← Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Koko & Kira Go To The Mall 🐨🐼 Kids Story For Sleep
00:36:05
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Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original children's bedtime stories and meditations designed to make bedtime a dream. Well, I have some news and I hope you're lying down because I nearly fell over when I heard. Our stories have been listened to 50 million times. I know, isn't that wild? Thanks to all of you lovely loyal listeners out there, we have officially just passed the whopping 50 million listens mark. I can't believe it. It's not really sinking in as I cannot imagine that number. It's so massive. Do you think there are 50 million blades of grass on a football pitch? Or 50 million bubbles in a glass of lemonade? How about 50 million hairs on your head? I don't know, but it's a lot. And we have you guys all to thank you for keeping us here. And that now includes you, Stanley b. You turn eight on July 13th. Happy birthday. You, Luna from Wollongong, Australia, and you, Lily and sister Wendy from Norfolk in the uk. Thank you for signing up and thank you for supporting us with your subscriptions and your morale boosting letters and comments. Thank you for everything. Before we begin, a quick message for the grown ups. If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad free listening, unlock four bonus stories per month and much, much more, you can join Koko Club, subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes, but now here's a quick word from our sponsors before we settle in for tonight's sleepy story. Here's something for the grown ups and for our little dreamers who love big adventures with Groupon. It's easier than ever to make magical memories together. If your little one has ever wished they could leap into a Koala Moon adventure, like taking a ballet class with Koko and Kira or riding the monorail with Hector and Sunny, Groupon might just have the real world version waiting for you. From trampoline parks and pottery classes to petting zoos and planetarium visits, Groupon helps families discover amazing activities, all at prices that make it easier to say yes to fun. So when the sun comes up and those curious feet are ready to explore, just open the Groupon app and see what surprises are nearby. I've taken a peek already and I'm super excited about what's coming up this summer. For a limited time only and exclusively for our Koala Moon listeners, you can use code MOON30 to get 30% off when checking out at Groupon before May 31st. That's code MOON30 for real life fun at Fairytale Prices. Groupon Adventure is just around the corner.
- [03:04]
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Kids, you have a lot of questions.
- [03:06]
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Is a crocodile a dinosaur? Why do people vote? How does your food turn into your poop?
- [03:13]
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But why? A podcast for curious kids has answers. I'm Jane Lindholm. Join me as we dig deep into everything from science to history, nature, emotions and sometimes even the weird.
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Why are jellyfishes made of jelly or are they made out of jelly? Find.
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But why? Wherever you get your podcasts.
- [03:36]
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Right, where are we headed tonight? We are going somewhere we've never been before. We're joining Koko and Kira on a super exciting day because they're about to go somewhere they've been dying to go to for ages. They're going to the mall. Yep. This story was based on a request from Bailey N. From Edmonton, who told us all about the epic mall they have there. Well, it turns out there's a similar mall not far from Sleepy Forest. We hope you enjoy Luke's story. Just for you, Bailey. Oh, but before we all get all carried away with the bright lights, colours and fun to be had, jump into bed and lie down in your most comfy spot. Wriggle around a little bit until you're ready and you can really relax. It's going to take me a little moment, so take some deep breaths in and out. And now imagine a bright sunny afternoon in the forest. The sun is dappling down through the trees and there's a little koala and a little panda sitting in the window of their cabin with hopeful looks on their faces. This is Koko and Kira. Go to the Mall by Luke Prendergast. Deep in the heart of a faraway forest stood a cosy wooden cabin. Inside the cabin lived a family of koalas. There was Koko and his parents and his grandparents, and Kira, his little sister, who was technically a panda bear, but she was an honorary koala too. Usually, Coco and Kira's mum could get everything she needed from the small clutch of shops and stores sprinkled around Sleepy Forest. There was Betty the Badger's Bakery for all her baked goods requirements, bread and biscuits, cakes and cookies, if a new item of furniture was required, like after that time, Coco plonked himself down on a kitchen chair and it crossed, crumbled into a pile of kindling right beneath him. She could go to visit Buck the Beaver, who knew how to make anything out of wood. And if anyone in the family needed more stationery to send letters to distant friends, like their canine pals Hector and Sunny, for example, then she could just go and get whatever she needed from Stan the stork's stationery store. But sometimes Koko and Kira's mom needed things that Sleepy Forest simply couldn't supply, and that meant she had to go to the mall all the way in Sleepy City. I need a whole new wardrobe, their mum said one morning coming down from her bedroom. All of my clothes are in tatters. I think I'm going to have to take a trip to the mall. Please can we come, Mum? Coco would