← Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
The Sleepy Farm 🚜 💤 Dreamy Bedtime Stories For Kids
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Foreign. Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids designed to make bedtime a dream. Tonight we have a very special shout out for you, Tessa from Vancouver Island. Thank you. Thank you for subscribing for the year. Enjoy all of your extra episodes and your ad free listening and don't forget to tell everyone you know all about Koala Moon. That's my special request. Now I have a question for all of you. Do you think you could tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama? If they were standing next to each other in a field, would you be able to confidently point at one and say, hello Mr. Alpaca? Well, I couldn't before reading this story, but now I can. And hopefully you will too. Although you may want to listen again another time as there are some really good clues coming up later in this tale Tonight then, we are in the cosy pastures of Puddlefoot Farm and we're surrounded by the sleeping animals and farmers Nell and Clyde, who still have quite a bit of work to do because tonight is a very special night indeed. Soon they and we are going to meet some new arrivals, a whole new herd of llamas and alpacas, and we're going to join them as the caring farmers ensure that everything is ready and just right for their new friends to step foot or hoof into their new home. 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 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. Lie back in bed then and imagine the fields of Puddlefoot Farm stretching out ahead of you and above you are the twinkling stars winking down from the dark inky skies. Take some nice deep breaths and just relax as I begin the Sleepy farm by Susannah MacLachlan. It was a crisp, starry evening at Puddlefoot Farm, so Farmer Nell pulled her scarf up around her ears before sliding each of her woolly socked feet into a welly boot and stepping out into the fresh air. At her heel, as always, was Bonnie the Sheepdog, her blue bandana slightly skewif showing off the white diamond tuft of fur on her chest. Farmer now was going to meet Farmer Clyde in the empty field on the far side of Puddlefoot Farm, which he was prepping for the arrival of some new visitors. It was about to be the new home of a whole pack of llamas and alpacas who were moving from a farm far away. They'd been travelling all day and would be arriving in a couple of hours when the moon reached its highest spot in the sky. There was just enough time left in the day for the two farmers to put the finishing touches on their new cosy barn. Nell strode across the farmyard whispering goodnight to Doodle Doo, the cockerel who was just hunkering down to sleep in the cooper by the farmhouse door. He had to be up bright and early, after all, to announce the new day. It wasn't just Doodledoo. Most of the animals were bedding down for the night, and a sleepy quiet had fallen over the fields, barns, and gardens. Nell's boots crunched over the gravel as she headed to the track where Nightlight the tractor was waiting for her. The little glow in the dark tractor appeared to have drifted off into a snooze, engine rumbling gently as he snored. Nell cooed his name and Night Light awoke, blinking his headlights and lighting up the path ahead of him. Farmer Nell chuckled and climbed aboard. She patted the seat next to her, which Bonnie hopped up into, curling her tail tight around her body and looking out through the front window. Night Light rumbled to life and his huge wheels began to turn as they began to trundle down the dusty track in the field to the left. A few little white clouds dotted the grass, but most of the sheep were curled up in the yellow glow of their cosy shed, curled up in the beds of golden hay in the cowshed. Big brown cows, black and white splodged cows, and orange shaggy ones began to nestle down into their beds, miniature versions of themselves snuggling in at their sides. Farmer Nell reached over to pat Bonnie's head and scratched absentmindedly between the sheepdog's ears as the glowing tractor headed on through the fields of corn and cabbages towards the furthest reaches of Puddlefoot Farm. As usual, Night Light would stop when they reached a fence and Nell would climb down, unlock the latch and let it swing open onwards. Night Light would trundle and then he'd stop again. Nell would swing the gate closed and climb back into her comfy seat behind the steering wheel so that onward they could go once more. Before long, they reached the yard with a ginormous dilapidated shed which was to become the Llamas and Alpacas new home. Seeing it, though, Bonny gasped. The shed wasn't dilapidated anymore. It