Storytime

2ND Anniversary Issue!

TM
TM

E T RY
PO ITION!
E T
COMP o e m
u r p
See yo int!
in pr

The Budgie The Brave Little

Tailor, Ganesha,

Likes to Boogie The Reluctant

Dragon, PLUS 25
by Brian Moses BOOKS TO WIN!
“Did you ever – just for fun – try to make up poetry – verses, you know?”
 Be o t ...
ur special gues
... at the best story party ever! To
celebrate Storytime’s 2nd anniversary,
we’ve got boogie budgies, a poetic
dragon, an elephant who rides a
mouse, and a big bad wolf!
This issue belongs to:

Illustrators:
Storytime™ magazine is published
every month by Luma Works, Studio Josh Cleland The Budgie Likes to Boogie
2B18, Southbank Technopark, 90 Emily Monjaraz Wolf Lullaby
London Rd, London, SE1 6LN. Andrès Salinas Ganesha and the
© Luma Creative Ltd, 2016. All rights Golden Mango
reserved. No part of this magazine Òscar Julve The Fox and the Cat
Chiara Nocentini The Brave Little Tailor
may be used or reproduced without
Carine Hinder The Stars in the Sky
prior written permission of the publisher.
MMelanie Matthews The Reluctant Dragon
Storytime is a trademark of Luma
Creative Ltd. Printed by Grange.

Luma Creative and its paper suppliers have been independently certified in accordance
with the rules of the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council)®.

www.storytimemagazine.com
On th e C o v e r 2 nd
Anniversary
Issue!
Poems and Rhymes

The Budgie Likes to Boogie

By Brian Moses. What does the budgie
get up to at night? Find out here...
6
Around the World Tales Storyteller’s Corner

Wolf Lullaby
A sweet little girl outwits a
wolf with her simple song. 8
The Stars in the Sky
A little boy dreams of playing
with the twinkling stars.
31
Myths and Legends Brilliant Books

13 37
Ganesha and the The Reluctant Dragon
Golden Mango By Kenneth Grahame.
The Indian god, Ganesha, A young boy meets a dragon
tries to win a magical mango. with a difference.

Famous Fables Storytime Playbox

The Fox and the Cat

18 45
Get budgie ready to rock,
make an elephant mask
Mister Fox tries to impress
and see your poem in print
Mistress Cat with his tricks.
in Storytime!

Favourite Fairy Tales Story Magic

The Brave Little Tailor

22 50
Don’t miss our brilliant Book
of the Month and our 2nd
A tailor discovers that he’s
anniversary book giveaway!
stronger and smarter than
he ever thought possible.
See our
Poetry
Competitio
n
on page 48
!
 Plus tw
free t o
id
files! y

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Poems and Rhymes

The Budgie
Likes to Boogie
T
By Brian Moses
he budgie likes to boogie,
the budgie likes to rock.
He wakes us every night,
when he rocks around the clock.

The budgie likes to jive,

to spin around, to twirl.
His body full of rhythm,
his head is in a whirl.

WRITE IT!
6
Do you want to be the next Brian Moses? Enter our
poetry competition on page 48 and you might just
see your work illustrated and in print in Storytime!
The budgie boogie-woogies,
along the table top.
The budgie disco dances,
the budgie likes to bop.

He’s just about the best,

his moves are really neat.
You should see the budgie boogie,
you should see his flying feet!

In front of the dangly mirror,

he plays his air guitar.
The budgie likes to boogie,
the budgie is a STAR!

Copyright © 2009 Brian Moses, www.brianmoses.co.uk

The Budgie Likes to Boogie by Brian Moses (Caboodle Books).
Around the World Tales

Wolf Lullaby
O
n a Caribbean island, there was once a sweet little house,
surrounded by a sweet little garden with a sweet little picket
fence around it. A sweet little girl lived there with her father.

Around the house was a pretty wildflower meadow and beyond the meadow
was the forest where the big, bad wolves lived. Every morning, the little girl’s
father would say to her, “You can play in the garden today, dear, but whatever
you do, don’t open the gate. Not far from our house is the big forest and that’s
where the big, bad wolves live.”

8
And, every day, the girl did exactly as She was about to turn round and head
she was told, because she was a good back to her garden, when she saw
little girl. Except for one day. another yellow flower a little further
out in the meadow. It was even prettier
On that day, she was singing a sweet
than the first one.
little song to herself and picking a posy
of flowers. “Traybla, traybla, cum qua, “How lovely!” thought the little girl.
kimo. Traybla, traybla, cum qua, kimo,” She checked that her father wasn’t
she sang. And as she sang, she saw in watching, and she looked all around
the meadow the most beautiful yellow for wolves then, still singing “Traybla,
flower she had ever seen. traybla, cum qua, kimo,” she picked
this yellow flower too.
“Oh, that flower would look so nice in
my posy,” she thought. And as she She was about to turn around and
gazed at it, its petals seemed to dance head back to her garden, when she
in the breeze. spotted a whole patch of pretty yellow
flowers near the edge of the forest.
She checked that her father wasn’t
watching, and she looked all around
for wolves. When she was sure it was
safe, she opened the gate and walked
into the meadow, still singing, “Traybla,
traybla, cum qua, kimo.” She picked
a yellow flower and put it in her hair.

Sing It!
As you read this story, ask your child to
sing “Traybla, traybla, cum qua kimo”
along with you. Can you make up some
more verses? Use nonsense words and
see if you can make your verses rhyme.
Now put it all together to make your
own lullaby!

