STORYTIME 1

StorytimeTM

NOT A ROBOT

Alphabet Pet Shop, The Naughty Goats,
Sedna, a Talking Tree and a BIG SNEEZE!

“A delicious aroma filled the whole barn.”

ve
en

Want to play with a Not a Robot,
visit the best pet shop in the world,

or go dancing with a troll?
This is the magazine for you!

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Storytime™ magazine is published ILLUSTRATORS:
every month by Luma Works, Studio
2B18, Southbank Technopark, 90 Hugo Cuellar Not a Robot
London Rd, London, SE1 6LN. James Loram Alphabet Pet Shop
Vera Zaytseva The Two-Coloured Coat
© Luma Creative Ltd, 2019. All rights Cristina Shiilia The Naughty Goats
reserved. No part of this magazine Teresa Martinez The Talking Tree
may be used or reproduced without Paula Pang Little Chick and the Big Sneeze
prior written permission of the publisher. Giorgia Broseghini Puss in Boots and the Troll
Storytime is a trademark of Luma William Luong Sedna the Sea Goddess
Creative Ltd. Printed by Grange.

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TaLes from Today Around the WorLd TaLes

Not a Robot Little Chick and the Big Sneeze

By Holly Wallis. Red 3869 is 6 30The little chick is hiding from a cat
malfunctioning and the head when he feels an urge to sneeze.
scientist isn’t happy about it.

Poems and Rhymes StoryLand Adventures

Alphabet Pet Shop 10 Puss in Boots and the Troll 35

Imagine you could own any pet. Puss in Boots has an
What would you choose? unexpectedly large customer
in his Happy Feet shoe shop.

Famous FabLes Myths and Legends

The Two-Coloured Coat Sedna the Sea Goddess

A fable from Africa about seeing 14 An Inuit myth about how the 40
the world from somebody else’s animals of the sea came to be.
point of view.

StoryteLLer’s Corner storytime PLaybox

The Naughty Goats 17 Solve our story puzzles, make 44
your own mini robot, get arty
Olwen has to get the goats to with animals, and help the troll
pasture, but the goats are in the get to the wedding on time!
mood for mischief.

Favourite Fairy TaLes Story Maic

The Talking Tree Start the year with two brilliant 50
reads and enter our cool cover
To add a magical tree to his 22
collection, the king must face illustration competition.
a wicked witch and an ogre.

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Tales from Today

Not a Robot
By Holly Wallis

W hen Red 3869 was on the
production line, there was

a power cut. His wires went

whizz and fizz and pop.

When the laboratory was back up and
running, Jones the trainee scientist did
loads of checks on Red 3869. She
twiddled his knobs and pressed his
buttons and looked at Red with a
serious expression.

Finally, she switched Red on and
said, “Robot report – what is your
name and serial number?”

The robot made a gurgling
noise, which turned into a
low metallic chuckle.

“Good question!” said Red.
“Let me scan my database…
Rodolfino? No, too fussy. Pete?
No. Gertrude… Definitely not!
What about Lex?”

6

Jones looked alarmed and quickly “Ooh, that felt tickly,” said Red 3869.
switched the robot off again. “Sir, I “Can you do it again?”
think you need to come here. The
Red 3869 model is malfunctioning.” The head scientist jumped back.

The head scientist sighed as he Jones smiled and said, “Told you so.”
strolled over. He tucked his glasses
in the top pocket of his lab coat. The head scientist repeated in a
“What’s the problem?” firm voice, “Robot report – what is
your name and serial number?”
“It’s this robot, sir. It… he just talked to
me like he was human.” “Well, I think I’ve settled on Lex,” said
Red 3869. “But I don’t know what a
“Don’t be absurd! Did you try to reset thingamajig number is – and I’m
it?” he grumbled. certainly not a robot.”

“No, sir.” “What are you, then?” asked Jones.

The head scientist switched Red 3869 “I’m like you, silly. What do you call
on, pressed a big silver button and yourself? Let me scan my database
held it down for three seconds. Then again. Huge hands? Nope, humans!
he said, “Robot report – what is your That’s it. I’m a human. Like you.”
name and serial number?”
The head scientist scratched his head.

7

“Red 3869,” he said sternly. “This does “You mean I don‟t get to play football
not follow protocol. You are a cleaning or eat ice cream? That sounds boring.
robot. You have been programmed to In that case, I‟m definitely not a robot,”
clean offices.” said Red 3869, folding his arms.

