← Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Munchy The Racoon Visits Potato & Beans 🌮🦝 Bedtime Stories for Kids Podcast
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Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids designed to make bedtime a dream. Right, let's throw open the big doors and cut the ribbon because we are welcoming into the club tonight some very special guests. We're welcoming you first, Mila Kay from Eden Prairie in Minnesota. And then welcome in Madeline CC from Fullerton. And finally, last but not least, Eleanor from North Carolina. Woohoo. And girls, you are in for such a mega treat. Are you ready for this? Are you sure? In fact, are you all ready for this? Because you asked for it. No, I'm wrong. You begged us for it. And you politely mostly asked that it not be a premium episode. And as we are really lovely folk here at Sleep hq, we have done just as you wished. You know, I've actually lost count of the number of requests I read in our Spotify comments about the return of this specific little ravenous rascal over the past few months. Was it fifty? A hundred? I just know there were loads of requests. He is so popular. Can you guess who I'm talking about? He's stripy, he's cute, he's always hungry. Hey, it's Munchie. 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, grown ups. If you're looking for a fun new way to bring a little Bluey magic into your children's playtime, here's something I think you'll love. It's the Bluey Supermarket playset. Made for kids who love imagining and playing. Just like Bluey. Just like in the show, this three level supermarket is full of imaginative fun with a real working escalator, rooftop cafe and shelves to explore. It includes exclusive figures Supermarket Bluey and Bingo with her lollipop, plus 15 plus play pieces and 24 sound effects, even including a working supermarket intercom. Little ones can decorate the store, ride the escalator and make their own Bluey inspired adventures. And the best part, it works with all their other Bluey figures too. Bluey Supermarket playset is available at all major retailers. He's back. And he's not alone. Who else do we know who loves their food? From the cooking of it all the way through to the serving of it, to the vast array of friendly customers who love eating it and Often they're wearing roller skates. Okay, I've given it all away now. In tonight's story, then, we are joining Potato and Beans on an ordinary day in the diner, except when they are visited by an unexpected guest. As you can probably imagine, it soon becomes not so ordinary at all. Settle in for this treat of a tale. This is Munchie the Raccoon visits Potato and beans by Susannah McLoughlin One bright sunny day in the middle of nowhere, everything was still. The solitary cloud sat plump in the sky and the wind chimes hanging outside. Potato and Beans Diner made not a tinkle nor a clunk. The diner was quiet with the usual regulars sat around gossiping, sipping milkshakes and swaying to the blues, music drifting from the radio. Everything was wonderfully ordinary. Then in the distance, there started a rumble and a whine, growing gradually louder and louder. It was the sound of an old moped trundling its way along the long road that cut through the valley, past the cacti in the plains, the old cowboy clopping across the sand, and the porcupine sunbathing on a green beach towel. Beans put down the sundae cup she was polishing and headed over to one of the big wide windows. Peculiar, she said. Potato came roller skating over, screeching to a stop at her side. What is it, Beans? She asked. It's a Vespa 98 Corsa Classic spec in buttercup yellow, beans murmured. Which means it's an old funny moped, the kind no one has anymore, except for one pizza delivery service a very rare, very long way from here. Which means, if my deductions are correct, Mrs. Pig better get to work. You mean, potato said, putting two and two together. That's Munchie from the Sleepy Forest Pizzatopia. Coming here? Beans nodded and a determined smile spread across her face. That's right, Potato. And I bet he's hungry. The two cats turned into a whirl of activity, setting their best table with a white frilly tablecloth, plenty of cutlery, and a tall glass of iced tea. They called through to Mrs. Pig that munchie the raccoon was on the way, and knowing his reputation as the biggest appetite in the whole of Sleepy Forest and maybe the world, Mrs. Pig began whipping up a serving of every single item on the menu. Five minutes later the bell above the diner door tinkled and in stepped the famous raccoon. Potato and Beans greeted him with hugs, tying a bib around his neck and leading him to his table. Munchie, we're so happy you came to see us, potato trilled, swinging Munchie's paw in hers. They had met Munchie months before at a culinary convention and soon hit it off. Munchie was one of the only animals they'd met who loved