9
So she checked that her father wasn’t When she saw the wolf’s greedy eyes
watching, she looked all around for and sharp teeth, she shook with fear.
wolves and, when she was sure it
“What a sweet song that was, little
was safe, she walked over to the
girl. Sing it to me again,” snapped the
yellow flowers and picked them all,
wolf, and he licked his lips.
still singing, “Traybla, traybla, cum
qua, kimo.” Terrified and in a trembling voice, the
little girl sang, “Traybla, traybla, cum
All this time, a hungry wolf had been
qua, kimo.” And as she did so, she
spying on the girl from behind a tree
was surprised to see the wolf’s eyes
and, just as she was about to head
droop and he drifted off to sleep.
home, he sprang out in front of her.
The little girl took her chance and As quickly as she could, the little girl
tiptoed across the meadow towards tiptoed towards her garden, but she
her house but, suddenly, she sneezed stepped on a sharp stone – OUCH!
– ACHOO! And it woke up the wolf. And her cry woke up the snoozing
He bounded towards the girl. wolf. He pounced towards her again.

“Sing your sweet song to me again, “Sing your sweet song to me again,”
little girl,” he growled. he growled, and he circled around her.

So the frightened little girl sang again, Plucking up all her courage, the little
“Traybla, traybla, cum qua, kimo.” And, girl sang, “Traybla, traybla, cum qua,
once more, the wolf sank into a deep kimo.” The wolf’s eyelids soon grew
and pleasant slumber. heavy and he slumped to the ground.

11
 This time, the little girl tiptoed as carefully and quietly as she could, backing
away from the sleeping wolf. When, at last, she reached her garden gate, she
swung it open, dashed down her garden path, and the gate closed behind her
with a loud SLAM!

The wolf jolted awake and sprinted towards her, but it was too late – she was
safely behind her garden fence. He skulked home with an empty belly and a
head full of lullaby, while the sweet little girl skipped inside with her sweet little
posy, promising that she would always listen to her father from now on.

12
 Ganesha
Myths and Legends

and the Golden Mango

T he great Hindu gods, Shiva and Parvati, had two sons – Ganesha
and Kartikeya. They were kind, loyal, strong and intelligent.

However, there was a big difference between the two – Ganesha thought about
things deeply before sharing his wisdom, while Kartikeya was funny and quick-
witted. There was another big difference – Ganesha had a huge round belly and
the head of an elephant, while Kartikeya was a tall, lean man.

13
One day, the other gods were talking about the two brothers when they started to
argue about who was the most intelligent. “Ganesha is the eldest, so he must be
more clever,” said one. “No, Kartikeya has the sharpest mind!” declared another.

As they struggled to settle their dispute, the famous trickster god Narada stepped
forward. “I can find the answer to your question,” he said, with a glint in his eye.
Narada was the son of Lord Brahma – the god of creation – and though he was
a wise sage himself, he was well known for stirring up trouble wherever he went.

Without delay, he travelled to the home of Lord Shiva and Goddess Pavarti, and
presented their sons with a shining golden mango.

“What is this fruit?” said Parvati with some suspicion, as she knew that Narada
always brought mischief with him.

“It is the divine fruit of knowledge,” explained Narada. “Eating it gives you all the
wisdom in the world. I bring it as a gift to your sons, but there is a catch,” he went
on. “Its powers won’t work if it is shared. It can only be eaten by one person.”

14
“But how are we to decide which son should have it?” asked Lord Shiva.

“I love mangoes and I’m the youngest!” said Kartikeya. “I should have it!”

“But I’m the eldest and I will use my knowledge more wisely,” said Ganesha.
“Therefore, I should have it!”

Narada stood there grinning, pleased with the problem he had created.

“Always causing trouble, Narada!” sighed Parvati. “So how do you suggest
we solve this?”

“A competition!” exclaimed Narada. “A race! You must both go around the

world three times – and whoever returns first wins the mango of knowledge!”

Kartikeya was delighted. He was fit and sporty, and his mode of transport was
a swift and powerful peacock. He was confident he could win. He leapt onto the
back of his peacock and set off at an impressive pace.
15
Ganesha, however, felt downhearted. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were
He was slow-moving and heavy and surprised to see their son back so
he got around on the back of a small soon. “How did you finish so quickly?”
mouse. There was no way he could they asked. But Ganesha didn’t say
compete with his brother, but he a word. Still riding on his loyal mouse,
wasn’t about to give up. he circled his parents three times, then
he stood before them and bowed.
He balanced himself on the back of
his mouse and slowly ambled down “You asked me to circle the world
the road. His brother was already a three times – and you, my parents,
blur in the distance. But Ganesha are the world to me. I don’t need to
hadn’t gone very far when he had go any further than this.”
a brilliant idea. “Don’t my parents
His parents could not argue with the
mean the whole world to me?” he
wisdom or respect he had shown them
thought. So Ganesha turned his
– and even Narada was forced to
mouse around and went home.
agree that Ganesha had been clever.

There are many fantastic stories about the god Ganesha. In some parts
of India, Ganesha is celebrated with a 10-day festival called Ganesh
Chaturthi. People decorate their homes and shrines with clay models
of the elephant-headed god and dress them with colourful flowers. It’s
also traditional to eat sweet treats.

16
When Kartikeya returned the next day to claim his prize, he was shocked to
see Ganesha proudly holding the golden mango.

“How did you get here first, brother? I kept looking over my shoulder, but you
were nowhere to be seen.”

Lord Shiva explained what had happened and proclaimed Ganesha the winner
of their challenge. Kartikeya congratulated his brother on his cleverness.