“Oh,” said the robot. “That‟s a shame. The head scientist shook his head.
I was looking forward to going to the “There‟s no other way, Jones. Switch
park, you see. I got a map up on my it off and take it apart again. We‟ll melt
screen and there‟s a play park just it down to make a new robot.”
down the road with a huge slide and
swings and a roundabout.” “But sir!” cried Jones. “We should be
studying him, not scrapping him. This
The head scientist spluttered. “Swings! robot is clearly an intelligent being.”
A roundabout! Robots don‟t play in
parks. This is a high-tech laboratory. “Do as I say, Jones,” shouted the head
We produce cutting-edge robots to scientist. “We make tools, not toys. Our
do the jobs that humans hate, like robots are built to work... not think!”
cleaning, and assembling boxes,
and lifting heavy things!” As the head scientist stormed out
of the lab, Jones turned to Red
3869. “Tools, not toys. Work, not
think,” she said, imitating her boss.
“I bet he thinks that about me too.

8

Can you really think, Red 3869? If so, swings or the roundabout. In fact,
what should I do?” perhaps we could take it in turns.”

“Well, for a start, you can call me Lex, Lex gave another metallic chuckle and
instead of Red 3869. And I wouldn‟t said, “That sounds much more exciting
mind being tickled by that button than cleaning offices, doesn‟t it? Can
again. That was fun.” we have an ice cream too? I think I‟d
like to try vanilla – or chocolate – or
Jones laughed. “Thanks, Lex. You‟ve maybe both. Is that allowed?”
just helped me make up my mind.”
“Definitely,” said Jones, imagining how
Jones took the clever robot by the thrilled the children at the park would
hand and led him out of the lab. be to play with Lex – the world‟s first
Not a Robot!
“You‟d better give me directions to that
park if you want me to push you on the

9

Poems and Rhymes

Alphabet Pet Shop

Mum and Dad have agreed, at last, to let me have a pet,
So we’re going to the pet shop – I wonder what I’ll get?

“ W elcome!” said the owner, Mr Woofen-Hissenpurr,
“To Alphabet Pet Shop – home of feather, fin and fur!
Can I help you find a pet? What are you looking for?”
10 But with so much choice, I don’t feel very sure.

“An African land snail? This one’s bigger than your hand!”
But the sight of sticky slime is more than I can stand.
“A budgie?” asked the owner. “They’re chirpy and so cheeky,
Or chinchillas? Awake all night, but not too squeaky.

“Don’t discount a donkey. Do you have a field or barn?
Or exotic shorthair cats – affectionate and calm.
What you need’s a ferret. You can walk it on a lead!
Or a pair of guinea pigs if it’s friendly pets you need.
“If space is tight then maybe a hamster would be better.
If you like to run around, then try an Irish setter,
Choose a Jack Russell if you want a playful buddy,
Or a cool king snake if you like your pets cold-blooded.

11

“Maybe you’ll love lizards – leopard geckos are my fave!
And giant millipedes! Want to hold one? Feeling brave?
Red-bellied newts are cute – they’re exotic and aquatic.
But I see from your expression you’re not a newt fanatic.

“This old English sheepdog pup is such a big furball,
While my pot-bellied piglets are oinky, smart and small.
You can’t fail with a quail and their eggs taste yummy,
Or find our fancy rat and try tickling its tummy!

“Like pets brown and sticky? Then a stick insect is good,
And tarantulas are awesome, and so misunderstood!
Want something unique? Unicornfish are hard to beat,
Though a velveteen lop rabbit is cuddly and sweet.

“Can you keep up with a whippet? No good if you’re slow!
And here’s a hairless xolo pup – it comes from Mexico.
A yappy Yorkshire terrier is fun from dusk till dawn,
And the mini zebu cow will munch and mow your lawn!”

Famous Fables

The Two-Coloured Coat

Once there were two boys called Bandile and Kojo who were
great friends. They promised they would be friends forever.

They lived opposite each other and there was a wide path between their houses.
The boys were always running from one side of the path to the other to play in
each other‟s bedrooms, or they were busy kicking a ball across the path.
Their neighbour Obasi was jealous of their friendship and he liked nothing better
than causing trouble so, one day, he decided to put their friendship to the test and
play a trick on them.

