← Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
The Silly Sleepy Crocodile 🐊💤 Kids Bedtime Story
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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. We have a special guest in tonight's story. It's the Silly Crocodile. Have you ever heard of him? He's from the Just for Kids YouTube channel and he's so funny. You can watch him get up to all sorts of lively silly adventures on YouTube. Just search the Silly Crocodile or click the link in the Show Notes and subscribe so that they're waiting for you tomorrow. 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 subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes, but now here's a quick word from our sponsors. Come on everybody, let's go. M I C K E Y All new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse plus and oh, our friends are here. Like Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Minnie, Daisy. Hey everybody and me, Mickey Mouse. Welcome to the Clubhouse. I'll be right here. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse plus now available on Disney Junior and Disney. Learn more at ondisneyplus.disney.com Tonight though, he is going on a much sleepier journey than he's used to, as we've invited him, lucky him, into Sleepy Forest for a gentle float down Sleepy River. It's going to be magical. This is the Sleepy Silly Crocodile by Sarah Kate Howarth. It was twilight in Sleepy Forest. The evening had begun to seep in through the treetops and settle like dust on the forest floor. A gentle breeze swirled through the leaves like pages of a book slipping through fingertips. The night sky glowed overhead as if powder paint had been strewn through the air in charcoal grey, midnight blue and inky black. The songs of the cicadas hummed from deep within the long grasses, and fireflies floated overhead with a golden glow that flickered like candlelight. In amongst the crisp sun dried leaves that stretched out across the forest floor, there came a hustling, bustling, rustling sound. What was that noise? Crinkling, crunching and crackling like popping candy. A little green foot poked out from deep in the undergrowth and wriggled its toes curiously. Now who did that foot belong to? Surely whoever owned a little green foot. Also a owned a little green body. And maybe a pointy green tail too. And maybe their pointy green tail connected to a long and spiky spine, all prickly and stickly like a ridge of mountaintops. And surely whoever possessed this long thorny back would have A great big snout, too, and a gnashing mouth that opened wide like a pair of scissors, stretching into a particularly silly smile with two twin teeth pointing downwards and one lonesome tooth pointing up. How goofy. And a big bright pair of googly eyes and big round cheeks that shone like scoops of raspberry ice cream. That's right. You guessed it. The silly crocodile was on the loose in Sleepy Forest. What are you up to in Sleepy Forest, silly crocodile? Oh, well, you see, I heard about Sleepy Forest from a moon I was talking to. And also, apparently, you could see shooting stars in the sky over here. Babbled the silly crocodile. I've he's wanted to see Shooting star. He continued through a great big yawn. His mouth opened wide and his three little milk teeth sparkled in the gentle moonlight. Now you sound a little bit sleepy to me, silly Crocodile. But the silly crocodile shook his head in protest and blinked indignantly. No, I'm not the sleepy crocodile. I'm the silly Crocodile. He affirmed his eyeline, drifting over to Sleepy river, where the lotus flowers hovered on the water like soft white doves. And dragonflies darted about, skimming the water with their gossamer wings. Ooh, he breathed, what a beautiful river. Ah, yes, that's the Lazy river, silly crocodile. And it sure is beautiful. It runs right through the heart of Sleepy Forest. You can take a moonlit float down it if you like. The silly crocodile's eyes widened and his pupils grew large like giant chocolate buttons. Take a moonlit goat down the river? Well, I don't know any goats. Do you know any goats? Oh, you silly crocodile. I said take a float down the river, not take a goat down the river. Look, here's a pile of rubber rings ready and waiting on the riverbank. Why not pop one on and take a little ride down Lazy River? If you lie back, you'll get a great view of the night sky. You might even see some shooting stars. I've always wanted to see a shooting star. The silly crocodile grinned. That's my dream. Ok, let me wriggle into a rubber ring. Just be careful, silly Crocodile, because crocodiles have awfully sharp teeth. Try and keep your teeth away from the rubber ring, ok? You don't want it to burst. Ok, ok. The silly crocodile was barely listening, already set on manoeuvring his green scaly body into a canary yellow rubber ring. He plonked himself down on the mossy riverbank and inched his way into Sleepy river, the warm water lapping around his ankles invitingly like a bubble bath. Ooo. That's nice, he whispered, sliding into the river so