Ganesha bit into the magical golden mango, which tasted even more delicious
than the sweetest nectar. As he ate the fruit of knowledge, Ganesha’s mind was
flooded with all the wisdom in the world. From that day forward, Ganesha – the
elephant-headed boy – became a respected god and the wisest lord of all
beings. He is still worshipped by Hindus today.

17
 The Fox
Famous Fables

and the Cat

O ne fine day, Mistress Cat was out strolling in the woods
when she spotted Mister Fox skulking around.

18
“He seems like a clever fellow,” she “Secret, my dear? Only a fool would
thought. “He gets by all on his own have one secret! I pride myself on
without any human helping him. He having many of them.”
always seems to have a full belly and
Mistress Cat looked confused, and
he always manages to keep out of
Mister Fox suddenly felt himself very
harm’s way. I wonder how he does it.”
self-important and special. “Tell me,
She sauntered over to him, greeting Mistress Cat, how many cunning tricks
him in a friendly way. “Good morning, do you know?”
Mister Fox. You look well. You never
“Oh, just one,” said Mistress Cat. “But
seem to get in any trouble. What’s
it hasn’t let me down so far. Whenever
the secret of your success?”
a dog or a stranger comes too close,
Mister Fox stopped what he was doing I scramble up as high as I can and I
and gave Mistress Cat a pitiful look. keep out of their reach.”

19
“That’s all you’ve got?” scoffed Mister a trick out of my special tricky trick
Fox. “That’s your only trick?” bag. They don’t call me a sly old fox
for nothing, you know! Really, Mistress
“Yes,” mumbled Mistress Cat, feeling
Cat, you have much to learn.”
a bit foolish. “So, tell me, what tricks
do you have, then?” Just then, a pack of hounds burst
through the undergrowth and came
“Oh, I have a whole bag of tricks,”
pounding towards them. Without a
boasted Mister Fox. “You could say
second’s delay, Mistress Cat darted
I have a trick for every occasion! No
up a nearby tree, well out of reach
matter what the challenge, I can pull
of the hungry dogs.

20
Mister Fox, however, appeared to be frozen to the spot. He was deciding on
which of his many crafty tricks to use.

“Quick, Mister Fox, open up your tricky trick bag! Pull out a trick!” cried Mistress Cat.

But it was too late. Mister Fox had spent so long dithering over which trick to use,
the baying hounds had surrounded him, and there was nowhere for him to escape.

Mistress Cat looked down from her high branch and miaowed:

“I think it's better to have one good trick than a hundred bad ones, after all!”

MAKE IT!
Why not make a bag
of tricks? On a piece of
paper write down five
adjectives to describe
yourself or someone
you know. For example:
brave, kind, helpful and
honest. Cut the paper
into slips and put the
slips in your bag. Take
it in turns to pull out a
slip and say how this
adjective could help
you in times of need.
Favourite Fairy Tales

The Brave
Little Tailor
A busy tailor decided to stop for his lunch break. He spread a thick
slice of bread with his favourite strawberry jam and went to fetch
a glass of cold milk.

But when he returned to his feast, he

found a swarm of flies eating his jam.
“How dare you!” cried the tailor. “Who
invited you to share my lunch?” But
the flies ignored him and carried on
nibbling at the sweet, sticky jam.

“Shoo!” shouted the tailor, but the flies

didn’t move.

“Right,” said the tailor. “I’ll get you!”

And he grabbed a tea towel and hit
wildly at the flies. Most of them flew
away, but the tailor saw that seven
of the flies were quite dead.

“Would you look at that?” said the

tailor. “A little man like me killing
seven in just one blow! I should tell
the world about this! In fact, I should
give up my work – this is no job for
a courageous fellow like me!”
So he set about stitching himself a The giant thought the tailor had killed
sash with the words ‘Seven in one seven men in one blow, and was most
blow’ embroidered upon it. Then he impressed. Nevertheless, he decided
wrapped the sash around his waist, to test him.
put a hunk of cheese in his pocket for
“Can you do this?” asked the giant,
supper, and set off to show everyone
and he grabbed a rock and squeezed
how brave he had been.
it so hard that water dripped from it.
Along the path, he found a little bird
“No problem!” said the tailor, and he
whose wing had got caught in a bush.
hid the cheese from his pocket behind
The tailor freed it, but the bird was still
a rock and squeezed it tightly until
weak, so he put it in his other pocket
liquid dripped from it.
to recover and continued on his way.
“What about this?” asked the
giant, and he took a stone
Before long, he came to a mountain. and hurled it high into the
He walked all the way to the top, and air. It landed with
found a huge giant sitting there. a thud halfway
down the
“Good evening!” said the tailor. “Isn’t
mountain.
it a wonderful view? I’m off to see the
world. Would you like to join me?”

The giant grunted and laughed. “Join

a little wimp like you? I don’t think so!”

“A wimp, you say?” said

the tailor, and he
opened his jacket
to proudly reveal
his ‘Seven in one
blow’ sash.

23
“Impressive, but I’ll throw my stone so When they neared the cave, the tailor
high, it won’t fall down again,” said the quickly hopped off again, so when the
tailor, and he took the bird from his giant looked back, he saw the tailor
pocket, and tossed it into the sky. toiling to lift the other end.
The giant was completely fooled!
Huffing and puffing, the giant dropped
“Hmm, let’s see how much weight you the heavy load and the tailor said,
can lift,” said the giant. “Help me carry “Tired, are we?”
this oak tree to my cave.”
The giant grumbled, “If you’re so brave
“Of course,” said the tailor. “You take and strong, sleep in our cave tonight!”
the trunk, and I’ll carry the branches.”
The tailor agreed and followed the
The giant lifted the tree and the giant to a roaring fire, surrounded by
tailor pretended to lift the other six more giants – all as huge and grisly
end. They set off down the as the first. The giant showed him
mountain and, because the into their cave and to his bed.
giant couldn’t see behind
“Fancy, me living with giants!”
him, the tailor hopped
chuckled the tailor.
onto a branch to
enjoy the ride.