He put on a coat that was divided down the middle. One side of the coat
was completely red. It had a red sleeve, a red pocket, red lapels and red
buttons. But the other side of the coat was entirely blue. Obasi looked at
himself in the mirror and smiled. “Now for some fun,” he said.

14

That morning, the boys were sitting “I know what I saw!” cried Bandile. “The
opposite each other on their steps coat was red – blood red, I tell you.”
when Obasi walked down the path
between them. He coughed to make “Are you calling me a liar?” said Kojo.
sure that both boys noticed him, then
he ducked down an alleyway. While the two boys argued about the
colour of Obasi‟s coat, Obasi hid in
When he had passed, Bandile called the alleyway, sniggering to himself.
out to Kojo, “That was a fine red coat
Obasi was wearing.” Eventually, Bandile and Kojo grew
so angry, they started to fight. Soon,
Kojo laughed. “You mean a fine blue they were rolling around in the dirt
coat, my friend.” and hurling insults at each other.

“No,” said Bandile with surprise. “It was “Our friendship is over for good!”
a red coat, of course.” shouted Bandile.

“I saw it clearly,” said Kojo. “His coat “I cannot believe we vowed to be
was blue. Brilliant blue, like the sky.” friends forever!” replied Kojo.

15

At this point, Obasi stepped out of the “Don‟t blame me for your troubles,”
alleyway and walked over, laughing. replied Obasi. “I didn‟t force you to
Now he was standing directly in front fight. You both looked at my coat
of the boys, they could see he had from your own points of view. It‟s
fooled them by wearing a coat of not my fault you refused to see it
two different colours. It was red on from a different perspective.”
one side and blue on the other.
Obasi grinned smugly, took off his
They were so angry with him. “You did jacket and threw it over his shoulder,
that on purpose!” cried Bandile. “We leaving the two boys feeling silly.
have been best friends for years
and you tricked us into fighting!” THINK ABOUT IT!

“Yes,” said Kojo. “It‟s all your fault we Have you ever argued with a friend or
argued with each other.” family member? Next time, try to see the
argument from their point of view. See
their side of the two-coloured coat.

16

Storyteller’s Corner

The Naughty Goats

O lwen was the goatherd girl. Every day, it was her job to lead
the farmer’s goats out to pasture and bring them home safely
before the sun went down.

One morning Olwen set off bright and early, herding the goats and whistling
as she walked along. Just as she was passing the farmer‟s turnip field, she
noticed a gap in the fence. The moment she spotted it, the three goats saw it
too. They raced towards it, squeezed through the hole and bolted into the field.
The goats had never been in a turnip field before. Excited, they dashed back
and forth, trampling the soil and tearing off the tender turnip tops.
“Oh no!” cried Olwen. “I‟ll get in so much trouble with the farmer. Come back!”
But the goats didn‟t pay any attention to Olwen. They skipped around happily,
devouring any leaves that took their fancy.

17

Olwen squeezed through the hole “I‟m crying because, try as I might, I
in the fence too and tried to herd the can‟t herd the goats out of the turnip
goats onto the lane again. But every field, and the farmer will be so cross.”
time she herded them together, they
turned and ran circles around her. “Hold your tears, girl,” said the fox. “I‟ll
The goats were having a great time. drive those naughty goats out for you.”

Olwen chased and chased them until The fox slunk through the hole and
she could chase them no more. She into the field. It ran after the goats,
was so exhausted, she crawled out snapping at their tails, but they were
through the fence, sat down beside too fast, veering this way and that. No
the lane and began to cry. matter what the fox tried, the goats
would not leave the turnip field.
Just then, a fox came down the lane.
The fox chased and chased them until
“Good morning, Olwen,” said the fox. it could chase them no more, then it
“Why are you crying?” leapt over the fence, sat down by
Olwen and began to cry.

18

Just then, a rabbit hopped down the The rabbit chased and chased them
lane towards them. until it could chase them no more,
then it crept through the hole in the
“Good morning,” said the rabbit. “Why fence, sat down beside Olwen and
are you crying?” the fox and began to cry.