that the water reached up to his belly button. He lay back and looked up at the sky, feeling the gentle bob of the rubber ring beneath him, and he smiled. The dark night sky gleamed overhead. He felt the soft tickle of dragonfly wings against his snout and the gentle swell of the current towing him slowly down the meandering river. Safely tucked inside his inflatable ring, the silly crocodile breathed out a huge, happy sigh. He felt absolutely, totally relaxed as the river lapped languidly against his skin. His eyelids began to tremble. He yawned extravagantly, his mouth opening wide. The silly crocodile's head began to nod, and his chin dipped down onto his chest. He'd only been bobbing along the lazy river for a few minutes, but already he was slipping away into a dreamlike doze. As his eyelids fluttered shut, his snout came to rest on the bouncy rubber ring, and a snore shook its way through his nostrils and escaped into the cool night air with a gentle honk. A little droplet of drool spilled out of his open mouth and landed in the river with a soft splosh. The silly crocodile was fast asleep. But what was that strange hissing noise? A soft, steady, soothing, sumptuous, sleepy sound like the soft hiss of a baby snake. And what's more, why was the silly crocodile beginning to sink? Oh, goodness me. The silly crocodile had only gone and burst the rubber ring with his pointy little teeth. He must have caught one of his teeth on the rubber and snagged it clean open. And now all the air was escaping from the little hole. What a silly crocodile. As the rubber ring began to deflate and water began to rush over his belly, the silly crocodile stirred from his dream. Silly crocodile, your snaggletooth has torn a rip in the side of your rubber ring. And now all the air is escaping. Listen. Can you hear it hiss? Sure enough, the very same soft, steady, soothing, sumptuous, sleepy sound came cutting through the midnight air again like a python's purr s. The silly crocodile's rubber ring began to deflate and droop like a wilting flower, so that his bottom began to bob and bounce against the riverbed. Oops. Gulped the silly crocodile. I'm pretty sure I've sunk. He wriggled his way out of the rubber ring that was now as flat as a blueberry pancake and crawled up onto the damp, mossy riverbed. A downturned expression took over his face. What's the matter, silly crocodile? The silly crocodile picked up a Stick and limply began to trail it through the grass beside him. He looked as glum as a gargoyle. Oh, nothing, the silly crocodile sighed, his shoulders sloping downwards forlornly. It's just. Well, I was having such a nice time drifting down the lazy river in my rubber ring, and I had such a good view of the night sky. I was certain I was gonna see a shooting star. But I've gone and been silly as usual, and now my rubber ring is burst and I can't float anymore. I guess tonight isn't my lucky night. But, silly crocodile, you're being a little silly, don't you think? Well, yeah. I burst my rubber ring with my own tooth. I mean, well, yes, that was a little bit silly. But just because you don't have a rubber ring anymore doesn't mean you can't float down the river. Have you forgotten that crocodiles can swim? Oh, yeah, I had forgotten. I can swim. I don't need the silly rubber ring. I'm a crocodile. And with that, the silly crocodile wriggled his way back into the river and unfurled his spine back slowly until he was all stretched out. There he was, floating easily on the surface of the water with the swell of the river pushing up beneath him gently cushioning his limbs. He twirled his fingers and wriggled his toes, creating ripples that cut through the water in circular, swirling shapes. Peaceful and serene. The silly crocodile breathed out another huge happy sigh. Ah. He felt completely and utterly relaxed, just like before. How funny. He'd forgotten he could float. What a silly sausage he was sometimes. As he drifted deeper into the sleepy forest, curling gracefully around each riverbend, the silly crocodile's face relaxed once more into his famously toothy grin. All this relaxing is making my tummy rumble. Ooh, look. Sour sweeties. Sour sweeties. What on earth you talking about? Silly crocodile? Look in the mud. The silly crocodile gestured towards the muddy banks of the river, where little loops of neon came wriggling out of the dirt. I love sour sweeties. I love how they tickle my tongue and taste all tangfastic. I'm going to gobble them all up. The silly crocodile reached across the bank to grab a handful of sour candy. Only hang on a second. They aren't sour. Sweet, silly crocodile. Those little shapes are wriggly worms. And they definitely won't taste tangfastic. Wriggly worms. The silly crocodile cocked his head in surprise and leaned forwards to get a better look. You sure they're not sour worms like you? Get in pick and mix at the cinema. Oh, I'm sure about that. Well, then, why are they all different colours? Glitzy pink and fluorescent orange and lime green and ruby red and electric blue. They glow in the dark. Sure