24
He tried to get to sleep, but the bed “Seven in one blow again!” thought
was uncomfortable, so he crept out of the tailor, and he set off to see the
the cave and slept under a bush. This world once more.
was a stroke of good luck, because
the giant had decided to eat him for
breakfast and, in the middle of the He walked for days until, at last, he
night, he had thudded over to the saw a castle in the distance, but he
tailor’s bed and hit it with his club. was so tired, he decided to get some
sleep before heading there.
When the giant got up in the morning
and found the little man sitting by the The next morning, a troop of soldiers
fire, he was shocked to see that the passed by and, when they discovered
tailor had survived. Fearing that the a sleeping stranger wearing a ‘Seven
tailor would seek revenge, he urged in one blow’ sash, they thought he
the other giants to run for their lives, must have performed a heroic deed.
and they all dashed into the woods. They sent news to the king.
The kin the brave
g thought
little tailor must be a great hero!

Spot It!
Can you find these three close-up
images on this page? Tick each box
when you find them.
When the tailor woke up, he was very So the tailor prepared for his journey
pleased to see the king at his side. and the king insisted that he took his
best horsemen with him. They set off
“Good morning,’ said the king, a little
at dusk and, when they reached the
nervously. “I am delighted to have a
edge of the forest, the tailor told the
great hero like you in my kingdom!”
horsemen to stay put.
“Indeed!” said the tailor, pointing
“I can take care of the giants myself,”
proudly at his sash.
he said bravely.
“I wonder whether you can help us,
The horsemen didn’t want to argue
please? Seven giants have just moved
with a man who could kill seven in
into a nearby forest and are robbing
one blow, so they watched him
anyone who travels through it.”
disappear into the trees.
“Ah, you have come to the right man,”
smiled the tailor. “Just a few days ago
I scared away seven giants.” The brave little tailor searched the
woods and, at last, he found the same
“Excellent!” said the king. “If you can
seven giants he had met days before
rid me of them, I will reward you well
all fast asleep under a large oak tree.
– you can have half my kingdom and
my daughter’s hand in marriage!” He filled his pockets with rocks and
climbed the tree, then, when he was
“Deal!” said the tailor. “Seven in one
directly above the giants, he started
blow is no problem for me!”
to drop the rocks on their heads.

28
The giants soon stirred. “Stop hitting The brave little tailor climbed down
me!” grunted one to the other. the tree and walked out of the forest.

“I’m not! You hit me!” said another. “Seven in one blow!” he said to the
horsemen. “I had to pull up some
“You started it!” shouted one, angrily.
trees to defend myself, but the giants
Then all seven giants jumped up and won’t trouble you any more.”
began to quarrel. The quarrel quickly
The horsemen couldn’t believe it,
turned into pushing, then the pushing
so they rode into the forest and were
turned into fighting, and, before long,
astounded to see seven dead giants
they were pulling up trees by the roots
with trees scattered around them.
and whacking each other over the
head with them. Pretty soon, all
seven giants were dead.

Design It!
r and
Using a long strip of pape
colouring
your favourite crayons or
ecial
pencils, design your own sp
ng
sash to wear. Write somethi
on it to tell people how
awesome you are!
When the brave little tailor returned The king was greatly angered and
triumphantly to the castle, the king came up with a scheme to kidnap the
regretted his offer, but it was too late tailor in the night and take him far, far
– he had made a promise. away. However, one of the horsemen
overheard the plan, and felt sorry for
Within a week, the tailor was married
the tailor, so told him everything.
to the princess. The ceremony wasn’t a
joyful one, as the king was so grumpy, That night, when the princess and the
but the tailor was too happy to notice. tailor went to bed, the tailor pretended
to fall asleep. When he heard people
In bed that night, the princess was kept
outside, he cried, “Boy, fetch the
awake by her new husband talking in
thread, the tape measure and some
his sleep. “Boy, fetch some thread!”
velvet, so somebody can make me a
“Boy, where is the tape measure?”
robe fit for a hero! I have killed seven
“Boy, pass me that velvet!” he said.
in one blow. I fear nobody – not even
In the morning, the princess went to the people outside my room!”
the king. “My husband is no hero!” she
When his enemies heard this, they ran
cried. “He’s nothing but a lowly tailor!”
away as fast as their legs could carry
them. The brave little tailor was never
bothered again and even went on to
be the king – in a smart velvet robe!
 Storyteller’s Corner

The Stars in the Sky

J
ust last week – or perhaps it was a hundred years ago – there
was a wee boy who loved the stars in the sky so much, he
longed to play with them.

All day long, he would mope around the house because all he wanted to do was
play with the stars. “Play with your teddy,” said his mummy.

“No, I want to play with the stars,” sulked the boy.

“Why don’t you draw a picture of the stars?” suggested his daddy.

“It’s not the same. I want to play with them!” said the boy.

“Here’s a book about them,” said his granny. “You can read about them.”

“I don’t want to read about them!” cried the boy.

“I want to play with them.”

It was no use; nothing anyone could

say or do would cheer him up. The
wee boy had his heart set on
playing with the stars.

