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Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Koko's Flying Home For Christmas 🐨✈️ Festive Bedtime Stories For Kids
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- [00:11]
Narrator
Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, her podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids designed to make bedtime a dream. Well, what a delight. I am so happy to be opening the creaky clubhouse doors and welcoming in Tylee from Lancaster and also Mason from Victoria, Australia. Here are some cosy blankets just for you and we hope you love catching up with all your bonus ad free stories and extra content from now on. 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 Coco Club, subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes, but now here's a quick word from our sponsors. The holidays are magical and they're also very busy. There's shopping trips, family visits and plenty of are we there yets? And in those moments, kids often want something fun and creative to dive into. And that's where Netflix Kids games come in. Not only are they great entertainment, we love that they're designed to spark imagination. And with your existing Netflix membership, kids get fully unlocked games, no extra fees, no ads and no in app purchases. From Paw Patrol Academy to Lego Duplo World, Barbie Color Creations and even the World of Peppa Pig, all of Netflix's games are created with the same spirit of imagination that we love here at Koala Moon. Every game also works without wifi. You just download them ahead of time, the same way you download their favorite Netflix shows and movies so they're ready wherever the holidays take you. It's simple, on the go, fun that keeps little minds engaged and takes a bit of pressure off those busy days. For more holiday travel ideas and to check out all of Netflix's kids entertainment, visit netflixfamily.com TravelTips we know our listeners have the most incredible imaginations, from sharing story ideas to showing us how creative they can be with characters. The new Paw Patrol Fire Rescue toys celebrate that same spirit of creativity, helping little heroes feel proud of the stories they create. Your little storyteller can join Marshall and the team on their biggest adventures yet with the all new Fire Station HQ where they can gear up and slide down the pole and Marshall's Rapid Reload fire truck ready for action. Every pup has their own vehicle so kids can recreate their favourite rescues from the show and or dream up their own. It's creative hands on play that inspires teamwork and confidence. The perfect way to keep their imaginations shining bright. So when the time comes for a new Adventure. Check out the Red Hot Paw Patrol Fire Rescue toys, available now at all major retailers.
- [03:11]
Ok, then, in tonight's story, it is Christmas Eve and Coco and his best friend Hector are flying home from Lapland after helping Santa test his brand new sleigh on Christmas Eve Eve. Do you remember? It's been a busy few days, but oh, so much fun. And it's not stopping anytime soon. Their journey this evening begins at the magical Tinsel Terminal, a gingerbread airport filled with candy canes, elves and even a puffin pilot named Captain Noel as the Lapland airliner soars through the clouds. We're going to join Coco and Hector as they sip hot chocolate, feast on festive treats and settle in for the cosiest flight imaginable. Ok, let's get ready to join them. Fasten your seatbelts, make sure your tray tables are stowed and put on your fluffy eye masks. It's time to begin Koko's Flying Home for Christmas. By Luke Prendergast.
- [04:21]
It was the afternoon of Christmas Eve and Koko was in Lapland with his best pal, Hector. They'd arrived the day before on Christmas Eve Eve, brought by Raffi the reindeer to help with a very important task indeed test riding Santa's new sleigh. And so last night, Koko and Hector had been on a marvellous adventure, pulled all around the North Pole by a team of friendly huskies on a magical, sleepy sleigh ride. Just this afternoon, Koka had reported back to Santa on how the test ride of the new sleigh went. Of course, his report was glowing smoothness, perfect speed, exceptional comfort, unbelievable. The sleigh was like a warm hug, transformed into a physical object and set atop long wooden skis. The only thing that Koko had to warn Santa about was that the sleigh might be so cosy and comfortable that Santa would fall right asleep and miss out on delivering all his presents. Santa clutched his belly and let out a big laugh at that.
- [05:40]
Hector
Well, I shall have to try very hard to keep my eyes open and.