beg. Pretty, pretty please, added Kira. We'll do anything. Their mum stroked her chin and gave them an impish little smile. Oh, you'll do anything, will you? She asked. Kira nodded extremely enthusiastically. Oh yes, she said. We'll tidy up bedroom without you ever having to ask. Their mum only frowned and Coco added quickly, we'll wash up the dishes after dinner. For a whole week? For a whole week? Their mum repeated. Well, that's certainly getting closer. And what else? Kira batted her eyelids at her mum, trying to look as cute and irresistible as a little puppy. Anything you want, Mum, you tell me. Well, how about this? Said their mum, crouching down and tapping each of her cheeks with a finger. If you both give me a kiss, I'll take you to the mall. And in a flash, Coco and Kira had jumped right on top of their mum and started planting hundreds of kisses on her cheeks. All right, all right, she laughed. Get off me. Now you can come to the mall. Go get ready. We're leaving in 10 minutes. You see, Coco and Kira absolutely loved going to the mall. The mall wasn't just a place for adults to go to do boring things like shopping for clothes and kitchen appliances and a new set of towels for the bathroom. No, the mall was for kids too. A wonderland of fun, a treasure trove, an amusement park all to themselves. There were toy shops to look around, a bowling alley, a food court with every kind of tasty treat you could imagine. And if you got tired and wanted to sit down, wow. There was the Space Time Cinema where you could watch a film under the star studded ceiling. Yup. In a word, the mall was perfect. To get there they had to ride the little black and red steam train that conveyed folks in and out of Sleepy Forest. Koko and Kira and their mum found a table and once the train had gone toot toot and chugged into action, they watched the crisp leafed forest trees and the glittering sleepy river passed by through the window until almost imperceptibly, they passed out of Sleepy Forest. Two stops later they disembarked from the train, stepped out of the station and there it was, rising up before them. The mall. A big silver building with a sloping roof and huge windows and a big pair of glass sliding doors right at the front. Hooray. Coco and Kira cooed. We're here. They were hopping up and down with so much excitement that it made their mum laugh. You two are acting as though the ground's too hot to stand on, she said. Now you know that we're here because we have things that we need to buy. It can't all be about having fun. No, Mum, Coco sighed. We've got a job to get done. Their mum insisted. But Kira batted her eyelashes at her mum again because she knew that that always worked. Ok Mum, we get it, she said. But please, fun first. Oh, OK then, the mum said. Fun first. And all holding hands, the three of them walked up the paved path. The big glass doors slid silently open and they stepped into the cool air of the mall. This, Coco and Kira knew, was the riskiest part of the day. Right at the entrance of the mall, there was nothing fun for kids to do. There were only boring shops lining the gleaming floors. Shops that sold clothes and perfumes and bedding and fancy lamps. Shops that sold high heeled shoes and bobble hats and leather gloves, and shops that sold little trinkets and patterned plates and boxes of silver jewellery. And while Koko and Kira weren't interested in any of this stuff, the problem was their mum certainly was. Yup, this first stretch of the mall contained a lot of opportunities for their mum to get distracted. And if that happened, then they might never get to the fun part. Oh no. Koko said as their mum veered towards one of the shop windows. That candlestick will look very ugly in our cosy cabin. Look Mum. Kira shouted when it seemed their mum was about to step into a clothes shop. What? Their mum said, frowning and looking around. Oh, I thought I saw a flying pig, Kira said, blinking innocently. But I must have been wrong. Luckily, Koko and Kira managed to get their mum through the minefield of boring grown up things and with bubbles of excitement fizzing in their tummies, entered the next parade of shops. This was where all the giant toy shops were and they grabbed hold each of them to one of their mum's paws, dragging her towards the shops. OK, OK, their mum said. We'll go in, but just for 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes. Koko and Kira knew she didn't really mean it. Inside, the toy shop was like a paradise. Two friendly squirrels stood by the entrance, welcoming them in. One blew bubbles from a bubble machine, and the other had a marionette of a little boy who waved his hand and smiled and did a jolly dance. Every wall of the shop was lined with shelves filled with all kinds of toys, dolls and toy cars, board games and boxes of tricks. Toy aeroplanes zoomed overhead, propelled by electricity or maybe magic, Kira couldn't tell, and funny robots with shining metal bodies moved their mechanical arms to wave at them. Hey, Kira, come and look at this. Koko called, and Kira scurried over to him. Ooo. She sighed. That's cool. Koko had found the model train set located at the back of the toy shop. Train tracks swooped and snaked in loops along the floor through miniature forests and toy towns made of buildings no bigger than a koala's little finger. Tiny figurines of people and animals walked the model streets and shopped in the model shops. And through the middle of one of the towns curled a bright blue river, which the train track straddled on a rickety little bridge. The model train itself stood waiting at the station. I bet if you press that button, coco said, pointing to a little red button on the model train set's control system, it'll bring the whole thing to life. You should press it, Kira. Go on. And so Kira reached out and pressed the button, and