31
That night, when everyone was in “Yes, indeed,” babbled the brook.
bed, he set out in his pyjamas to find “They glint on the riverbank every
the stars. He walked and he walked night and light up all the reeds. Paddle
until he came to a pond. around and perhaps you’ll find one.”

“Good evening,” said the boy. “I’m So the wee boy stepped into the
looking for the stars to play with. brook and paddled around and
Have you seen any?” around, but all he found was a frog.
There were no stars to be seen. He
“Oh yes,” said the pond. “They shine
stepped onto the riverbank and
on my surface so brightly sometimes,
carried on his journey.
I can’t sleep. Jump in and perhaps
you’ll find one.” Soon he came to some frolicking
fairies. “Good evening,” said the boy.
So the wee boy jumped in, and he
“I’m looking for the stars to play with.
swam around and around, but all
Have you seen any?”
he found were some ripples. There
were no stars to be seen. He climbed “Why, yes, little lad,” said the fairies.
out and carried on his journey. “They shine on us every night when
we’re dancing. Dance with us and
Soon he came to a babbling brook.
perhaps they’ll come out to play!”
“Good evening,” said the boy. “I’m
looking for the stars to play with. The wee boy danced around and
Have you seen any?” around with the fairies, but all he
found was that his feet hurt. There “Then I’ll be able to play with the stars
were no stars to be seen. So he sat in the sky!” grinned the wee boy.
on the ground and sighed deeply.
“You will or you won’t!” smiled the
“It’s not fair,” he said, his eyes welling fairy, and she danced away.
up with tears. “I’ve swum and I’ve
paddled and I’ve danced, and I still
haven’t found the stars to play with. Filled with hope and happiness, the
Can’t you help me, please?” wee boy set off and, soon enough, he
came to a horse. “This must be Four
The fairies whispered for a while,
Feet,” he thought.
then the tallest fairy came up to the
wee boy and said, “Follow this road “Good evening,” said the boy. “The
until you come to Four Feet, and ask fairies said you could carry me to No
him to carry you to No Feet At All. Feet At All and the stars in the sky.
When you get there, ask No Feet At Can you help me, please?”
All to carry you all the way to the
stairs without steps …”

33
“I know nothing of the stars,” neighed the horse, “but climb on my back and
I will do as the fairies have asked.”

The wee boy climbed up and they rode through the chill night air until they
reached a dark forest. The horse continued, carrying the boy through the trees
until they came to the edge of the sea. In the distance, rising out of the water,
the wee boy could see a glimmering path that went right up into the sky. It was
the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It looked like it was made of mother
of pearl, silver and gold all in one. It was a moonbow!

“That’s as far as I can carry you,” said Four Feet. “It’s time for you to get off.”

The wee boy dismounted and said,

“But where’s No Feet At All? Is that
the stair without steps?”

“I know nothing of it,” neighed

the horse, and it galloped away.

34
The wee boy looked out at the sea and was just beginning to lose hope again,
when a huge fish popped up in front of him.

“Good evening,” said the boy. “Are you No Feet At All? The fairies said you could
take me to the stairs without steps and the stars in the sky. Can you, please?”

“I am, and I can,” said the fish. “Climb on my back and I’ll take you there.”

So the boy climbed onto the fish’s back and held on tightly as it glided at great
speed through the inky sea. As they reached the magical moonbow path, it
became so bright, the wee boy had to shade his eyes.

“Here you are,” said the fish, and it set the boy down near the bottom of the
bright arch. The wee boy looked up and saw that the shining path climbed all
the way up to the heavens. At the top, he could just about make out the twinkling
stars playing together. The boy laughed with delight.

“Good luck with it,” said the fish. “It’s a slippery slope indeed. You’ll find it
a great deal harder to climb than your stairs at home.” With that, the fish
disappeared with a splash.

Answer: There are 5 golden stars.

COUNT IT!
How many golden stars
can you count on this
page? Write your
answer here!

35
 The wee boy set off up the steep moonbow path, gripping firmly onto the sides.
But however much he climbed, he never seemed to get any further. It was as
though he was taking one step forward and two steps back. He carried on
taking bigger steps, but the path before him still didn’t get any shorter and the
playful stars were always the same distance away.

At last, in frustration, he let go of the sides and took a mighty leap forwards,
but he lost his footing and slid all the way down the moonbow!

Down and down he went, expecting to plunge into the cold sea, but instead,
he suddenly landed with a thud on the floor next to his bed. The boy wailed
when he realised that the whole thing had been a dream! But from that day
on, he wasn’t quite so keen to play with the stars.

Did You Know?

Moonbows really exist!
They’re also called lunar
rainbows, and are lit by
the light of the moon,
rather than the sun. They
are much harder to spot
than rainbows, but you
can see them in the rain
or by waterfalls at night.

36
 Brilliant Books

The Reluctant
Dragon By Kenneth Grahame

L ong ago in a cottage halfway between this village and yonder,

there lived a shepherd with his wife and their little son.

Now the shepherd spent his days and sometimes his nights up on the Downs,
with only the sun and the stars and the sheep for company. But his little son
spent much of his time buried in books. His parents were very fond of him, and
rather proud too, so he was left to read as much as he liked.

One evening the shepherd came home trembling and, sitting down at the table,
he exclaimed, “It’s all over for me! No more can I go up on the Downs!”

“Now, don’t take on like that,” said his wife, who was a very sensible woman.
“Tell us what has shaken you!”