- [05:47]
Narrator
My wits about me then, he said. But now it was time for Koko and Hector to leave the North Pole and return to their homes. It was Christmas Eve, after all, and their families would be waiting. Wreaths would be hung on the doors, the lights on the Christmas trees would be turned on and the empty stockings would be lying out, ready to be hung up on the chimneys. So now Santa himself, in his red suit and black belt, the brass buckle shining in the sun, was walking them down to the airport, where there was A plane that would be taking them home.
- [06:29]
Hector
The plane will stop in your world first, Hector, Santa told them, and drop you off at home. Then, by the same secret magic that allows me and my sleigh to hop between worlds, delivering presents to everyone everywhere. The plane will then fly to Albatross Airways in Sleepy Forest to to you and your family, Koko.
- [06:54]
Narrator
Koko and Hector, walking either side of Santa Claus, thanked him. It seemed he had everything planned just perfectly. Aha, there we are, Santa said, raising his hand and pointing.
- [07:10]
Hector
Welcome to Tinsel Terminal.
- [07:13]
Narrator
They'd approached a candy cane archway in swirling stripes of red and white, and beyond it Koko could see the cutest, most festive looking airport imaginable. The whole place was made out of biscuit. Forget about the gingerbread houses you heard about in fairy tales. This was a gingerbread airport. Frosted icing windows, jellybean lights with dark brown doors made out of chocolate biscuits.
- [07:52]
How do the people working here not find themselves eating the walls? Koko whispered to Hector.
- [08:01]
Hector
That's what I was thinking, hector replied. If I spent a day here, there'd be no more airport left. I'd have scuffed it all down. Nom, nom, nom.
- [08:14]
Narrator
They passed in through the chocolate front door and into a brightly lit atrium. The light was pouring in through snowflake shaped icing skylights. Large magical chalkboards hung from the ceiling with lists of departures and destinations. Planes were flying to Antarctica, to Gummy Bear Grove, to the Snow Queen's palace. And there was their flight to Sleepy Forest. There was a jingling sound. An elf had appeared before them in a red and green outfit with a pointed hat, at the end of which hung a ringing bell. Welcome to Tinsel Terminal, she said with a glittering grin. You must be Coco and Hector. You're our honoured guests. Santa's told us all about you. He has? Said Coco, blinking with amazement. He felt as though he were being treated like a celebrity. Oh yes, she said. She handed Coco and Hector a slip of paper each. The slips of paper had their names written on it and a number of higgledy piggledy numbers and letters. These are your tickets, she said. Keep them safe. Now follow me. Your flight is ready to board and you don't want to miss it. Coco and Hector turned and they both gave Santa Claus a big hug. Thank you for having us up in Lapland, they said.
- [09:53]
Hector
Oh no.
- [09:54]
Narrator
Ho ho, Santa replied.
- [09:58]
Hector
I ought to be the one thanking you for test driving my sleigh.
- [10:04]
Narrator
Without the two of you, this Christmas might never have happened.
- [10:09]
Hector
And What a crying shame that would be.
- [10:13]
Narrator
They waved him goodbye and Santa turned around to head back out through Tinsel Terminal's chocolate door, through the Candy Cane archway and back to the Santa center to prepare for his Christmas journey. But just before he went, he turned and looked over his shoulder and with a glimmer in his eye, told them to make sure to peer out of the plane window Tonight, when the sky was dark and the moon was full, they'd be in for a real surprise. Then, with a final dazzling smile, he was gone. The next moment a polar bear in a bright blue uniform and a hat appeared to carry their bags for them and Koko and Hector followed the polar bear and the elf through Tinsel Terminal. The airport was busy. A whole team of elves were busy sitting behind desks checking luggage and helping passengers find their way to their flights. People formed orderly queues at each of the gates they passed and many of them were bearing wrapped up boxes and small presents to take home to their friends and family.
- [11:34]
Koko and Hector's friendly elf led them straight to the back of the Tinsel Terminal and back out onto the tundra.
- [11:43]
Wow, said Koko. This doesn't look like any sort of airport I've ever seen before.