eating as much as they did. They told him that if he ever wanted to try real Southern hospitality, he was to come to their diner and they would treat him like a king at a banquet. Obviously, he'd decided to take them up on the offer. I've been dreaming about your diner ever since I met you guys, munchie said. And it's just as beautiful as I thought it would be. I can't wait to try some new foods. As soon as Munchie's round bottom hit the chair, Mrs. Pig whirled out from the kitchen on her roller skates, laying plates on the table and bending into a deep bow. Munchie, she said, your appetite is legendary. I feel honored to have you here. Munchie chuckled and patted his tummy. The honour is all mine, Mrs. Pig, he said. Your Mac and cheese is much more legendary than my appetite. Mrs. Pig blushed and giggled, spinning on her wheels and heading back into the kitchen. As the saloon door swung open and closed, Ozzy the dishwasher octopus could be seen frantically stirring pots and pans with all eight tentacles. Potato and Bean sat with Munchie, and they giggled and chatted whilst he tucked into his first course. At every gulp, he made sighs and yummy noises, licking his fingers and almost purring in contentment. First he munched his way through a plate of cheesy grits, then biscuits and gravy. He ate burgers and hot dogs, spaghetti and soup, a stack of pancakes, then a peach cobbler, then cherry pie and cream. Soon he'd tried everything on the menu. Mrs. Pig whirled out of the kitchen again, ferrying dishes to Ozzy and replenishing the plates. As Munchie gobbled down the last bites of a banana split, he patted his stomach and sighed in satisfaction. Yummy. What did you think, munchie? Mrs. Pig asked. Be honest. I'd love to hear how I could improve from an expert eater like you. Everything was scrumptious, he said. The best food I've ever tasted. But if there was one thing I could improve, Mrs. Pig pried. She was always trying to make the diner better, even though it was already considered the best. That's something cool about Mrs. Pig. She's a go getter. Munchie scratched his chin with his little raccoon hands and ummed and ahhed for a few minutes. Finally he nodded to himself. I think what you need is a signature dish. Your food is scrumptious, but it's things I've tasted before, only better. Now what you need is something I've not tried. Something new and totally you. Mrs. Pig nodded, tapping her chin with her trotter. Something new, something earth, she mused. Then light bulb. I have an idea. Everyone get your outdoor shoes on. Potato and Beans squealed and clapped their hands. It sounded like there was fun in store. Mrs. Pig came back moments later with her big clompy combat boots on, holding a wicker basket and a little book in her trotter. Munchie, Potato, and Beans were waiting for her at the door. Munchie's belly was much bigger and rounder now, and he was sucking on a lollipop Potato had given him for dessert. Mrs. Pig told them her plan as they exited through the parking lot and began strolling across the open plain. I was thinking about what we could put on the menu that's unique to us, and I thought what makes us unique is this. She threw her arms wide and gestured at the landscape surrounding them. So why don't we make something totally new using the food that grows right here outside our windows? She gestured to the little book. This is a book for foraging. It tells me what we can pick and eat from the wilderness. We can use it to make a new recipe, something we never cooked before. Munchie grinned. Great idea, missy, he said. I'm a scavenger. So this is right up my street. Raccoons have always lived off the land. We snaffle scraps from bins and eat banana skins left on the ground. We charm humans into giving us their lunch and gobble whatever we come across. Potato looked at Beans and stuck her tongue out in a yuck expression. That sounds nasty, munchie, she said. Mrs. Pig put her arm around Munchie. I like your enthusiasm, my friend, she said. But let's use the book and find some things that are actually edible. Hey, you can't eat things you find willy nilly or you might get sick. Munchie wiggled his eyebrows. If you say so, he said. We raccoons are made of strong stuff. But you're right. Edible is the way to go. Mrs. Pig rifled through her little book and then turned to her friends. Ok, team, she said. Let's forage. The two cats, Raccoon and Pig, spread out as they wandered across the desert, weaving past boulders and peeking around tall columns of tangerine coloured rock. They were on the hunt for plants. Yodel if you find anything, Mrs. Pig called. Before long, Munchie let out a long, whooping yodel and began waving his arms, beckoning the others over to a big, jagged bush nestled behind a pile of spiky cacti. What's this? He asked Mrs. Pig, bouncing on his back paws, excitedly making the zips jangle on his leather motorcycle jacket. Mrs. Pig eyed the bush