enough, the insects were shining in a dazzling bright spectrum of colours. You see, silly crocodile, these are glow worms. Although actually, they're not really worms at all. They're beetles. They glow through a magical thing called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is a scientific word meaning that some glowworms emit a phosphorescent light from their bottoms. The silly crocodile dissolved into a heaving, quaking, shaking fit of giggles so extreme that tears began to roll from his bright googly eyes. Well, I guess that is a little funny, silly crocodile. A little. The silly crocodile choked out amidst gasps of air. Their bottoms glow in the dark. He rolled over onto the bank, chuckling and chortling like a child at the circus. The light of the glowworms began to flicker indignantly. Oi. Piped the glitzy pink glowworm. What are you laughing at? The silly crocodile wiped a jubilant tear from his cheek and tried to disguise his tittering with a cough. Oh, sorry, glowworm. I wasn't laughing. I have a cough. And he coughed and spluttered theatrically. You oughtn't to laugh at us, piped the lime green glowworm. Yeah, agreed the one whose bottom shone electric blue. We're providing a valuable service to people like you who cruise down the river at night. How else would you see anything if you didn't have us to light the way? The silly crocodile hung his head, and his little round cheeks turned from pale raspberry dollops to flushed cherry tomatoes. He felt awfully silly now for laughing at the glowworms. They were just being themselves, after all. I'm sorry, he whispered. I really didn't mean to upset anyone. I think your lights are super cool. I really do. I wish my tail could glow in the dark. He gazed over at his own tail, which had almost disappeared into the gloomy shadows of night. The glowworms gazed over at it too, and then bent their heads together. They began whispering secretively, glancing over at the silly crocodile every so often in a furtive manner. What is it? The silly crocodile asked. What are you all whispering about? The ruby red glow worm inched forwards and beckoned the silly crocodile closer. Do you really want to learn how to glow in the dark? It inquired solemnly. Oh, yes. I love to glow in the dark. Then I'd look all cool and glowy like you guys the glowworm shook its head. It's not about looking cool, Silly crocodile. Glowing is a serious business. It helps people feel less afraid of the dark. At these words, the silly crocodile's mouth opened softly into an expression of awe. Oh. He breathed. Why didn't you say so? That's really, really important stuff. You see, I can be a little afraid of the dark myself. You can? Asked the baby glowworm, its bottom shining orange like a Halloween pumpkin. But you're a crocodile. Why do you have to be scared of. The silly crocodile shrugged his shoulders and smiled down kindly at the glimmer of glowworms. Even crocodiles get a little scared sometimes. The electric blue glowworm wriggled forward a little. Well, given that you can't glow in the dark, what do you do when you're feeling afraid? The silly crocodile scratched his head, puzzled. Hmm. That's a good question. Well, sometimes I tell myself a joke. You tell yourself a joke? The glowworms chorused in disbelief. Yeah. The silly crocodile grinned his big toothy grin. But that's so silly. The ruby red glowworm was perturbed. How can you tell yourself a joke? Oh, it's easy, the silly crocodile retorted. You just go like this. What do you say to a crocodile on their birthday? I don't know. Silly crocodile, what do you say to a crocodile on their birthday? Asked the glow worms obediently. The silly crocodile paused dramatically. The corners of his mouth began to twitch and his breath began to steam out of his snout like a teapot whistling on the stove. His eyes brimmed with tears like a reservoir about to burst its banks. His tummy trembled like a big splodge of jam, and he tried with all his might not to let any laughter escape until the silly crocodile dissolved into a wriggling, giggling puddle of green, and his laughter floated noisily through the treetops of Sleepy Forest, causing baby birds to stir from their slumber and older birds to send a disapproving squawk down his way. The glowworms chuckled. Silly crocodile, you're laughing so hard at your own joke. You haven't even told us the punchline. The silly crocodile looked up in shock. I haven't? No, they objected. You got all caught up in a case of the giggles, and you clean forgot hoops. He wheezed, out of breath from all that laughing. Well, it just goes to show, a joke is always a good distraction if you're feeling a little anxious. Ok, ok. Here goes. What do you say to a crocodile on their birthday? I don't know. Silly Crocodile. What do you say to a crocodile on their birthday? Replied the glowworms through a mouthful of laughter. The silly crocodile managed to choke out snappy birthday. And that set him off again. The silly crocodile sat giggling giddily and gasping for air in the moonlight, and the glimmer of glowworms