- [11:52]
There were aircraft waiting on the tarmac, except the forecourt and the runways weren't made of tarmac like they would be at any normal airport, but instead were made of shining rainbow hued boiled sweets that had been melted down into and smoothed out into a material as tough as diamonds. A handful of aircraft were waiting. A sleigh with propeller blades sticking out of each side, a candy copter and a vehicle that looked crazily like a rocket ship decorated with suns and moons, planets and stars. The elf led them up to a fairly conventional looking plane, except that it was painted in the finest Christmas colours, red and green and gold with big white snowflakes on the wings and tail. At the bottom of a set of steps waited another elf and a bright yellow beaked puffin wearing a blue pilot's outfit.
- [12:58]
Good afternoon, the puffin said, raising her black and white wings in greeting. I'm Captain Noel and I'll be your pilot this evening. The skies this Christmas Eve are clear and calm, so we're expecting a beautiful flight. You'll hardly even know you're in the air. I just wanted to introduce you to my helper here, Alfie the Elf. He's going to make sure the two of you have everything you need while you're on board. We know this is your first time flying from Tinsel Terminal, so we want to make sure you're perfectly comfortable. Captain Noel gave them a big smile. Welcome aboard, she said.
- [13:49]
Koko and Hector followed Alfie the Elf up the stairway and into the plane. He led them down the plane and showed them to their seats. Koko's eyes grew wide as he took in the Christmassy splendour of the airplane. Tinsel was strung around the ceiling, the walls were Christmas red. Their seats, which were either side of an aisle, had plump cushions and fairy lights strewn around them. The tray tables had miniature Christmas trees waiting on them. Just as they'd both sat down, the captain the world's crackling voice came on over the intercom. Welcome aboard the Lapland Airliner. Destination Sleepy Forest. This is your captain. We are preparing for take off, so please ensure your belts are buckled up, your armrests are down, and you're looking out the window. Because let me tell you, these views are going to be something.
- [14:54]
Captain Noel's voice disappeared with another crackle, and Alfie gave them an excited grin. Get comfy, he said before hurrying off to his own seat. Koko and Hector looked out of their windows as the aeroplane taxied over to the Rainbow Runway. Then the engine grew loud, there was a rumbling beneath them, and the plane's propellers started rotating so fast that soon enough they became a whizzing blur. Here we go, said Koko, reaching out his paw across the aisle to take Hector's and squeezing it hard as the plane accelerated smoothly down the Runway. Quicker and quicker they got, the red and yellow and green and pink of the Rainbow Runway blending all together. And then one moment the plane's wheels were rolling across the ground, and the next moment they were up in the air. Koko's eyes sparkled with delight and his stomach gave a little flip as the Rainbow Runway receded and the great expanse of snowy ground expanded beneath them. Up, up, up they rose, the clusters of fir trees that sprung up across the slowy landscape getting smaller and smaller until they were little more than green pinpricks, a polar bear that Hector spotted in the distance, dwindling to a tiny white speck on a white sheet. Then they broke through the clouds and nothing could be seen through the windows except white fluffiness and water droplets running down the glass. And then, just as swiftly as they'd entered the mass of clouds, they rose out of the canopy and the clouds tumbled outward below them like a billowing white mountain range touched by the orange light of the setting sun.
- [17:05]
Koko sighed a deep sigh of wonder and felt his mind loosen and relax. It was as though up here above the clouds, all the tension his little koala body, held down on the earth, lifted and floated away just as he, cocooned in this airplane, was floating over the whole wide world below. Yes. He felt little bubbles of calmness drifting about all inside him and sunk a little further down into his seat.