with a tiny little toot toot, the model train went into action, chugging along the train track, over the bridge, through the town. Oh, said Kira, clapping her paws together in delight. It's just like the one we got to the mall, isn't it, Mum? Maybe if we looked very closely through one of the train windows, there'd be a tiny family just like ours. When the three of them left the toy shop a little while later, they all felt as though their hearts were glowing. That's what playing with all kinds of fun toys can do to you. Well then, kids, said their mum. What next? Hmm, said Kira. I'm not sure, but Koko was already pointing across the way at a dark entryway with a sign over the top that read 10 pin bowling. Great idea, Coco, their mum said. That's just what I'm in the mood for. And after we have a game of bowling, we can go and get my shopping done. And as she strode towards the bowling alley, Koko and Kira exchanged a cheeky glance. They'd not go and do their mum's shopping until a lot more fun had been had, if either of them could help it. In the bowling alley, they traded their shoes for special leather Bowling shoes decorated red and white with flat, shiny soles that made you extra slick on the lanes. And would you like the barriers up or down? Asked the friendly pelican who was in charge of the bowling alley. Up, all three of them replied, for they enjoyed making the bowling balls ricochet off the barriers on their way down the lane. And besides, it was no fun when they went into the gutter. Once Koko had plugged their names into the computer so that they appeared on the big screen hanging above the bowling lane, which would also display the scores, he said, all right, Kira, you're up first. Kira picked up a sparkly purple bowling ball from the chute. This one's perfect for me, she said. Ok, here I go. And with a little trot and a skip, she tossed the ball down the lane. It trundled along and knocked over six of the pins. Well done, Kira, said their mum. Now you've got one more shot left. Kira nodded and waited for her special sparkly purple ball to be returned to the chute. She lifted it up, staggering a little beneath its weight before propelling it once more down the lane. Slowly it rolled like a big, tired snowball. Kira, after all, being so little, wasn't very strong. But when it got to the end, it knocked down all but one of the pins. Nine, Koko said as Kira took a satisfied seat on the bench next to her mum. Nice one, little sis. Now it was Koko's turn. He chose a bright light red ball that he knew would go fast as a firebolt. He took a running throw. The red ball shot down the lane and eight of the pins went down. Alright, only two left, he said, picking up another ball and bowling that one down the lane. Wow. Said Kira, clapping her hands together as the final two pins went down. A spare on their mum's turn. She managed to knock down four pins on her first throw, but on her second, she didn't manage to get any. Don't worry, Mum, they told her. You'll do better next time. And as though they had spoken a magic spell, she did. On her next go round, their mum got a strike straight away. Yippee, she said, punching the air lightly with her fist before she spread her arms to receive Koko and Kira's congratulatory hugs. That was awesome, Mum, Koko said. And so they played the rest of their bowling game, their fortunes rising and falling like the rise and fall of the ocean tides. On one go, one of them would knock them all down, but on the next one, miss entirely. And somehow that felt right. To Kira as they played, and it felt like a miniature reflection of life itself, where sometimes she had a bad day, but the next day she might very easily have one of the best days she could remember in a long time. And then something truly remarkable. At the end, all three of them, Koko, Kira, and their mum finished on exactly the same score. So no one won? Said Koko, frowning up at the screen. No, silly, kira replied, putting her arm around her big brother's shoulders. We all won. And that turned Koko's frown right upside down, so that they all left the bowling lane smiling arm in arm. But when they reached the parade of shops in the mall, Koko's stomach started growling and rumbling, as though a little beast was trapped inside his tummy. All that bowling has made me hungry, he said, and Kira said, me too. Well, said their mum, you know what's just around the corner. Koko and Kira exchanged a grin. The food court. The food court was a huge atrium with dozens of little stalls offering every type of food you could imagine. Pizzas and pasta, curries and burgers, vegetable salads and fruit salads. There was a pancake stall and a cupcake stall. There was a croissant stall and a doughnut stall, and there was even a stall selling a cronut, which is what you get when you mix a croissant and a donut together. Koko and Kira's mum gave them each some money and then they each took a tray from the side and wandered around the food court together, inspecting all the stalls, seeing if there was anything new that they hadn't seen before or that would take their particular fancy. Today it was rather difficult to decide because everything looked so scrumptious, so the two of them agreed with each other that whatever they got they'd share. That way they could try twice as many things. Before long they were back with their mum, who was tucking into a steaming aubergine curry with white fluffy rice. And what have you two got? She asked them, and they showed her their trays. Veggie pasta and a eucalyptus burger, strawberry pancakes and two big milkshakes with extra chocolate sprinkles on top. Oh, Coco thought, tucking his fork into the strawberry pancakes. He just loved being at the mall. And so they ate merrily, chatting about the mall and about all their friends back in Sleepy Forest, wondering what they'd