was splendid. Farmer Clyde had Seen to that, he had been working on it for days, mending the thatching on the roof, patching up the wood beamed walls, and painting them a shiny pillar box red. Now he was oiling the hinges on the big double doors so they didn't squeak when he threw them open to welcome their new guests. Farmer Nell gave Farmer Clyde a big high five and congratulated him on all his hard work paying off. The barn looked wonderful, she told him, simply wonderful. Farmer Clyde gave her a proud grin. Thank you, Nell, he said. But I'm glad to have you here for the finishing touches. We've got plenty to do before our new friends get here. Nell peeked inside the shed. He was right. It was still totally empty. Not to worry, she said. Well have it as cosy as can be in no time. They'll be tired from their journey, farmer Clyde said, so we should start by making them their beds. That was going to require hay and a lot of it. So the two farmers climbed aboard Nightlight, the tractor, and headed out into into the adjacent field. There, lit up by the moon, were big round bales like little golden moons themselves, sitting peacefully in lines across the grassy field near the fence. At the field's entrance sat a big rectangular trailer. Farmer Clyde hopped off of Nightlight the tractor and waited at the fence whilst Farmer Nell directed the tractor back to click into place and connect to the trailer. Farmer Clyde secured the equipment together, grateful for Nightlight's cosy glow lighting up the mechanism. Then Nell drove Nightlight out across the field to the first hay bale. It was huge, about as tall as Nell, and the two farmers both had to heave it onto the tractor together, counting to three and hauling it up and into the cab, then back they trundled to the animal shed. They used the mechanism on the trailer to tip its bed up and up until the hay bale rolled down it like a slide landing on the grass. Then they repeated the whole exercise three times more until there was a mountain of hay in front of the shed. Alpacas and llamas liked a lot of space, so there was a lot of ground that needed covering. Alpacas and llamas also liked things very clean, so Nell and Clyde each grabbed a broom and started sweeping until the inside of the shed was spick and span. Then they took shiny pitchforks and began spearing lumps of hay and spreading them across the shed. It was hard work, but satisfying and peaceful. Farmer Nell loved the rustle of the hay, and Clyde found great peace in watching how with every sweep of his Fork. One less patch of floor was visible, and there was one more place for a sleepy animal to rest its hooves. When the whole shed was carpeted in yellow straw, Farmer Nell and Farmer Clyde rested on their pitchforks and admired their handiwork. Lit up by the golden lanterns that swung from the beams, the hay shone and glowed beautifully. The new arrivals would be very pleased. Now, something else alpacas and llamas liked was to be well groomed. They grew a huge abundance of fur, which is why they're so incredibly cuddly. But that means they need a good haircut every now and again so they don't get too hot or turn into a cloud of fur and float away. That's why the farmers decided to create a grooming station in one corner of the shed. Clyde had already made a cabinet with a large mirror and lots of drawers to store shears, brushes, nail files, and the like, and Nell had sanded the whole thing down and painted it a deep midnight blue. It had been sitting on a sheet of newspaper all day, drying, and now was time to bring it in. They carried the cabinet to the perfect spot and placed it under a window so the lighting would be good and they could make sure they sheared every last bit of fur and didn't leave any shaggy patches. Farmer Clyde hoped the alpacas wouldn't mind if he borrowed some of their shorn wool for his knitting. It was ever so warm and so fluffy. He made a mental note to ask them when the time came. Llamas and alpacas love to explore, so they would spend most of their free time grazing in the fields, going for hikes across the farm and out in sleepy forest. But the farmers wanted to make sure they had things in the barn to play with in case of a rainy day. So they brought a big wicker box and filled it with fun things. Chew toys mostly, and a few balls to kick around, too. Finally, Farmer Nell climbed a ladder with Clyde standing below and holding it steady, and hung the special barn friendly fairy lights they'd ordered from the postman. They wrapped the twinkling lights around the beams on the top of the shed and then stuck glow in the dark stars in any empty spaces left. Climbing back down the ladder and looking up, Nell had the impression that she might be looking at the night