37
“You know that cave up there,” said The Boy clasped his hands behind his
the shepherd. “I never liked it and the head, and said: “It’s all right, Father.
sheep didn’t either. Well, there’s been Don’t you worry. It’s only a dragon.”
faint noises coming from that cave –
“Only a dragon?” cried his father.
noises like heavy sighs with grunts
“What do you mean, sitting there, you
mixed in, and sometimes snoring! Of
and your dragons?”
course, I was terribly frightened, yet
somehow I couldn’t keep away. So “Look here, Father, I know all about
this evening, I took a look around the dragons. I always said that cave was
cave. And there – O Lord! – there I a dragon cave. Please, just leave this
saw him, as plain as I see you!” all to me. I’ll talk to him, and you’ll find
it’ll be all right. You don’t understand
“Saw who?” said his wife, beginning
’em. They’re very sensitive, you know!”
to share in her husband’s terror.
“He’s quite right, Father,” said the
“Him!” said the shepherd. “He was
sensible mother. “He’s wonderful
sticking halfway out of the cave. He
knowing about beasts.”
was as big as four carthorses, and
all covered with shiny scales – deep
blue at the top, fading to green. As
he breathed, there was a sort of So next day, after he’d had his tea, the
flicker over his nostrils. He had his Boy strolled up the Downs, and there,
chin on his paws – a peaceful sort sure enough, he found the dragon,
o’ beast, I admit. And yet, what am stretched lazily in front of his cave.
I to do? Scales, you know, and claws. The view from there was magnificent.
I ain’t used to it, that’s a fact!” No wonder the dragon seemed in a
peaceful mood.

W I N !
brilliant book prizes!
Enter our competition to win The
Reluctant Dragon book and read
the rest of this fantastic tale!
See page 50.
As the Boy approached he could “No, no, don’t go off in a huff,” said the
hear the beast purring happily. dragon hastily. “Fact is, I’m happy
here. Yet, between ourselves, it is a
“Hullo, dragon!” said the Boy.
trifle dull at times.”
When the dragon saw it was a Boy,
The Boy bit off a stalk of grass and
he set his eyebrows severely.
chewed it. “Going to stay long?” he
“Now don’t you hit me,” he said. “Or asked, politely.
throw stones or squirt water – or
“Can’t say,” replied the dragon. “It
anything. I won’t have it, I tell you!”
seems a nice place, but I’ve only been
“Not goin’ to hit you,” said the Boy. here a short time, and one must look
“I’ve simply looked in to ask you how about before settling down. But, fact
you were, but if I’m in the way I can is, I’m confoundedly lazy!”
easily clear out!”

39
39
“You surprise me,” said the Boy. underground and wedged in tight.
Well, I had peace and quiet, but I’ve
“It’s the sad truth,” the dragon went
got such an active mind, so after a
on, settling down between his paws,
while, I got bored. So I scratched and
delighted to have found a listener.
burrowed, and worked this way and
“That’s really how I came to be here.
that way and at last I came out in this
You see, all the other fellows were
cave here. And I like the view, and on
so active – always rampaging, and
the whole I feel inclined to settle here.”
skirmishing, and chasing knights, and
devouring damsels, whereas I liked to “What’s your mind always occupied
get my meals and then prop against about?” asked the Boy.
a rock and snooze, you know? So
The dragon coloured slightly and
when it happened I got fairly caught.”
looked away, then he said bashfully,
“What happened?” asked the Boy. “Did you ever – just for fun – try to
make up poetry – verses, you know?”
“I don’t precisely know,” said the
dragon. “There was a shake and “Course I have,” said the Boy. “And
a roar, and I found myself miles some of it’s quite good, only no one

40
here cares about it. Mother’s very kind You’re an enemy of the human race,
when I read it to her, and so’s Father. you see!”
But somehow they don’t seem to …”
“Haven’t got an enemy in the world,”
“Exactly!” cried the dragon. “My own said the dragon cheerfully. “Too lazy
case exactly. They don’t seem to, and to make ’em!”
you can’t argue with ’em about it. Now
“Oh, dear!” cried the Boy. “I wish you’d
you’ve got culture, I could tell at once.
try and grasp the situation. When the
I’m awfully pleased to have met you,
other people find you out, they’ll come
and I’m hoping the other neighbours
after you with spears and swords and
will be equally agreeable. There was
all sorts of things. You’re a pest!”
a nice gentleman up here last night,
but he didn’t seem to want to intrude.” “Not a word of truth in it,” said the
dragon, wagging his head solemnly.
“That was my father,” said the Boy,
“And now, there’s a little sonnet I was
“and he is a nice gentleman, and I’ll
working on when you appeared …”
introduce you if you like.”
“Oh, if you won’t be sensible,” cried
“Can’t you two come up here and dine
the Boy, “I’m going home. I can’t stop
tomorrow?” asked the dragon eagerly.
for sonnets; my mother’s sitting up. I’ll
“Only, of course, if you’ve got nothing
come again. Goodnight!”
better to do,” he added politely.

“Thanks awfully,” said the Boy, “but

to tell you the truth, I’m afraid my The Boy found it fairly easy to set his
mother might not approve of you. parents’ minds at ease about his new
You see, there’s no getting over the friend. The shepherd was formally
fact that you’re a dragon, is there? introduced to the dragon and many

Competi
Could you write a short poem about
tion!
a dragon? Maybe you could enter it into our
competition and see it in print in Storytime!
SEE PAGE 48 FOR DETAILS.
41
 compliments were exchanged. His wife, Meanwhile the dragon happily lolled
however, though she offered to mend around on the grass, enjoyed the
things or cook when the dragon had sunsets, told anecdotes to the Boy,
forgotten his meals, wasn’t so sure. and polished his verses.
He was a dragon, after all.