“I‟m crying because Olwen is crying,” Just then, a bee buzzed down the
said the fox. “And Olwen is crying lane towards them.
because, try as she might, she can‟t
herd the goats out of the turnip field.” “Good morning,” said the bee. “Why
are you crying?”
“Oh, don‟t cry over such a silly thing,”
said the rabbit. “I‟ll chase the naughty “I‟m crying because the fox is crying,”
goats out for you.” said the rabbit. “And the fox is crying
because Olwen is crying, and Olwen
So the rabbit hopped through the is crying because, try as she might,
hole in the fence. By now the leafy she can‟t herd the goats out
tops were so trampled, you could of the turnip field.”
hardly tell it was a turnip field. The
rabbit bounded about after the goats,
but they would not leave the field.

19

“Dry your eyes, everyone,” said the neither I nor the fox nor Olwen could
bee. “I‟ll soon get those naughty manage to do it?”
goats out for you.”
“Just you wait and see,” said the bee,
The rabbit tittered, the fox sniggered and it flew over the fence into the
and Olwen gawped. muddy field.

“You‟ll get them out?” cried the rabbit. It went buzz, buzz, buzz in the first goat‟s
“How will a little thing like you herd ear. The goat shook its head, flicked
those goats out of the field when its tail and ran round in circles, but
the bee just stayed put and didn‟t
give up. Buzz, buzz, buzz!

The goat was so frightened, it bolted
through the hole in the fence, then it

ACT IT OUT!

This is a fun and easy story to act out at home or
in the classroom. Print off our character masks to
help you get it just right. We’ve got a goatherd girl,

a fox, a rabbit, a goat and a bee. Visit:

20 storytimemagazine.com/free

sprinted up the lane and went straight jumped right over the fence and
to its pasture, where it belonged. scurried up the lane to join its two
friends in the pasture.
The bee flew to the second goat and
went buzz, buzz, buzz in its ear. The goat Olwen, the fox and the rabbit stopped
kicked and bucked and made itself crying and dried their eyes.
giddy spinning around. Moments later,
it followed the first goat through the “Thank you, little bee,” said Olwen.
hole in the fence and went racing up “We should never have doubted you.”
the lane to its pasture. And she hurried up the lane to make
sure her naughty goats didn‟t get up
Finally, the bee flew into the third to any more mischief.

goat‟s ear and went buzz, buzz, buzz.
The third goat tossed its head and
leapt up in the air in shock. Then it

4251

Favourite Fairy Tales

The Talking Tree

Once upon a time there was a king who thought he owned
all the rarest things in the world. One day a wise man
visited his realm and asked to see his collection.

The wise man studied everything and said, “You
are missing the best thing of all – a talking tree.”
“Have you seen this tree?” asked the king.
“Not only that, but I have heard it speak,” said the
wise man. “It said: „I wait and I wait to be saved
by someone who‟s kind, bold and brave.‟”
“Where was it?”
“East of here, but I can‟t remember exactly where.”
The king decided he must find the talking tree. It
would be the jewel in the crown of his collection.
The next morning, he set out in disguise and
headed east. He travelled for days until, one
night, after setting up camp by a crystal waterfall,
he heard a sad voice say: “I wait and I wait to be
saved by someone who‟s kind, bold and brave.”
The king leapt up and looked around, but
everything was silent. Had he dreamt it?

22

Just then, he noticed a beautiful tree When the witch appeared, she
with elegant, curving branches, and it was short and bony with beady
said: “I wait and I wait to be saved by eyes and a cruel mouth.
someone who‟s kind, bold and brave.”
“Who were you talking to just now?”
“I have never heard a talking tree,” asked the witch.
said the king. “How can you speak?”
“Myself,” answered the tree.
“I was a princess,” said the tree, sadly.
“I was out riding when I stopped to “But I see footprints!”
take a sip from these waters and a
wicked witch cursed me.” “Perhaps they belong to you.”

“How can I save you?” The witch shrieked angrily, but this
gave the king an idea. He crept out
“You must break the curse. But beware from his hiding place and began to
– the witch will be here soon and she follow the witch‟s footprints to her lair.
will put you under the same spell.” Perhaps he could wait for her there
and take her by surprise.
The king heard footsteps and quickly
hid behind a bush. However, a thick, enchanted fog
fell around him and he soon
became quite lost.

23

“Oh, what
tasty flesh
I smell!” said
the ogre. “Humans
must be nearby!”

“A little boy went by earlier
and I ate him,” lied the maiden.