sky itself, like the llamas and alpacas would have seen in their native mountains of Peru. Nell clapped her hands. It's perfect, she said. Clyde agreed. The two farmers loaded any stray tools or equipment back into the tractor and then paused. Do you hear that? Nell said. It was the quiet rumbling of a truck heading up the road towards them. Farmer Clyde grinned. I think I do, he said. Clyde and Nell opened the huge gate that led into the field to make room for the vehicle and then watched as the two yellow headlights grew larger as their new friends drew ever nearer to their new home. With a sleepy series of beeps, the truck reversed into the field and the driver, a good friend of theirs from a faraway farm called Farmer McDonald, opened up the back door. Ten funny little faces peered curiously out at them. Some had curly hair in tufty poofs between their ears, some long fringes that stopped at their long brown eyelashes. Some were cream and some were brown. Some were splodged with all kinds of patterns. Some were tall with long necks like giraffes. Some were shorter and sweet as can be. They all had little goofy smiles. The farmers welcomed their new friends, and as soon as farmer McDonald finished unfurling the ramp, there was a clacking of hooves and the herd made their way down onto the field. A few of them started munching on the long green grass they loved grazing, and one llama muttered secretly to another that this grass was the best she'd ever tasted. Farmer Nell and Clyde looked over the herd. There were six alpacas and four llamas. Not everyone would be able to tell the difference straight away, but the farmers were professionals. They knew that you could tell them apart because llamas are a little taller. They have longer faces and longer ears that are shaped like bananas curving up to the sky. Alpacas faces are a little more smushed in, and they have little pointy ears that point straight up like arrows. The llama's fur was a little coarser too. Farmer Nell loved the llamas the best, so she headed over to a tall white one and held out a hand in offering. He blinked placidly and Nell knew that meant she could come and stroke his neck gently. The lama leant into her hand and closed his eyes. She could tell he was sleepy. Farmer Clyde was more of an alpaca fan, so he approached one of the short, curly haired little fellows and slowly, gently gave her a little pat. She nuzzled against him enthusiastically, with surprising force in her strong, swooping neck. The farmers led the herd over to their new shed and opened the doors. They swung open smoothly with not a squeak nor a squeal. Farmer Clyde smiled proudly. The llamas paused as the golden light spilled out into the night from between the open doors. The field was silvery and dark, lit by stars and moonlight, but inside it glowed orange like a fireplace, like a beacon beckoning the herd in towards their beds. One by one the animals clipped and clopped their way into their new home. They dispersed across the hay, choosing their sleeping places, settling down into the comfiest patches they could find. Farmer Nell went to night light the tractor and pulled from the back seat a big basket filled with red shiny apples, a treat for the sleepy llamas. Farmer Clyde collected a stack of silver shiny bowls from his pickup truck and a huge bottle of water. The two farmers were to go around the barn, introducing themselves to each new friend and giving them their water bowl and snack. The only thing was, though, each water bowl needed to be labelled, and so far the animals hadn't been named. The farmers started in the far corner of the barn where the large white male llama was resting. Nell sliced a big red apple and offered him the pieces. The llama yawned, then began to chomp, smiling as he tasted the sweetness of the fruit. Farmer Clyde laid down his water bowl and asked Nell what she thought they should call him. She looked into the llama's big clever eyes and said she wanted to call him Wilbur, since he looked like a distinguished gentleman. Farmer Clyde wrote Wilbur on the side of the bowl with a marker pen and filled it with water. Next was a lady llama who was peachy coloured with a cloud of perfect curls like bubbles cascading around her ears. This one looks like a lady I see at the hairdresser's in the village, nell said, so we should name her after her. This is Doris. Farmer Clyde wrote Doris on the bowl and filled it with water. Nell sliced an apple and fed it to Doris, who chewed happily. Next was an alpaca, much smaller than the last two, who was dark brown and shaggy, with a sweet smile and bottom teeth that stuck out further than the top ones. I think we should call this one Chewie, Clyde said. Cause he looks like Chewbacca. You know, Star