

Yes, December was a magical month in the world of his people. Rosco decided he, too, liked this festive holiday season as much as they did. So he thought maybe he ought to calm down and go to sleep—it was time to stop wondering when Santa would arrive.

He looked out a nearby window. Tonight the air outside was cool and damp, but no snow lay on the ground. Earlier today it had rained, and puddles had collected on the ground. Rosco knew this kind of weather usually brought frost by morning, and often puddles turned into very slippery patches of ice. He’d have to be careful tomorrow morning when they put him outside.

Through the window Rosco could see the red and green crystals of sugar that James and Mandy had left on the driveway before they went to bed. The kids had made an odd mixture of uncooked oatmeal, birdseed, and colored sugar crystals, and then sprinkled the mixture outside the front door. Reindeer food, they called it. It was a snack for Santa’s reindeer.

The colorful crystals of sugar outside glittered under the strings of Christmas lights encircling the house. Rosco wasn’t sure if reindeer would eat birdseed but he would be happy to lick it up tomorrow if they didn’t.

Oh well, nothing else to do now but wait, he thought with a sigh, a wide yawn finally escaping his mouth. The tired dog snuggled into his soft bed and soon drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Hours later, Rosco awoke with a jolt to the sound of footsteps on the roof. He remembered Mandy’s desperate instructions, because she knew he could make mischief sometimes: “Please, please don’t bark when you hear him, Rosco! It’s really important!” Mandy had said. “Santa doesn’t want you to notice him when he’s working. You might even want to pretend you’re asleep.”

So Rosco obediently clamped his mouth shut, holding back the bark that usually came out when he heard a noise. But he just had to find out what was happening up there on the roof. He just had to be sure it was, indeed, Santa Claus. He could not just pretend to be asleep. Sorry Mandy, he thought.

Quietly, he padded over to his doggie door at the back of the house. He passed the Christmas tree, the plate of cookies and carrots, and the glass of milk that the kids had left for Santa in the living room, not daring to touch the food after Mandy’s warning.

Rosco slipped through the doggie door out into the frosty night. He’d have a good view of whomever was on the roof from the far edge of the backyard, if he could only get there without being seen. He didn’t want to scare away Santa.

Soon he made it to the edge of the yard, and turned to look up at the McKendrick house. There, a large, beautiful, red sleigh sat balanced over the tip of the roof. It seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Wow! He was impressed. Now, that’s what you call a sleigh, Mom, he thought. But no one was up there—no jolly old man in a red suit, not even one reindeer—just the sleigh.

But this had to mean Santa Claus was here! So, where was he? And where were the reindeer?

Rosco thought maybe he could get a better view from the other side, on the street—so he crept quietly back across the damp lawn and out toward the driveway. Maybe I’ll get a lick of that reindeer food while I’m out there, he thought. Like most big dogs, Rosco was always hungry for a snack.

Once again he was in for a surprise. Not only were no reindeer on the other side of the house, but the reindeer food on the driveway was all gone! Not one red or green sugar crystal was left to sparkle in the night. The reindeer must’ve already eaten it up! But, how had they eaten it so quickly without being noticed? And where were they now?

He walked out onto the street in the dark night and sniffed about, carefully searching for traces of the nine reindeer. They couldn’t have gotten far, could they? Although, Mandy said they can fly, right?

Just then Rosco heard a loud clunk on the rooftop, followed by some jingling bells, like the sound that the horses had made on the wagon ride. He heard an animal whinny and stomp its hoof. He thought he saw the tips of antlers moving about on the other side of the roof.

Ah ha!

He could not miss his chance to see those reindeer! He started to run, heading across the driveway and toward the backyard.

But he had not looked closely at where he was going and it was dark out! His paws hit a long, wide, frozen puddle on the pavement.

Zip! Flop!

Rosco sailed across the ice, slipping and sliding until he smacked the cold, hard, dry pavement at the other end of the frozen puddle with the full force of his body.

Ouch! That hurt, he thought, sprawled out on the ground, resting his aching legs. I should’ve seen that coming. But maybe there was still time to see Santa and his reindeer if he hurried. I’d better be more careful, though. He scrambled to his feet.

In the backyard, everything was silent again—not a reindeer in sight. He looked to the roof. The sleigh was gone! How had it disappeared like that? he thought. It was just there a few moments ago! Rosco sighed heavily.

Defeated, he lowered his head and shuffled slowly back to his doggie door. Rosco was fast and strong and smart. He was usually very good at sniffing out and finding whatever he was after. So how had Santa Claus and nine full-sized reindeer managed to get by him?

He slipped inside the house to return to his doggie bed, pondering the question, his tail sagging in disappointment. Oh well, maybe next year, he thought sadly.

But as he crossed the living room, he stopped and gasped. Colorful presents now surrounded the family’s Christmas tree, and they were piled high! Big ones and little ones, some wrapped in patterned paper with shiny ribbons, some not wrapped at all!