When at last the “Well done!” said her father proudly.
fog cleared, the king “I hope I have the same luck today.”
spotted an ogre maiden
picking forest herbs. The ogre plodded on and, when it was
safe, the king came out of hiding.
“Dear maiden,” he said, “can you
tell me how to get out of this forest, “What are you doing in these parts?”
please? I have lost my way.” asked the maiden. The king described
his meeting with the talking tree and
“Poor fellow! You‟re in ogre country. told her he was trying to find the witch‟s
My father will be here shortly, and lair when he got lost in the fog.
he will most certainly eat you up!”
“I know that old witch,” said the maiden.
The king heard ogre footsteps thudding “I can help you break the curse.”
through the trees and searched for a
place to hide. The maiden, admiring She had fallen in love with the king
his handsome looks, took pity on him. and wanted to impress him, so she led
him to her father‟s mansion. There, she
“Come here!” she cried. “I will hide you took a pot of ointment from a cupboard
under my skirt. Don‟t even breathe.” and smeared some on him.

When the ogre saw his daughter, he “This charm will help you find the tree
asked, “Why are you sitting there?” and this enchanted axe will free the
princess.” Quickly, she rubbed
24 “I‟m just resting a while,” she said. a different ointment along the
edge of its blade.

“What‟s that for?” asked the king. “I need to chop down this
tree for firewood,” said the king.
“It‟s just to keep the axe sharp,” she
said. “Come and see me again soon.” “That tree belongs to me, but you
may have it if you strike exactly
The king thanked the ogre maiden where I tell you. Strike here,” said
and set off to find the talking tree. the cunning witch, pointing low.

He found the tree again with ease and But, instead, the king struck high.
told the princess his plan. She said,
“My heart is hidden in my trunk. When The witch looked cross. “Strike here,”
you cut me down, don‟t listen to what she said, pointing at where the
the witch says. If she tells you to strike princess‟s heart was.
high, strike low. If she tells you to strike
low, strike high. Then be sure to cut off But, instead, the king struck low.
her head, or she will enchant you too.”
The witch shrieked and flew into
Just then the witch hobbled into the a rage. She started to mumble
clearing. “What are you doing in these a curse, but before she could
parts, stranger?” she asked the king. turn the king into a tree too, he
swung the magic axe at her.

The witch vanished and the
curse was instantly broken.

25

fo ul

–
he

HIftftEN TREASURE

The princess’s crown is hidden

somewhere in this picture. Colour

in the jewel when you find it.

However, the king barely noticed that Unable to hold her tongue any longer,
the princess was still made of wood. one of the ladies-in-waiting said to
He took her to his castle and sent the king, “Please, Your Majesty, the
a messenger to her kingdom to let princess is made entirely of wood!”
her parents know that she was safe.
“Perhaps the charm you were given
In the following days, everyone in the prevents you from seeing it,” said a
castle was charmed by the princess, minister. “And perhaps the princess
but they could not stop talking about is still under a curse.”
her wooden face and hands.
Then the king remembered the two
Meanwhile, the king busied himself ointments the ogre‟s daughter had
organising a celebration for when the smeared on him and the axe.
princess‟s parents arrived.
“The ogre maiden tricked me,” he
On the day of the feast, as ladies-in- declared. “The princess‟s parents
waiting dressed the princess, they cannot see their daughter like this.
were astonished that her body was I must go to the forest again. I will
wooden too. She was a living doll! return before they arrive.”

IMAGINE IT!

If trees could talk, what do you think
they would say? Write a paragraph of

an imaginary conversation

between two trees.

The king rode to the ogre maiden‟s “Thief!” she screamed, but her father
mansion. She was delighted to see was too far away to hear her cries.
him. “Back so soon?” she said.
On his return, the king rubbed the
“Yes, I have come for you, my dear,” magic ointment over the princess‟s
said the king. hands. She instantly returned to
her normal state – just in time for
The ogre maiden was thrilled. Her her parents to arrive and for the
trick had worked and now she could celebration feast to begin.
trap him there forever!
So the king didn‟t get a talking tree
“Here is the axe you gave me,” said to add to his collection, but he did
the king. But, as he handed it to her, he put an end to a wicked witch and
deliberately pricked her finger with it. a scheming ogre maiden – and
he saved a princess.
“Ah, what have you done?” cried the
maiden. “I‟m turning into wood!” Needless to say, he never dared
set foot in ogre country again!
“Oh, no!” said the king. “How clumsy
of me. Is there no cure?”