Wars. Nell giggled and offered Chewie his chunks of apple. Clyde wrote on the bowl and poured water into it. Two alpacas were on the next big mound of hay. A mummy and a baby. The mummy was toffee brown and the baby was white with brown splotches. The mummy was smiling peacefully at the farmers, but the baby was already asleep, curled into her side. It was tiny, about the size of a Labrador, and it had skinny little legs like stilts. Nell stroked the mummy's woolly neck. Well done, Mama, she said. Baby's dreaming Already I think we should call the mama Coffee, nell said to Clyde, because of her colour. And then her baby can be called Cream. Get it? Clyde chuckled, writing the names on the bowls as Nell offered Coffee her apple. The next animal was a llama who was tall and tufty, white and black and covered in spots like a Dalmatian. Well, she has to be dotty, clyde said, stroking the friendly llama. Nice to meet you, Dottie. Dottie munched her apple sleepily before lowering her neck and sinking into the straw. Next, another llama with thick orange fur. I think this one looks like a marmalade, nell suggested, and the two nodded resolutely. That sounded perfect. Onto the bowl it went, and Marmalade slurped up his drink before he even blinked at the apple. Next to marmalade was an alpaca with long stringy white hair like a mop. When she munched, her hair swung side to side. How about tulip? Clyde suggested. Nell said that was very delicate and ladylike and would suit this alpaca perfectly. In the far corner, cuddled together, were two alpacas, one black and one white. When Nell sliced an apple for the first, she shared it with her friend, and then when she sliced one for the second, they shared that too. These two will be inseparable, I can tell, nell said. Let's give them a pear name. Clyde ran through a few chalk and cheese, sun and Moon, bacon and eggs. Nell giggled. How about Machu and Pichu? Clyde offered. Oh, I like that, nell said. Machu and Pichu. Clyde gave them two bowls but, knowing they would share, wrote both names on both bowls. Nell stroked each sleepy alpaca. Then they moved over to the door of the stable, tiptoeing so as not to wake any of the animals that were already sleeping. They each leaned on the door frame and peered in at their new friends. Doris was yawning and settling down to sleep. Chui was already snoring. Coffee had wrapped her neck protectively around cream, and they were both sleeping deeply. The last animals awake were breathing deep and blinking slowly, as if they too were only minutes away from dreamland. Welcome home, everyone, Farmer, Nell whispered. We're so happy to have you here. Good night, my new friends, farmer Clyde whispered. They pulled the doors to and Farmer Clyde strolled over to his truck and Nell headed to her glow in the dark. Tractor night light rumbled to life and blinked on his headlights to take Farmer Nell back to the cosy cottage. Bonnie, the sheepdog who had been sleeping in the passenger seat, stirred awake and moved her chin to rest on Nell's lap. The stars shone gently across the fields of cauliflower and courgette. The moon twinkled against the glass of the greenhouses where plump tomatoes slept, and there was not a peep of sound to be heard. No lowing of cows or braying of donkeys, no bleating of sheep meowing of cats or cock a doodling of cockerels. The farm was well and truly sleepy. Farmer Nell stepped out of night light and patted the tractor in thanks as he rumbled back to life and made his way to his own sleeping quarters for the night. She crossed the courtyard and stepped into the farmhouse where the warmth of the kitchen kissed her cheeks. She pulled off one welly boot, then two, and put a pot of milk to warm on the stove, making enough for there to be a cup waiting for Farmer Clyde when he finished his last jobs and came in later. In went some chunks of chocolate, and as the hot chocolate came together, Farmer Nell brushed out her hair and put on her softest pyjamas. Before long she found herself with a belly full of hot chocolate, with a clean face and clean teeth, nestled in a pile of pillows under a heavy woollen blanket. Bonnie the sheepdog was sleeping at her side. She watched her for a moment, stroking her soft forehead and smiling to see her paws twitch as she herded sheep. In her dreams, Farmer Nell looked out of the window at the starry sky and thought of all the animals sleeping under their own starry sky in the red barn out in the furthest field. She hoped they were comfortable. She knew that they would be, with thoughts of all that the next day would bring, of long walks across green fields, of the clip clop of llama hooves and the soft fuzz of alpaca fur. Farmer Nell nestled into her bed and fell soundly asleep. Sam.