She made no objection, however, to

One day, the Boy found everything in
her son spending his evenings with the
the village looking festive. Bunting was
dragon, so long as he was home by
hanging out of the windows, the church
nine o’clock. And many a pleasant
bells chimed noisily, the little street was
night they had, while the dragon told
strewn with flowers, and everyone was
stories of old, old times, when dragons
jostling, chattering and ordering each
were plentiful and the world was a
other to stand back. The Boy spotted
livelier place, and life was full of thrills
a friend in the crowd.
and jumps and surprises.
“What’s up?” he cried. “Is it the circus?”
What the Boy had feared, however,
soon came to pass. The most modest “He’s a-coming,” his friend hailed back.
and retiring dragon in the world, if he’s
as big as four carthorses and covered “Who’s a-coming?” demanded the Boy.
with scales, cannot keep out of the “Why, St George, of course,” replied
public view. And so in the village inn, his friend. “He’s heard of our dragon,
the fact that a real live dragon was up and he’s coming to slay the deadly
on the Downs was a subject for talk. beast, and free us. Oh my! Won’t there
Though the villagers were extremely be a jolly fight!”
frightened, they were rather proud as Here was news indeed! The Boy felt
well. Having a dragon of your own that he ought to make quite sure, so
was felt to be a feather in the cap of he breathlessly awaited the arrival.
the village. Still, all were agreed that
this sort of thing couldn’t be allowed Presently from the far end came the
to go on. The dreadful beast must be sound of cheering. Next, the tramp
exterminated. But in spite of much of a great war-horse, then he found
valiant talk, each night’s heated himself cheering with the rest, as St.
discussion always ended in nothing. George paced slowly up the street.

42
The Boy’s heart stood still, as the beauty
and grace of the hero were so far beyond
anything he had ever seen. His armour was
inlaid with gold, his plumed helmet hung by
his saddle, and his thick fair hair framed a
gracious face till you caught the sternness
in his eyes. He stopped in front of the inn,
and the villagers crowded round him with
greetings and thanks. The Boy heard the
Saint assuring them that all would be
well, and that he would free them
from their foe, then he dismounted
and passed through the doorway.

The Boy made off up the hill as

fast as he could.

43
 “It’s all over, dragon!” he shouted as big fellow like you! But I thought I’d
soon as he saw the beast. “He’s here! warn you, ’cos he’ll be here soon,
You’ll have to pull yourself together and he’s got the longest, wickedest-
and do something!” looking spear you ever did see!”

The dragon was licking his scales and And the Boy got up and began to
rubbing them with a bit of flannel the jump round in sheer delight at the
Boy’s mother had lent him, till he prospect of the battle.
shone like a great turquoise.
“O deary me,” moaned the dragon.
“Calm down, Boy,” he said. “Sit down “This is too awful. I won’t see him, and
and get your breath, then perhaps that’s final. I don’t want to know the
you’ll tell me who’s coming?” fellow at all. I’m sure he’s not nice.
You must tell him to go away at once,
“It’s only St George,” said the Boy. “He
please. He can write if he likes, but
rode into the village half an hour ago.
I’m not seeing anybody at present!”
Of course you can lick him – a great

44
 Stor y t i m e
Playb x
Give Budgie a cool costume, make a Ganesha mask, bust our
brainteasers, and enter our anniversary poetry competition!

1 Pick A Help the girl find her way home! The right path follows the

Path words of her lullaby in the correct order. She can’t skip any
stones, and she can only step on each stone once!

tray Bla
tray Bla cum re
DO re soti qua fa
cum bla tray
bla tray kimo la
qua fa mi laDO tI so
kimo tikimo cumqua qua kimo
tray blatray blacum DO
mi tray bla
bla tray re
2 Quick Quiz A. Jam Sandwich C. Bird
What does the Brave Little

B. Cheese
Tailor throw into the air to
show the giant his strength?
 3 BUDGIE Budgie’s taking his rock-star moves on tour!
Can you design a costume to impress his

ON TOUR fans? Make sure he looks super-cool!

_ eb _ a
4 Four Feet
Fill-In!
t_g__
In The Stars in the Sky,
Four Feet was a horse.

d_e_
Fill in the blanks to name
three more animals with
four feet.

46
 Ask a
5 Make a Paper Plate Ganesha Mask grow
n-up!
Dress up as Ganesha, the elephant-headed god!

• Before you begin, hold a paper plate against

your child’s face and mark where the eyes
need to be. Use scissors or a craft knife to
cut out holes.
• Paint the paper plate to match the colour
of Ganesha in our story and let it dry.
• Draw two big elephant ears and a curvy trunk
on a piece of card and cut them out.
• Use glue or double-sided sticky tape to stick an ear
to each side of the plate, and the trunk to the front.
• Use a black marker pen to draw a smile on Ganesha.
• Ask a grown-up to punch a hole in each side of the plate, then tie a length
of elastic or ribbon through each hole, knotting it to hold it securely.
• Tie the elastic or ribbon at the back of your head and you’re ready to go!

TIP!  an even quicker mask make , print out our Ganesha ears
For
and trunk from storytimemagazine.com/free

6 Tricky How many bags of tricks does the fox own?

Can you count them all? Write your answer here.
Business

bla tray tray bla

tray bla tray bla cum
kimo cum qua kimo kimo qua
4. Four Feet Fill-In – Zebra, Tiger, Deer; 6. Tricky Business – 15 Bags.