The glass of milk was empty and the cookies and carrots were gone! Only crumbs remained.

Santa!

Santa must’ve been here, inside the house! He must’ve delivered all of these gifts and swept out through the chimney just like Mandy said he would, in just a few minutes, flat!

Magic! It must be Christmas magic, Rosco thought. That’s how he does it! That’s why I never really saw the reindeer!

And oh, my! James and Mandy will be delighted when they see this in the morning! Rosco stood gazing at the extraordinary sight for a long time.

Finally, he sighed and headed for his doggie bed. Settling in, he smiled a doggie smile of satisfaction. Next year I’ll know what to do.

Merry Christmas from Rosco the Rascal!

Short story for kids written by Shana Gorian

Audio recording by Peter Hammann.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Conversation

1. Have you ever thought you saw Santa just before Christmas? What happened?

Optimism

1. Rosco doesn’t get to see Santa this year. But he manages to see the positive side. What reasons does he have to be happy when he settles down to sleep that night?

The post Rosco the Rascal – December Magic first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

B was a book
With a binding of blue,
And pictures and stories
For me and for you.
b
Nice little book!

C was a cat
Who ran after a rat;
But his courage did fail
When she seized on his tail.
c
Crafty old cat!

D was a duck
With spots on his back,
Who lived in the water,
And always said “Quack!”
d
Dear little duck!

E was an elephant,
Stately and wise:
He had tusks and a trunk,
And two queer little eyes,
e
Oh, what funny small eyes!

F was a fish
Who was caught in a net;
But he got out again,
And is quite alive yet.
f
Lively young fish!

G was a goat
Who was spotted with brown:
When he did not lie still
He walked up and down.
g
Good little goat!

H was a hat
Which was all on one side;
Its crown was too high,
And its brim was too wide.
h
Oh, what a hat!

I was some ice
So white and so nice,
But which nobody tasted;
And so it was wasted.
i
All that good ice!

J was a jackdaw
Who hopped up and down
In the principal street
Of a neighboring town.
j
All through the town!

K was a kite
Which flew out of sight,
Above houses so high,
Quite into the sky.
k
Fly away, kite!

L was a light
Which burned all the night,
And lighted the gloom
Of a very dark room.
l
Useful nice light!

M was a mill
Which stood on a hill,
And turned round and round
With a loud hummy sound.
m
Useful old mill!

N was a net
Which was thrown in the sea
To catch fish for dinner
For you and for me.
n
Nice little net!

O was an orange
So yellow and round:
When it fell off the tree,
It fell down to the ground;
o
Down to the ground!

P was a pig,
Who was not very big;
But his tail was too curly,
And that made him surly.
p
Cross little pig!

Q was a quail
With a very short tail;
And he fed upon corn
In the evening and morn.
q
Quaint little quail!

R was a rabbit,
Who had a bad habit
Of eating the flowers
In gardens and bowers.
r
Naughty fat rabbit!

S was the sugar-tongs,
Nippity-nee,
To take up the sugar
To put in our tea.
s
Nippity-nee!

T was a tortoise,
All yellow and black:
He walked slowly away,
And he never came back.
t
Torty never came back!

U was an urn
All polished and bright,
And full of hot water
At noon and at night.
u
Useful old urn!

V was a villa
Which stood on a hill,
By the side of a river,
And close to a mill.
v
Nice little villa!

W was a whale
With a very long tail,
Whose movements were frantic
Across the Atlantic.
w
Monstrous old whale!

X was King Xerxes,
Who, more than all Turks is,
Renowned for his fashion
Of fury and passion.
x
Angry old Xerxes!

Y was a yew,
Which flourished and grew
By a quiet abode
Near the side of a road.
y
Dark little yew!

Z was some zinc,
So shiny and bright,
Which caused you to wink
In the sun’s merry light.
z
Beautiful zinc!

Poem for kids written by Edward Lear

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Creativity

1. Were there any animals or things that you did not recognise in this alphabet? Can you think of some other things that begin with that letter?

The post A Was An Ant first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

ORIGINAL PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Kate Greenaway used an early version of the rhyme to illustrate A APPLE PIE which was first published in 1886 and it will be noticed that there is no rhyme for the letter I.

The rhyme of A APPLE PIE is very ancient and reference is made to it as early as 1671 in one of the writings of John Eachard. In these early versions the letters I and J were not differentiated. The letter J as we know it to-day was the curved initial form of the letter I and was always used before a vowel.

STORYBERRIES NOTE

We have added the “I” into the J rhyme in order to help your child not miss this important letter!

Short story for children written and illustrated by Kate Greenaway

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Creativity

1. Can you think of some other things you might do for an apple pie? What letters do they begin with?

The post A Apple Pie first appeared on Bedtime Stories.