Storytime - Issue 65 (January 2020)

plastic free!





M
















































RUN RABBIT RUN! Will he

reach Wonderland on time?
































i

QUEEN INANNA Meet the most

powerful woman in the world








Mission to the Moon








The Happy Prince, The Twelve Months,



The Sleepy Giant, a Wise Parrot & MORE!

“Always be careful what you wish for.”

Reading together




makes readers forever!














Start the year with stories




that let your creativity, hopes



and dreams take flight!





SPOT IT! This issue belongs to:




Find me hanging out

somewhere in your



mag zi .



















S ytime™ magazine is published ILLUSTRATORS:

every month by Storytime Magazine Ltd, Brian Fitzgerald The Sleepy Giant
Technopark, 90 London Rd, London, SE1 6LN. Giorgia Broseghini The Fox and the
White Rabbit
© Storytime Magazine Ltd, 2020. All rights
Eugene Smolenceva The Twelve Months
reserved. No part of this magazine may be
Giovanni Abeille The Fairy Borrowing
used or reproduced without prior written
Chris Borges The Wise Parrot
permission of the publisher. Printed by
Geraldine Rodriguez Mission to the Moon
Gemini Print.
Chiara Nocentini The Happy Prince

Alex Herrarias The Queen of Everything
Creative Director: Lulu Skantze
Commercial Director: Leslie Coathup



Storytime and its paper suppliers have
Z]]h bh\]j]h\]hnes []lnbƄ]\ bh Adventures from Wales, the Czech
accordance with the rules of the FSC®
(Forest Stewardship Council)®.
Republic & Ancient Mesopotamia!

Read happily ever af







oems and Rhymes Tales from Tod





The Sleepy Giant Mission to the Moon 24
6 Clever Connor jumps at the


By Charles Edward Carryl. Can a
boy-eating `bXhn [aXh`] abm qb[d]\ ijjilnohbns i^ X eb^]nbg] ӕ
qXsmҶ Bbh\ ion bh nabm ^oh ji]gұ to travel in space. OUR COVER STORY


Storyland Adventures Favourite Fairy Tales





The Fox and the White The Happy Prince

8 By Oscar Wilde. A touching tale
Rabbit


Qa] XZion dbh\h]mm Xh\ `bpbh`ҫ
] Tabn] OXZZbn bm lohhbh` eXn] Xh\
hi only route is via a fox’s ferry service.

ound the World Tales Myths and Legends





he Twelve Months The Queen of Everyt ing

12

hen Maruska’s mean stepsister Fh Xh[b]hn J]mijinXgbXҮ Xh
m]nm a]l Xh bgjimmbZe] nXmdҮ ma] XgZbnbiom `i\\]mm nlb[dm a]l

gets some magical help.
father into giving her powers.

Stor teller’s Corner Storytime Playbox




The F JXd] siol iqh giih m]eƄ]Ү
Fairy Borrowing
18 \lXq X jXllinҮ Xh\ ^]]\ iol

?Xls miep] iol mnilsӒna]g]\ jouue]mҮ
\bm[ip]lm sio maioe\ Z]
caref hungry giant.
ful what you wish for in this
folk tale from Wales.


amous Fablesa Story Ma c





The Wise Parrot C]n bhmjbl]\ Zs iol l]X\bh`


nbihm Xh\ ]h`X`] l]X\]lm
A man buys a parrot wit an
th t o fantastic new books.
XgXubh` nXe]hn ^il Ƅh\bh `ie\ ӕ

or so he thinks!
Have a go at our big

Storytime word search! PAGE 47!

A SHOPFUL OF STORIES!









CATCH UP ON OUR





BACK-ISSUE BUNDLES













































































PLUS BOOKS, PRINTS



AND TIDY BOXES!








VISIT STORYTIMEMAGAZINE.COM/SHOP




FOR EXCLUSIVE STORYTIME MERCHANDISE!

Poems and Rhymes


The Sleepy Giant















By Charles Edward Carryl






My age is three hundred and seventy-two,



And I think, with the deepest regret,



How I used to pick up and voraciously chew



The dear little boys whom I met.





I’ve eaten them raw in their holiday suits,



I’ve eaten them curried with rice,



I’ve eaten them baked in their jackets and boots,



And found them exceedingly nice.




















































6

But now that my jaws are too weak for such fare,



I think it exceedingly rude



To do such a thing, when I’m quite well aware



Little boys do not like to be chewed.






And so I contentedly live upon eels,


And try to do nothing amiss.




And I pass all the time I can spare from my meals


In innocent slumber like this.















































































7

Storyland Adventures








The Fox and the











White Rabbit













“ h, my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!” White

O Rabbit was running late for a meeting in Wonderland


and he had to reach his rabbit hole as quickly as possible.