shook their heads in disbelief. He really was such a silly crocodile. But the ruby red glowworm wasn't ready to give up on him, silly or not. Listen, silly crocodile, if you want your bottom to be able to glow, you have to remember one important thing. Ok? Can you do that? The silly crocodile pulled his face into as sensible a shape as he could muster. I can certainly try, he vowed enthusiastically. All right. The ruby red glowworm beckoned him closer and whispered the secret softly into his ear. You have to squeeze your bottom super tight and think as hard as you can of something that glows. The silly crocodile tried not to giggle at the mention of squeezing his bottom. Ok. Something that glows. The silly crocodile scratched his head. Like Rudolph's nose. Exactly. The glowworms nodded vehemently. Or jellyfish. That's right. Or a lightsaber. Yes. As the silly crocodile thought long and hard of all these glowing objects, he felt a tingly sensation in his tail, a bit like pins and needles. Wow. The glimmer of glowworms breathed. How magical. The silly crocodile glanced down at his tail and his mouth fell open in wonder. The tip of his tail was glowing the brightest, most dazzling emerald green. Look. He crowed, proud as a peacock. My tail has turned into a night light. The glowworms smiled proudly. That's right. They chorused. And now you can carry on through the dark with no need to feel even a little bit afraid. The silly crocodile thanked the glowworms profusely before sliding back into the river. His tail shone bright like a crystal ball, and jets of emerald light rippled through the water like ribbons. Wish me luck, he called out. I'm off to see the shooting stars. The glowworms lined themselves along the riverbank, glitzy pink, fluorescent orange, lime green, ruby red and electric blue. The colourful tribe waved to their new friend as he drifted away beyond the riverbend. Good luck. They sang, their voices catching on the soft midnight breeze and drifting daintily into the distance. The silly crocodile let the river's current carry him, cradled like a newborn infant in its mother's arms. As the treetops grew thicker overhead, the night sky grew even darker until it felt like an inky blindfold that had been looped over his eyes. But his tail kept shining that merry emerald glow amidst the blackness. And so the silly crocodile was not afraid. All thanks to the glowworms and their special secret. Soon the sleepy crocodile came to a clearing where the water was deep and warm like a Jacuzzi. He let out a happy sigh and closed his eyes in enjoyment. Ah. A wave of moonlight cascaded over his face, washing his cheeks with silvery suds and leaving a trail of sparkles across his scales. The lily pads and lotus flowers twinkled beside him, their leaves catching the starlight, scooping it up like teacups. All was quiet until through the dark night sky came a soft whooshing sound. The silly crocodile opened his right eye just a smidge, reluctant to rise from his cosy, dreamlike slumber. But a mere moment later, both eyes were open, wide as can be. For up above was a speedy scattering of sparkles, fizzing and frothing, tearing across the night sky in bronze, silver and gold. Could it be a shooting star? The silly crocodile breathed, his eyes growing even wider as he marveled at the thrilling sights above. A real life shooting star. I'm so lucky. I was almost asleep. Thank goodness. I heard it whoosh through the air. Another star came waltzing through the midnight air, this one slight and nimble with a bright white light that trailed through the darkness. It glided above the treetops of sleepy forest, surfing the night sky, leaving a spray of sparkling silver foam behind in its wake. The shooting stars were better than the most impressive fireworks display. They twirled, they pirouetted, and they leapt across the sky, scattering fairy dust over the forest floor like breadcrumbs thrown for the birds. The sleepy crocodile gazed in awe. He couldn't believe his luck to have witnessed the starlight leaping through the air above. The water lapped gently around his toes, whispering gently like the sound of the ocean from inside a shell. From out of his mouth came a ginormous yawn, causing ripples to radiate from his snout and trip along the surface of the water in delicate hoops. The silly crocodile smiled sheepishly. Well, now that I've seen the shooting stars, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a little nap. The silly crocodile smiled and made his way gingerly up the riverbank, where the branches of the weeping willow reached down and tickled his spine with their soft feathery leaves. He curled himself into a ball and rested his snout on his tail, which still shone dimly in a marvellous emerald green. What a lovely river ride, he murmured, his eyes drooping drowsily and his mouth settling into a contented grin as his eyes fluttered shut. The stars continued to dance overhead, sparkling through the night sky, keeping watch over sleepy forest and the sleepy silly crocodile who lay snoring on the forest floor.