carefully, examining the diagrams in her book, whilst Potato and Beans peered at the berries that hung from its thorny branches. The berries were made of clusters of little juicy pearls. The smaller ones were red like raspberries, but the big, full, juicy ones gleamed a deep, luscious purple. Potato reached out to grab a berry and went to cram it into her mouth, but Beans stopped her. Whoa there, she said. Gotta check the book first. Mrs. Pig nodded decisively and then said, go for it, Potato. Munchie, you found us some dewberries. What those? Potato said through a mouthful of fruit she already had pink streaked across her brown fur. Dewberries. We can put em in a pie. They're delicious. Mrs. Pig began picking plump berries from the bush and placing them delicately on a handkerchief in her wicker basket. Munchie and the cats followed her lead, selecting the loveliest, shiniest fruit and piling it up. When they'd got a big, full heap, Mrs. Pig pulled up the edges of the handkerchief and tied a knot in the top, putting them to one side of the basket to keep them safe and unsquishable. The friends spread out once more to comb the wilderness for treats. Before long, when they'd roamed further from the road and into an area where sparse shrubs and succulents grew from the ground, Beans let out a yodel and everyone gathered once more. What's that? Beans? Looks like a big old weed, munchie said, running his paw across the top of the green leafy plant Beans had flagged to them. It does look like a weed, Mrs. Pig said, scanning her book. But it's actually. You're not gonna believe this, Pigweed. The pig did what? Munchie joked, and they all giggled. Pigweed is edible. Good job, Beans. Mrs. Pig said. We can dry out the seeds and eat those, or we can chop off the leaves and cook them up like spinach. Oh, with some wild garlic and some pepper. Mrs. Pig mimed a chef's kiss. She pulled out a little pair of clippers from her pocket and told Beans to pick some with a snip, snip, snip. Beans cut a whole bundle of the leaves and Piled them into the basket. Mrs. Pig tied them together with a lavender ribbon. Nicely done, Beans, Munchie said. I've certainly never tried pigweed before. Once more, the friends spread out to comb the countryside for some tasty morsels. This time it was Potato who let out a yodel. She'd found an old shack nestled between two stone pillars, an old tattered thing filled with rusty farming equipment. Growing up its sides and over its patchy roof were long, curling tendrils of vine laden with dusty fruit. Look, potato, said Grapes. Mrs. Pig nodded. Good spot, Potato. She beamed. But even though it looks like something we know, we have to check the book to be sure. Mrs. Pig inspected the shape of the leaves, the colour and size of the berries, and the way the shoots lined up and twisted over the shack. They're Mustang grapes. They're edible, Mrs. Pig said. Potato popped a grape into her mouth. But very sour, Mrs. Pig finished. Munchie and Beans turned to look at Potato, whose face was screwing up tight and whose eyebrows were knitting together as she thrust her tongue out. The friends burst out laughing. Sorry, Potato Bean said. Should we not gather any of those? Then Mrs. Pig began plucking grapes from the vine. Quite the contrary, she said. If we stew them down with some honey, we can make the most delicious jelly. Potato crossed her paws and said she didn't believe even Mrs. Pig could turn those sour grapes delicious. But she knew Mrs. Pig would prove her wrong. Once there were some big, juicy bunches of grapes laid across the basket, the friends once again went on their way. They'd found some great stuff, but they still needed that showstopper ingredient, the perfect dish to add to their menu. Not 10 minutes had passed when Mrs. Pig let out a yodel. Hers was extra long, with extra notes and lots of sass. When the others joined her, they found her staring up at, of all things, a prickly pear. Ok, Munchie said. Even I won't eat that. Look at the spines on that thing. The cactus was indeed spiky. It didn't look edible in the slightest, but Mrs. Pig was adamant. Her book said it was delicious. It said that further south in Mexico, people ate them all the time. They were called nopales, and they were incredibly good for you, packed full of minerals and vitamins. What's more, they could grow in hot climates and stay juicy even through months of drought. Munchie raised his eyebrows. Well, it is certainly new, he said. Mrs. Pig grinned. Then it's perfect. She pulled thick gardening gloves from her pocket and placed them over her trotters. So she could cut down a big piece of cactus without getting prickled. She wrapped it in a hanky and handed it to Munchie to carry carefully back to the diner. Soon they were back in the kitchen, gazing at their hall. They pulled up their sleeves and lined up at the sink to wash their trotters, hands and paws with Ozzy, the Octopus's