“Oh, my dear paws!” cried the rabbit, checking his golden pocket watch for

the umpteenth time. He popped it back in his waistcoat and frowned. “I’ll


never get to Wonderland on time if I have to go over Troll Bridge.”



























































8

Troll Bridge was White Rabbit’s usual route across the river. In fact, it was the

route every animal in Storyland took when they wanted to reach the Magic


Meadows – even if it did take longer to reach their destination. That’s because

it was much safer to bump into the troll than the sly fox who operated the ferry.




“Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be so late. What shall I do?”



White Rabbit knew he couldn’t risk upsetting the Queen of Hearts. He took a

deep breath, hopped up to Fox’s Ferry Hire and rang the bell.




The fox stuck a curious nose out of the door. His eyes lit up when he saw

White Rabbit. “How can I help you, my friend?” he asked, licking his lips.



“I need to reach the other side of the river as soon as possible or I shall be


terribly late,” said White Rabbit, twitching his nose nervously.



“Of course, I can take you straight away,” said the fox. He placed a paw in

the water and, with a crafty look in his eyes, he said, “My boat has sprung


a leak but jump onto my tail and I’ll ferry you across.”



White Rabbit was certain the fox was lying about his boat. He hesitated for


a moment. His fur trembled, but he knew he had no choice.



















































9

“Come on,” said the cunning fox. “You Mr Rabbit – you’re heavier than

don’t want to be late, do you?” I thought. Can you jump onto my


shoulders instead?”
White Rabbit timidly stepped onto

the fox’s bushy tail. The fox began So White Rabbit jumped onto the


paddling across the river. fox’s shoulders, muttering, “Oh dear!

Oh dear! What have I done?”
They hadn’t gone far when the fox

shouted over his shoulder, “You’re far The fox swam on and then shouted


too heavy for my tail, Mr Rabbit. Can over his shoulder, “It’s no good, Mr

you jump onto my back instead?” Rabbit – you’re too heavy and the


current is getting stronger. Can you
So White Rabbit jumped onto the fox’s
jump onto my nose instead?”
back, wishing he’d never agreed to

na] lb\] bh na] Ƅlmn jeX[]ҫ The other side of the river was too far


XqXs ^il Tabn] OXZZbn ni e]Xj iƂҫ PiҮ
The fox swam a little further and then
with his heart pounding, he jumped
shouted over his shoulder, “I’m sorry,
onto the fox’s nose.




10

The fox swam on for a little longer. side of the riverbank and his body

As they neared the other side of the stretched the whole way across the


river, he suddenly jerked his head up water like a big foxy bridge.

in an attempt to knock White Rabbit
“What’s happening?” cried the fox as
over. Then he opened his jaws wide
White Rabbit bounded across his huge
to gobble up his passenger.
back, along his extra-long leg, and

But White Rabbit was prepared! He hopped onto the riverbank.


swiftly pulled a tiny bottle out of his
The clever rabbit took one last look at
waistcoat pocket. It had the words
his pocket watch and bolted towards
‘Drink Me’ written on the label. White
his hole, shouting, “Thank you for the
Rabbit uncorked it and poured the
ride, Mr Fox! The potion should wear
contents into the fox’s gaping mouth.
iƂ bh Xh aiol il nqiҫӃ


The fox coughed and spluttered and
=h\ naXn qXm na] Ƅlmn nbg] Xhsih]
suddenly began to grow larger and
in Storyland outfoxed the fox!
larger. Soon his paws reached each



















































Next time: A small but mighty




hero braves Storyland's secret cave!

Around the World Tales




The Twelve MonThs











nce in the Czech Republic there was a widow with two


Odaughters – her own child, Helena, whom she loved

dearly, and her stepdaughter, Maruska, whom she disliked.




The widow was so jealous of Maruska’s beauty and kindness, she gave her


all the housework to do and hardly anything to eat. Meanwhile, lazy Helena

bullied Maruska and ate cakes all day. She wished she could get rid of her.




One bleak January day, the widow was talking about how she longed to smell

sweet spring violets again. This gave Helena an idea. Smiling slyly, she said,


“Maruska, go into the forest and pick some violets for Mother.”



“But, dear sister, violets can’t grow under the snow,” said Maruska.



“How dare you question me? Do as I say or my mother and I will


throw you out!” shrieked Helena.



Helena and the widow pushed Maruska out of the door and slammed it shut.
















































12

Maruska shivered as she trudged January nodded. “Why are you all

through the snow. She knew she had alone in the snowy forest, little girl?”


no hope of finding violets in the forest.
“I’m looking for violets,” she answered.