“Yes,” said the maiden, “there‟s a pot
of blue ointment in that cupboard.
Rub it on my hands to cure me.”

So the king grabbed the ointment
and said, “Thank you!” Then he
raced to his castle, leaving the
ogre maiden to turn into wood.

29

Around the World Tales

Little Chick and
the Big Sneeze

Somewhere in a barn in Myanmar a little chick was squeaking
and squawking at his mother for food.

“I‟m so bored of eating grain,
Mummy. Please can we have
some steamed rice cake?”

“Stop being so noisy!” said
his mother. “Do you want the
old cat to hear you? She was
prowling around here earlier
and you know how much she
likes to catch little chicks in
her claws. Anyway, we don‟t
have any firewood. We need
to leave the barn to get it.”

The little chick nagged and
begged his mother so much,
she finally gave in. “Fine,” she
said, checking it was safe to
go outside. “I‟ll fetch the rice
grains and prepare the pot.
You go and collect
some firewood.

30

But be on your guard for that
sneaky old cat!”

So the little chick tiptoed out of
the barn. He had only just begun
gathering firewood when the old
cat leapt out and caught him in
her claws. The cat licked her lips.

“Please don‟t eat me,” begged
the little chick. “I‟m nothing but
bones and feathers. I don‟t taste
good at all. My mother is making
a delicious steamed rice cake for
me. I promise to share it with you
if you let me go.”

Well, who can resist a sticky
steamed rice cake? Dreaming
of a full belly, the old cat let the
little chick go and watched him
run back to the barn, carrying a
bundle of twigs in his beak.

Soon enough, the mother hen
had a roaring fire going. She
wrapped up the rice cake and
placed it in the pot to steam.
A delicious aroma filled the
whole barn and made the little
chick feel so hungry that when
the rice cake was ready, he
gulped it down in one go.

31

Only after he had scoffed the whole They ran around the barn trying to
thing did the little chick remember his find somewhere to hide. At last, they
promise to the cat. “Oh, Mummy. I told found a big jar with a narrow neck.
the cat I would share my rice cake It was just wide enough to squeeze
with her, but I was so hungry, I ate it through, so they pushed their way
all. Can you make another, please?” inside. It was dark and dusty in there.

But there was no rice left to make one “As long as we are quiet, the cat
with. At that moment, the cat scratched will never find us,” she said, so they
at the barn door. waited inside the jar, hardly daring
to breathe.
“What‟s that I can smell, little chick? Is
it my rice cake? I‟m coming to get it.” When the cat clawed her way into
the barn and found the rice cake
“Quick!” said the mother hen. “The cat had been eaten, she was angry.
will be furious. We must hide or she‟ll She prowled around looking for
eat us both.” the little chick and his mother.

32

“Little chick, little chick!” called the cat, The little chick trembled some more
searching behind the bales of hay. “I‟ll and said, “Mummy, I need to sneeze.”
eat you for my dinner instead.”
“You can‟t!” said his mother. “The cat
The little chick trembled and ruffled is close by now.”
his feathers nervously, which stirred
up the dust and tickled his nostrils. “Little chick, little chick!” called the
cat, searching right next to the jug
“Mummy,” he whispered urgently, they were hiding in. “I know you‟re
“I need to sneeze.” around here somewhere.”

“You mustn‟t!” said his mother. “Be This made the little chick tremble
quiet or the cat will find us.” even more and he said, “Mummy,
I‟m desperate to sneeze!”
“Little chick, little chick!” called the cat,
checking inside an old tractor wheel. His mother became so irritated, she
“I‟m hungry and I‟m going to find you.” said, “Go ahead and sneeze then!”

33

So that‟s what the little chick did – “Ach-ooooo!”

He sneezed so hard that the jug exploded, scattering
pieces all over the barn. In fact, the sneeze was so noisy,
the cat thought the clever little chick had fired a gun! She
bolted out of the barn and never bothered the chickens again.

The little chick went on to eat steamed rice cakes every day and
grew up to be a fine cockerel. In fact, he lived so long he was able
to tell this tale to his great-great-great-grandchildren!

Storyland Adventures

Puss in Boots
and the Troll

Soon after Puss in Boots won the ogre’s castle for his master,
he decided to seek his own fortune. That’s how he ended up in
Storyland, running everyone’s favourite shoe shop, Happy Feet.