- [17:46]
Well, hello there, Alfie, the elf said, appearing from the front of the cabin. In his hands he bore a silver tray on which stood two bright red mugs with steam rising off them. I thought I'd bring you each a mug of our fine Laplandish hot chocolate. He lifted a mug and placed it on Hector's tray table before taking the other and placing it on Coco's. Coco peered into the mug. Little marshmallows in the shape of snowmen floated atop a thick chocolatey drink. The most sumptuous, irresistible scent rose from the mug. Hector was already dipping his tongue greedily into his and Alfie continued handing them each a small leather bound booklet. Our in flight menus. You can order whatever your heart desires. It's all on us. I'll be back in a jiffy. With the booklets in their laps and grins on their faces, Coco and Hector leafed through the menus. Hector paused on the baked Alaska puddings, cookies and cream flavoured. How delicious. Before he could be distracted by the next page, which showed a list of foods for pooch passengers. They had dog bones in every imaginable flavour, milk chocolate, maple syrup, and of course, gravy. Coco, meanwhile, was trying to decide between two options. Did he want a stack of pancakes with blueberries and strawberries and an ice mountain of whipped cream topped with snow crystal icing sugar? Or on the other hand, did he want the chocolate chimney, a yule log designed to look like a fireplace with red icing stockings and spun sugar tinsel, Santa's black boots just visible poking out of the chimney's end?
- [19:56]
Oh, koko sighed when Alfie reappeared. I just can't choose.
- [20:04]
Ah, said Alfie consolingly. That's to be expected. Well, I have a solution for you. What's that? Koko asked. Alfie beamed at him. Have both.
- [20:20]
Hector
Have both.
- [20:22]
Narrator
Coco blinked at Alfie for a few moments, bemused. It's like his brain couldn't quite compute the possibility. But then, as he thought about it, he began to see the logic. Why couldn't he have both? It was Christmas after all, and when could a kid koala have both blueberry and whipped cream pancakes and a chocolate chimney log if not on Christmas. He reflected the elf's smile right back at him. Yes, please, Alfie, he said. I will have both.
- [21:04]
In the end. Hector chose an assortment of different flavour bones and they ate their food in happy silence, the kind of silence that only happens when people are consumed by eating mouth wateringly delicious food. Koko gazed out of the window at the clouds beneath them, which were turning pink and mauve as the sun set, and munched through all of his pancakes and the yule log. He ate up every single bit, and when they were done, Coco and Hector were in agreement. They couldn't remember the last time their stomachs had been so full.
- [21:50]
Hector
Im so stuffed, Hector said. I don't think I can even talk anymore.
- [21:59]
Narrator
Me too, koko agreed. Sounds to me like it's time to watch a movie.
- [22:09]
On the screens in front of them. They flicked through all of the dozens of films the airline had to offer. Hector would suggest one and Coco would veto it. Then Coco would suggest one and Hector would say he wasn't in the mood for that. But they were absolutely set on watching the same movie at the same time. That was just the kind of fun thing best friends did on a flight, and so they persevered until they found one they could both agree on. It was a Christmas themed film, of course, about one Christmas Eve when Santa got stuck down the toilet. He had transformed it into a portal to get to a sun kissed beach, you see. But the portal malfunctioned and he couldn't find his way back to Lapland. It was up to three of his bravest and smartest elves to devise a way to get Santa back or else Christmas would be ruined for everyone. But like with all good Christmas movies, in the end everyone was happy and the presents got delivered. Those three little elves had saved Christmas Day.
- [23:26]
It was quite remarkable, Koko thought, that he'd managed to stay awake throughout the whole movie. Usually he dropped off halfway through, especially when he was snuggled down in a cosy seat with a tummy full of delicious food. That was usually a recipe for immediate snores, but it just showed how good the film was. He supposed to that his eyes had barely flickered shut once during it.
- [23:58]
Now that it was over, though, and the credits had almost finished rolling and he and Hector had enjoyed a lively debate about which of the three elves was their favourite. Koko felt a yawn coming up his chest and right out of his mouth. He stretched and lifted a paw to rub gently at his eye.
- [24:23]
Oh, he said. I'm sleepy. Me too, hector said, letting out a yawn himself. As if conjured by some magic, Alfie the elf appeared before them. Did I hear we're beginning to get a little sleepy? It's about time. Night is falling after all. Why don't the two of you go and get ready for sleep, and by the time you get back I'll have these seats folded back into a bed so comfy you'll have the sweetest snooze of your lives.