favourite seaweed flavoured soap. Then they dug out Mrs. Pig's spare chef hats from her storage cupboard and placed them on their heads, tying aprons around their tummies. Potato was tasked with making dewberry pie. She needed butter and flour and sugar and made a big ball of pastry, which she then rolled out and laid across a pie tin. Into a big pan went the dewberries with some cinnamon and lemon juice, which she stirred around and around and around until it turned sweet and sticky. The fruit went inside the pie and then Potato spent some time laying more pastry over the top, making a beautiful lattice and topping it with a heart shaped piece of pastry for the middle. Soon it was baking and a delicious smell was filling the kitchen. Munchie was tasked with cooking the pigweed, which he piled into a pan with garlic and seasoning, stirring as the leaves shrunk and turned fragrant and delicious. He toasted some seeds and sprinkled them over the top. Perfect. Beans was making the mustang grape jelly, cooking the grapes down with sugar, then adding gelatin and pouring it into a mould in the shape of a big fish. Into the fridge it went to solidify and go wobbly. All this time, Mrs. Pig was working on the cactus, cutting off the spiny outside and freeing the yummy interior. She wanted her dish to be a surprise, so she sent the cats and the raccoon out into the diner to relax with a cloudy lemonade while she cooked. Then dinner was served. Mrs. Pig came and took her place at the table, followed by Ozzy the octopus, carrying five plates and cutlery in his spare tentacles. As he placed down the plates, the animals clapped and gasped in excitement. There on the plates were the most beautiful cactus tacos with melty cheese, green tangy cactus, spicy chillies and fragrant herbs topped with little lilac edible flowers. Munchie was to have the first taste and the others watched on in anticipation. He took a bite and began to chew. His face was neutral at first, then one eyebrow shot up, then the other, and his eyes began to sparkle. When he finally swallowed with a gulp, Mrs. Pig was almost sitting in his lap. She was so close to him. That was. Mrs. Pig leaned in closer. The most delicious thing I've ever tasted. It's tangy, it's salty, it's fresh, but satisfying. It's unique. Mrs. Pig clapped her trotters and squealed in joy, and the two cats bounced from their seats and swung each other around in a victory dance, the way they always did when they were excited. Everyone tucked in then, and they found that Munchie was right. It was delicious. They ate a side of sauteed pigweed and a dessert of dewberry pie and mustang grape jelly. They laughed and ate and laughed some more until the sky turned dark outside the window. I'm too full to drive home, munchie said, patting his tum. Stay over then, silly, Beans replied. They hugged Mrs. Pig and Ozzy goodbye as they headed to their homes down the road and took Munchie up to their apartment above the diner. First it was bath time. They were all dusty and dirty from their foraging trip. Beans ran a big bubbly bath, allowing Munchie the first dip as he was the guest, dropping in some yellow duckies for him to play with whilst Munchie bathed, singing songs about the moon in the sky and a big pizza pie. Potato and Beans set up a bed for him in between theirs. They piled up blankets and fluffed up pillows and even set a little chocolate on the top cushion. They knew Munchie would soon be peckish again. Once the other two had had their baths, they all sat on the sofas in toweling dressing gowns with green shiny face masks on and cucumber resting over their eyes. Then the masks were cleaned off with a warm flannel and their fur dried with hair dryers. Soon they were all extra fluffy, relaxed and ready for sleep. Potato and Beans told Munchie they always looked at the stars before bed, so the raccoon and the two kitties stood paw in paw at the window, saying goodnight to the moon and pointing out their favourite constellations. I like it out here in the middle of nowhere, munchie said. The stars look as beautiful here as they do in Sleepy Forest. The cats beamed. Well, we'll have to come and visit you there then, Munchie Bean said, nudging his shoulder. Ok, it's a deal. Munchie yawned. I'll make you some pizza. Potato clacked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. That would be pizza, Bellissimo, she said. Beans looked at Potato in shock. Bellissimo. Potato was always full of surprises. The three friends climbed into their beds and snuggled into their warm, fuzzy blankies. Good night, Beans and Munchie. Potato said. Goodnight, potato and Munchie. Bean said. Goodnight, potato and beans, Munchie said. But then no one said anything else at all. They had all three drifted off to sleep and now were deep in dream of pizza parties and sparkling stars, and would stay that way all the way until lunch, when they would eat cactus tacos again. Sam Sa.