After a while, she saw a glowing light.

It was a roaring fire in the middle of a “But violets don’t grow in winter,”


clearing and twelve men were sitting said January.

around it. Three of them were very old “I know, but my stepsister said


and had long white hair, three were I must pick some. If I don’t, she

not quite as old and had red hair, and will throw me out of our home.


three had long golden hair and were Please, do you know where I might

younger still. The three youngest had find some?” begged Maruska.

glowing skin and shining eyes.

January stood up and handed his

They were the Twelve Months of the club to the younger month, March.

year. Great January, with his snow- “Take my seat, brother,” he said.


white hair, was sitting on a throne

holding a heavy club. March sat down and waved the
club over the fire. It blazed brightly.

Maruska plucked up her courage to Suddenly, the snow melted, trees


speak to them. “Please, kind sirs, may began to bud and daisies peeped

I warm my hands at your fire?” through the grass. It was spring!

A carpet of sweet violets sprang “Go to the forest again, Maruska.

up. March smiled and said, “Pick them I am craving fresh strawberries.”


quickly, Maruska!”
“But, sister, strawberries don’t grow

Maruska picked a posy, thanked the in the snow!” said Maruska.


Twelve Months with all her heart, and

ran merrily home. “Don’t answer back! Pick me some
strawberries or I’ll throw you out!”

When her stepsister and stepmother


saw her, they couldn’t believe it. Forced into the snow again, Maruska
trudged into the forest. She was so

“Where did you find those flowers?” happy to find the Twelve Months still

asked Helena, grabbing the violets. seated around the fire.




“In a forest clearing,” said Maruska. “Please, kind sirs, can you help

me again?” she asked.




January nodded.
Helena sulked all night, but the next


day she came up with a spiteful new “My stepsister said I must bring her

plan to get rid of Maruska. strawberries. If I don’t, she will throw









14

me out of our home,” said Maruska, “Where did you find these juicy

wiping a tear from her eye. strawberries?” asked Helena,


grasping them greedily.
January rose and handed his club to

young June. “Take my seat, brother.” “In a forest clearing,” said Maruska.



June sat on the throne and swung the Without any thanks, the stepsister


club over the fire. The flames roared and stepmother wolfed them down.

and melted the snow. Instantly, the


trees were covered with leaves and

the forest was filled with beautiful The next morning, scheming Helena


wild flowers. It was summer! said, “Maruska, go to the forest and

fetch me some red apples.”
Hundreds of ripe red strawberries

dotted the forest floor. June said, “But, sister, how can I pick apples in


“Pick them quickly, Maruska!” winter?” protested Maruska.



Maruska filled her apron, thanked the “Don’t argue! Pick me some apples

Twelve Months, and ran merrily home. or it’s the end of you!”




Her stepsister and stepmother were She shoved Maruska outside. Once

shocked to see Maruska return. more, she fought her way through


the snow into the forest.















































15

This time, Maruska went straight to them up, thanked the Twelve Months

the Twelve Months. for their help, and ran merrily home.




“Please, kind sirs, my stepsister has Her stepsister and stepmother were

threatened my life if I don’t bring her amazed to see Maruska again.


some red apples. Can you help me?”
ӂTa]l] \b\ sio Ƅh\ naim] Xjje]mҶӃ


January nodded and handed his club asked Helena, snatching them away.

to September. “Take my seat, brother.”
“In a forest clearing,” said Maruska.


September sat down and raised the
“Why did you only bring two? Did
[eoZ ip]l na] Ƅl]ҫ Qa] ƇXg]m Ƈb[d]l]\
you eat the rest?” snapped Helena.
wildly and the snow began to melt.


Suddenly, the leaves turned golden “No, sister! I shook the tree and only

and ivy scrambled up the tree trunks. two apples fell down,” cried Maruska.




A nearby tree became heavy with Helena and the widow bit into their

ripe apples. “Shake the tree quickly, apples and their eyes lit up. They


Maruska!” said September, smiling. had never tasted anything quite so

\]eb[biomҫ Ta]h na]s aX\ Ƅhbma]\Ү
Maruska shook the tree, and two
they felt desperate for more.
ripe apples fell down. She picked


















































16

Greedy Helena grabbed her coat. Helena soon lost her way, tumbling


“Mother, we can’t trust this little thief. into one thick snowdrift after another.

I’ll fetch us some more apples.” After many hours, her body grew

mnbƂ Xh\ ma] Z]`Xh ni ^l]]u]ҫ
Helena walked into the forest. The


snow was deep and the way was The greedy stepmother waited for

hard, but she eventually found the a long time for Helena. At last she

clearing where the Twelve Months said, “I bet she’s keeping the apples


sat. She pushed her way through all to herself.” So she put on her coat

na]g ni qXlg a]l aXh\m ih na] Ƅl]ҫ and went out to get her share.