Puss‟s handmade boots were all the rage among the princes, and he also did a
roaring trade with the twelve dancing princesses, who came by every week for
replacement dance shoes. Teaching at their dance studio, Slippers, meant they
wore through their soles very quickly.
One day, as Puss in Boots handed over twelve new sets of ballet shoes to the
youngest dancing princess, Giselle, he asked, “What do you do with all your
old ballet shoes?”
“Oh, we throw them away,” she said, stacking the new shoes in her basket.

35

“Such a waste!” sighed Puss. A big green troll was stooping in the
doorway. Puss‟s fur stood on end. The
“I‟m sorry,” said Gisele, “but it‟s our troll crammed his bulky body into the
passion. We just can‟t stop dancing! shop. His head brushed the ceiling and
I‟m teaching ballroom this evening – he had reeds tangled in his hair.
come and learn some new moves.”
“Can… can I help you?” asked Puss.
“I‟d love to,” said Puss. “I‟ll see how His voice trembled.
busy I get today.”
The troll blushed. “Yes please, Mr
“Well, don‟t forget we need twelve Boots. I‟ve been invited to a wedding
pairs of tap shoes for tomorrow too.” and I don‟t own any shoes. You don‟t
really need them when you live under
Puss had forgotten. “Oh dear, I‟ll get a bridge, you see.”
started right away.”
Puss in Boots looked down at the
Puss gathered his materials and, all troll‟s huge hairy feet. “Green feet!” he
morning, he purred happily as he cried. “How unusual.” His paws shook
cobbled and sewed. He was just as he measured the troll‟s feet.
finishing the final pair of tap
shoes when he heard someone The troll leant over and picked up a
clearing his throat gruffly. tap shoe. “It‟s so dainty,” he said.

“Yes, they‟re for the twelve dancing
princesses who own the dance studio.
Do you know it?”

The troll looked sad. “No, this is the
first time I‟ve ever come into town,

36

actually. People tend to run away “Your shoes will be ready by the end
screaming when they see me.” of today,” said Puss.

“Oh dear,” said Puss, trying to quell “I can‟t wait!” said the troll, squeezing
his own desire to bolt. out of the shop again.

“I‟ve always wanted to come,” said But Puss in Boots soon regretted
the troll, “and I‟d love to try dancing, promising to make them so quickly.
especially as I‟ll probably need to When he opened his storeroom, he
do it at the wedding. But I don‟t think realised that he‟d used up all his
they‟d teach a big oaf like me.” materials on the tap shoes. There
was only enough left to make soles.
Puss in Boots suddenly felt sorry for
the troll. He showed him some shoe Puss panicked. Maybe the troll
styles and they decided to go for wouldn‟t be quite so friendly if he
something sturdy but smart. didn‟t get what he wanted!

Puss grabbed the tap shoes he‟d just planning to stitch one big, smart,
made and rushed over to Slippers sturdy pair – a pair fit for a troll.
Dance Studio to deliver them. Giselle
was at the reception desk. When the troll returned later that day,
Puss presented his creation. “The best
“Giselle, have you thrown away your recycled shoes in Storyland!” he said,
old tap shoes yet?” then gulped nervously.

“No, they‟re by the bin,” she said. The troll stared at them for a while
then smiled. “Tremendous!” he said.
“Can I take them, please? I have a “Can I try them on?”
problem to solve… a big problem!”
Puss showed him how to tie the laces,
Giselle loaded the old shoes into and the troll walked up and down the
Puss‟s arms, then he raced back to shop in two large strides.
Happy Feet as quickly as he could.
“They feel strange,” said the troll,
Once there, he took the shoes apart sounding disappointed.
one by one. As he suspected, the
soles were worn out, but the upper “That‟s because you‟ve never worn
parts were still perfect. shoes before,” explained Puss. “Don‟t
worry, I know how to soften them up.”
Puss set to work without delay. From
twelve pairs of old tap shoes, he was

38

A few minutes later, Puss in Boots and the troll were in Slippers Dance Studio
getting ready for Giselle‟s ballroom dancing class.
“I‟m not sure I‟m going to be very good at this,” said the troll, looking awkward.
“Don‟t be silly. You‟re going to be the best dancer at the wedding,” said Puss.
“Your shoes are made from old dancing shoes – they‟ll know just what to do.”
So, with a huge grin and arm in arm with a dancing princess, the troll waltzed
off across the room, trying not to tread on anyone‟s feet. Meanwhile, Puss
pranced around like a pro!

im

.