47
qua
bla tray kimo
cum bla tray Answers: 1. Pick a Path – (see right); 2. Quick Quiz – C. Bird;
qua
tray Bla tray Bla cum
 S torytime
POETRY Competition te a sh or t poem about an animal
pr in t! W ri
See your poetry in dg e – th e am az ing children’s
press ou r ju
(real or imaginary), im in t th e be st entry in Storytime!
an d w e’ ll pr
poet Brian Moses – ry bo ok s too! Get scribbling!
nd le of po et
Plus you’ll win a bu

The prizes
Your poem pu
blished
in Storytime,
Plus
win Brian Mo
ses
poetry books

u l e s *
!

T H E R e aged 3 to
9.
About Brian Moses
ust b Our judge, Brian Moses, knows
Entrants m al.
p o e m m u st be origin a thing or two about poetry –
Your
m s h o u ld be between he’s sold over one million
Your poe
nes long.
e!
books, given over 2,500 poetry
12 and 20 li
r, p h o to c o py or tear o
ut
performances, taught in schools
Our jud g
To ente e or downloa
d
o p p o s it all over the country, and he’s even
the form r y tim emagazine
.
s to
a form from written a poem for the Queen!
-comp
com/poetry
Em a il y o u r e ntry form to
g
:
azine.com
Brian’s TOP 3 TIPs!
y ti m e m a
hello@stor d ito r, Storytime, 1.  Don’t feel you have to rhyme.
h e E
or post to: T nk
d io 2 B 1 8, Southba Repeat one or two words every
St u
a r k , L o n d on, SE1 6LN other line to give your poem rhythm.
Technop
g d a te : W ednesday 2. Try to find something different to
Closin
2016.
12 October, it:
say about your character.
vis
*For th e ru le s in full, please omp 3. Surprise me!
om/poetry-c
storytimem
a g a z in e .c awesome Book bundle!
 Storytime Poetry Competition
Entry Form

name:______________________ AGE:____
ADDress:____________________________
_______________________________
 STORY MAGIC
This month, we’re celebrating our second anniversary with a
super-duper 25-book giveaway, so give your bookshelf a treat!

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happy birthday to us!
Storytimioen
human race,
You’re an enemy of the

ARE YOU FEELING ADVENTUROUS?

very kind
here cares about it. Mother’s

Storytime
in tight. so’s Father. you see!”
the Boy. underground and wedged when I read it to her, and
“You surprise me,” said Well, I had peace and
quiet, but I’ve But somehow they don’t
seem to …” “Haven’t got an enemy
in the world,”
so after a . “Too lazy
dragon went got such an active mind, said the dragon cheerfully
“It’s the sad truth,” the “Exactly!” cried the dragon.
“My own
scratched and
his paws, while, I got bored. So I to make ’em!”

Wolf Lullaby
on, settling down between seem to, and
Around the World Tales
case exactly. They don’t

POETRY Competit
this way and
delighted to have found
a listener. burrowed, and worked about it. Now “I wish you’d

Storytime
out in this you can’t argue with ’em “Oh, dear!” cried the Boy.
to be here. that way and at last I came
“That’s really how I came
You see, all the other
fellows were cave here. And I like the
view, and on you’ve got culture, I could
pleased to
tell at once.
have met you,
try and grasp the situation.
other people find you out,
When the
they’ll come NO ADVERTS!
g, and to settle here.” I’m awfully
the whole I feel inclined

TM
so active – always rampagin neighbours swords and
and I’m hoping the other after you with spears and
t an animal skirmishing, and chasing
knights, and . There was a pest!”
t poem abou “What’s your mind always
occupied
will be equally agreeable all sorts of things. You’re TM
Write a shor children’s I liked to
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last night,
See your poet y), impress our judge

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it,” said the
there was once a sweet
little house, entry in Stor get my meals and then but he didn’t seem to want
to intrude.”
n a Caribbean island, little picket (real or imag
inar
we’l l print the best scribbling! know? So slightly and
The dragon coloured Meet mysterious dragon, wagging his head
solemnly.
– and Get a rock and snooze, you Visit the desert
little garden with a sweet poet Brian
Moses
le of poetry
books too! Make pancakes
my father,” said thewith
Boy,Pippi sonnet I was
surrounded by a sweet her father. a bund when it happened I got
fairly caught.” looked away, then he green children
said bashfully,
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fence around it. A sweet the Boy. “Did you ever – just for “and he is a nice gentlema
and beyond the meadow “What happened?” asked make up poetry – verses,
you know?”
introduce you if you like.” cried
a pretty wildflower meadow “Oh, if you won’t be sensible,”
Around the house was Every morning, the little
girl’s said the I can’t stop
“I don’t precisely know,” dine
was the forest where the
big, bad wolves lived.
“You can play in the garden
today, dear, but whatever
Your poem published
in Storytime, PLUS dragon. “There was a
shake and “Course I have,” said the
some of it’s quite good,
Boy. “And
only no one Never “Can’t
miss you two come up here
a stor
tomorrow?” asked
and

y:eagerly.
the dragon
the Boy, “I’m going home.
for sonnets; my mother’s
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nothing t!”
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where the big, bad wolves
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politely. m Com
Brilliant in iseasyintogset his
THE Rules*
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“Thanks awfully,” said
Books! Boy found it fairly
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ABOUT BRIAN MOSES
27
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afraid my The

” they called
to tell you the truth, I’m parents’ minds at ease
knows might not approve of you. formally
aged 3
to 8. Our judge, Brian Moses,
mother
over the friend. The shepherd was
must be – You see, there’s no getting and many
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fact that you’re a dragon,

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BABA YAGA
04/08/2016 12:42
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