all be doing and if their dad had finished fixing the hole in the roof by now. When at last they were finished, Kira laid her fork down on her plate and let out a big yawn Ooo, said Coco, yawning now too. Yawns are catching even. Their mum lifted a paw to her mouth to cover a little yawn. All that excitement has worn you out, she said. But come on, I've still got my shopping to do. Les go. They carried their trays and stacked them neatly by the bins. Then they left the food court and headed towards the part of the mall where all the sensible grown up shops were. But Kira found that she couldn't stop yawning and Koko's legs felt heavy as lead. Their stomachs were so full of food they were both too tired for traipsing around the shops anymore. I've got an idea, their mum said. How about I drop the two of you off at the Space Time Cinema? You can watch a movie for a couple of hours while I scoot around and do my shopping and I can pick you up when it's done. How does that sound? Suddenly Koko's legs didn't feel quite so heavy. That sounds perfect, he said. The cinema was run by a friendly old elephant with wrinkly grey skin and worn white tusks. He remembered them from before and waved his trunk at them. These two are going to watch a film while I shop, their mum explained. They don't want to come around with me, and who can blame them? Said the elephant with a smile. Don't you worry. I'll watch over them. Brilliant, their mum said. I'll be waiting when the show's over. Hey Mum? Coco said. Yes, cocoa, she replied. He pawed the ground bashfully with his foot as though he was afraid of asking something. But eventually he said, please can we have some popcorn for the film? Popcorn? Their mum said, a look of surprise spreading over her furry face. We've just come out of the food court. You can't be hungry again. Oh, but Mom, Kira said, batting her eyelids again. You can't go to the cinema without having some popcorn. Oh, all right, their mum said, her frown softening into a smile. Just because we're at the moor. The elephant gave a little toot of his trunk. Two popcorns coming up, he said, and after he'd handed them over and Koko and Kira held them to their chests, he added, the screen is just that way, folks. Enjoy. And so Koko and Kira gave their mum a hug and waved her goodbye. See you when the movie's over, she said. Then they headed through the double doors into the dark auditorium. They walked up the narrow steps until they found their row, then sunk into the big comfy cinema seats. As they nestled down into them, the screen flickered into life. The film was about a little butterfly who met a spider living in a cobweb in the garden they shared. Very soon the butterfly and spider became the best of friends. But this newfound friendship caused their families some surprise because traditionally the spiders of the garden and the butterflies of the garden had been enemies. It was such an engaging, moving film. Coco and Kira dipped their paws into their popcorn boxes and munched away. They were both rooting for the friendship between the butterfly and the spider. It reminded Kira somewhat of her own family and how she was a panda while they were a koala. She leant over to her brother and whispered in his ear. It shouldn't matter what kind of animal you are, you should still be able to love each other and be friends. You're completely right, Kira, koko whispered back, putting his arm around her and giving her a hug. Soon the excitement of the day began to work its effect on Koko and Kira. With their popcorn finished, they began to yawn and rub their eyes. And every now and then they'd find their eyelids had closed and they'd have to open them again to try to work out where they'd got to in the film. But I want to stay awake, Koko thought to himself. I want to see what happens to the butterfly and the spider. But it was no use. Try as he might, Koko couldn't keep his brave little eyes open. He was too tired, and the cinema, with its soft seats and its tender darkness, was too cosy. And besides, Kira was already sleeping gently beside him, her chest rising and falling with heavy, sleepy breasts. Soon Koko was asleep too, and he dreamed of a garden full of creatures who were all friends with each other, no matter what kind of animal they were or what they looked like or where they lived. And then, even in his dream, he realised that it was no garden at all, but Sleepy forest itself, his very own home, which was already more wonderful than anything you could dream. And Koko only woke up drowsily, much later to find his mum crouched before him, surrounded by her shopping bags. Kira was still sleeping soundly beside him. You too fell asleep, she whispered to him softly. You must have been ever so tired. Koko nodded. Is it time to go home? He asked. Soon, his mum said. But you can rest a little more first. I'll sit here with you. I could do with putting up my feet. She took a seat beside him, and Koko felt his mother's soothing, familiar warmth. He closed his eyes, letting sleep come over him again. But he had one thing on his mind. We never got to find out what happened to the butterfly and the spider, he said, because we fell asleep. Do you know what happened to them, Mum? Of course, Coco, she said. Their friendship brought their two families together, and the butterflies and the spiders discovered that they had much more in common with each other than they'd ever supposed. The two families became friends for life, and then they all lived happily ever after. Hearing that made Koko's heart feel full and calm. He was glad that the butterfly and the spider had a happy ending. Everyone deserved a story that ended like that. And with this thought and his mum on one side of him and Kira snoozing on the other, Coco curled up on the cushiony cinema seat and promptly fell straight back to sleep. Sa.