SednaMyths and Legends

the Sea Goddess

Sedna lived with her father in an Inuit village in the Arctic.
She was a healthy and beautiful young woman and many
men wanted to marry her, but she always refused.

Eventually her father grew impatient. “Life is comfortable, but you can‟t stay
here forever. You have turned down many fine suitors for no reason. You will
have to marry the next man who asks you.”
A few weeks later, a cloaked stranger came to the village. He visited Sedna‟s
home and promised to give her all the food, comfort and furs she desired if only
she would marry him. Sedna‟s father was impressed and Sedna happily agreed
to marry the stranger.

40

The next day, she said farewell to her One day, Sedna‟s father decided
father and left with her new husband to pay her a visit. With the village‟s
for their island home. They travelled strongest hunters paddling his kayak,
far across the sea. When they arrived, he set off across the sea.
Sedna‟s husband removed his cloak
to reveal that he was not a man – he When Sedna saw him coming, her
had the head and wings of a raven! heart was filled with hope. She
ran to the shore to meet him.
Sedna was angered by his trick, but
the sea was too treacherous for her “Don‟t get out, Father, we must
to escape. She had no choice but to escape from here!”
stay with the birdman.
“Where is your husband?” he asked.
There were no warm furs or comforts
as he had promised – just a nest on “He‟s hunting, but he isn‟t a man. He
the cliff‟s edge and only fish to eat. is half-bird and we live in a nest with
The wind howled all day and night. no shelter from the winds.”
She was cold and miserable.
Sedna pointed out their nest. Her
father was outraged.

41

“Quick, get in before he comes back,” hunters, and scratched and pecked
said her father. Sedna and her father.

Sedna leapt into the kayak and they They flapped their wings so hard that
paddled away. enormous waves swelled up, which
crashed over the kayak, sweeping
“Go faster!” Sedna shouted at the Sedna into the cold sea. She swam to
hunters. But they weren‟t fast enough. the surface, gasping for air. She clung
to the kayak, but it almost capsized.
The birdman had returned early and,
when he found Sedna was missing, he “No, Sedna!” cried her father. “You‟ll
circled in the sky looking for her. When kill us all and the village will starve
he spotted her escaping, he let out a without any hunters.”
terrible shriek and summoned all the
sea birds to his aid.

The birds and the birdman swooped
down on the kayak. They clawed the

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The stormy waters raged around her,
but Sedna clung on tightly.

“Please return to your husband,”
wailed her father. He was so scared,
he called to the birdman, “Take her!”

But Sedna was determined to escape.

At that moment, the birdman flew down.
In fear, her father took his paddle and
struck Sedna‟s fingers to make her
let go. Her fingertips broke away
and turned into seals, bobbing in
the water beside her.

She held on tightly and her father
struck her fingers again. This time,
the middles of her fingers broke
away and changed into walruses.

Still Sedna hung on. Her father, now
weeping with remorse, struck her knuckles
and they dived into the sea as whales.

Unable to hold on any longer, Sedna sank to the bottom of the ocean, where
she became a powerful sea goddess and the mother of all sea creatures.
Today, when there is a storm, the Inuit people say it is Sedna – still angry
at her father and the birdman.

Storytime

Draw your dream pet, make an awesome Not a Robot, untangle
seals from Sedna’s hair, and help the troll on his travels!

The talking tree is trying to tell you

1 TALK TO something. Fill in the missing vowels

A TREE to work out what it is saying.

BR K TH

C RS T

S T M FR

2 Which animal tried to
help Olwen herd the
naughty goats first?

b. Rabbit

44 a. Bee c. Fox



5 PERFECTDraw your dream pet here.
Get some inspiration from
PET our Alphabet Pet Shop poem.

6 SEDNA’S How many seals are tangled in
Sedna’s the sea goddess’s hair?
SEAL TANGLE Write your answer in the box.

7 SPOT IT!

Obasi’s two-coloured coat is hidden
somewhere on our Playbox pages.
Decorate this T-shirt – one half
in blue and the other half in
red – when you find it. Why
not make it patterned?