- [25:05]
And so Koko and Hector took the little knapsacks that Alfie pointed out, stowed beneath their chairs, and took them to the bathroom at the rear of the cabin. Coco opened his knapsack and found inside a bag of toiletries a pair of fluffy slippers and a set of white pyjamas decorated with snowmen. Neat, he whispered. He changed into the pyjamas and inspected them in the bathroom mirror. They fit just perfectly. Then he took out the toothbrush from the toiletries bag, squeezed a pea sized amount of minty blue toothpaste onto it, and brushed his teeth, making sure to spend two minutes on the top and two minutes on the bottom, just like his dad always told him. When he was done, he washed his face and dried it with a towel so that his fur was clean and poofy and needed to be patted back down into place. Then he packed the knapsack back up and went back through to the cabin. Hector was already back at his seat, except that just as Alfie had promised, the seats were no longer seats. They were beds with soft silk pillows in red and green check and woollen blankets decorated with holly leaves and berries. And on the tray table was another cup of cocoa and a couple of gingerbread men biscuits.
- [26:44]
I'm still so full I don't think I could eat another bite, koko said, climbing into bed and pulling the covers up beneath his chin. But when he lifted the gingerbread man to his nose and gave it a little sniff, it smelled so delicious, sweet and spiced all at the same time that he couldn't resist giving it a little nibble. If he were at home, he'd have to brush his teeth again after that. But this was Christmas Eve and they were on an airplane and he'd had the pancakes and the yule log. No more rolls were suspended, so he had another nibble of the gingerbread man, placed it back on the plate, and then rolled over so he and Hector were facing each other.
- [27:41]
Hector
What a Christmas adventure this has been, said Hector. The sleepy sleigh ride for Santa yesterday and now this Christmassy flight back home. Thank you for inviting me, Coco.
- [27:56]
Narrator
You're very welcome, Hector, coco said with a grin. I'm glad you could make it.
- [28:04]
The lights of the cabin had been dimmed. Now it was just the soft twinkle of the fairy lights around the seats and the silvery moonlight filtering in through the windows. Oh, koko said. We almost forgot.
- [28:23]
Hector frowned at him.
- [28:25]
Hector
Forgot what?
- [28:27]
Narrator
Forgot what Santa told us, koko replied. He said to look out of the plane window when the night was dark and the moon was out. Remember?
- [28:40]
The two of them rolled over to look out of the window. They gazed down into the black night and the bank of dark clouds they were sailing over, trying to figure out what Santa had been asking them to look out for. Then they saw it. At first it was just a light, a small red light zooming from far off through the sky. Then, as it came closer, they saw it was not a red light at all, but a nose, a bright red reindeer's nose.
- [29:23]
Its Rudolph, hector whispered. And Santa, coco added. They watched as Santa's sleigh emerged out of the darkness, the same sleigh they had test ridden the day before. It was pulled through the sky by the magical feet of 13 reindeer, Rudolph and his illuminated nose at the front and sat proudly atop it was Santa. They could see the wrinkles on his cheeks. They could see the curly white length of his beard. They could see the twinkle in his eye. And they could hear, if they listened out closely, the sound of his voice.
- [30:16]
Hector
Ho, ho ho. Merry Christmas, everyone.
- [30:23]
Narrator
And then Santa was gone, off to deliver his presents, and Coco and Hector were yawning and burying themselves down into the soft folds of their blankets. They were tired.
- [30:42]
Hector
Good night, Koko, hector said.
- [30:47]
Narrator
Good night, Hector, koko replied. And then Koko turned over, closed his eyes, and rather quickly fell asleep. And while he slept, Captain Noel the Puffin and her team of elves flew them safely through the night, back from their adventures in Lapland, back through the starlit sky, back towards where Hector lived, and after that onwards to Koko's home, to his waiting family, to Christmas Day, to that cozy cabin that stood deep in the heart of a faraway forest.
- [31:52]
Sam.