“Why are you all alone in the snowy Maruska waited and waited while

forest, little girl?” asked January. the storm raged on, but she never


saw her stepsister or stepmother
“Mind your own business, you fool!”
again. January had given them
E]e]hX m[iqe]\ Xh\ gXl[a]\ iƂҫ
icy bodies to match their hearts.


January realised who she was and
At last, Maruska was free of her
swung his club around. Immediately,
bullies and she lived happily
thick grey clouds gathered in the sky
ever after.
and heavy snow began to fall.


















































DRAW IT! Draw the woodland clearing where Maruska


found snow, violets, strawberries and apples on our Four Seasons
Drawing Sheet. Download it from storytimemagazine.com/free

Storyteller’s Corner








The Fairy












Borrowing













arys Williams was the best baker in Wales. The aroma


Cof her freshly baked bread wafted from her kitchen


and made mouths water for miles around.



As Carys loved baking, she had every piece of equipment you could ever wish


for – every tin, pan, mould and bowl in every shape and size. She was proud of

her skills and her well-stocked kitchen, but she soon came to regret them.

You see, her cottage was by the hill instead she found a fairy

where the fairy folk lived and they waiting on her doorstep. “Can I


were constantly troubling her for one borrow your baking stone, please?”

thing or another. “Can we borrow a asked the little fairy.


tray?” “Can we use a pan?” “Can we
This put Carys in a terrible mood.
borrow a tin?” “We’ll bring them back!”
“Very well!” she snapped. “But on

It got so confusing that Carys barely one condition – you must grant


knew whether her precious baking g] nqi qbma]mҫ Qa] Ƅlmn nabh` F

equipment was coming or going. touch when I leave the house in


the morning will break in two and
As time went by, her patience wore
na] Ƅlmn nabh` F nio[a qa]h F `i
thin and her temper grew worse.
back inside will double in length.”


One day she wanted to bake her
It was an odd request, but the wee
favourite fruit cake, but she couldn’t
fairy agreed. She twitched her
– the fairies had her cake tin.
nose, muttered a spell and


She went to chop some wood for her sprinkled some fairy dust.

Ƅl]Ү aijbh` na] nbh qioe\ Z] l]nolh]\

by the time she came home, but




















































19

Carys was pleased. There was a big “Ouch!” she yelped. Her hand shot

boulder by her front door, which had towards her toe to rub it better and,


always been in her way. If it broke in as soon as she touched it, it broke.

half, she could move it easily. She
As Carys limped back inside, her
also had some fabric that was too
foot gave way. She fell forward and
short to be useful. If she had double
Zogj]\ a]l him] ih na] Ƈiilҫ
the length, she could make a smart


new coat or dress with it. “Ouch!” she cried and stroked her


injured nose. Straight away, it shot
The next morning, Carys stepped out
out and doubled in length!
to touch the boulder but, on the way,

she tripped over the edge of her Poor Carys! That’s how she learnt

doormat and stubbed her big toe. that you should always be careful


what you wish for. WrITE IT!
















Write down one wish

you’d ask the fairies
for. Remember to
Z] mj][bƄ[ұ















































20





Famous Fables







The Wise Parrot














nce a young lady bought a fine red parrot so she could teach

Ohim how to speak. The first thing she taught the bird to say was,


“No doubt about it”.




One night, while her neighbours were sleeping, the young lady sneaked out of


her house and buried money all over the village.



The next morning, she paraded through the streets with her parrot perched on


her arm, boasting, “My parrot is so wise, he can show me where to dig for money.”



Whenever she reached a place where she had buried some coins, she said,

“Wise parrot, if I dig here, will I find some coins?”




























































21

COUNT IT!





The lady has dropped



Without hesitation, the parrot bobbed some of her gold coins.
How many can you
count? Write your
his head up and down and said, “No answer here.

doubt about it.”



Then the lady dug up the money


and showed it to anyone who was

watching. A crowd soon began to “That’s a lot of money!” cried the man.

gather around her. “But look what he can do! You’re worth


every penny, aren’t you, my feathered
A man saw the display and thought,

“Wow! If I had that parrot, I would be friend?” asked the young lady.


rich.” So he asked the owner, “Is “No doubt about it,” squawked the

your parrot for sale?” parrot loudly.



“He’s very precious to me, but I would The man was convinced. He gave the


be willing to sell him for one thousand lady one thousand gold pieces and

gold pieces,” said the young lady. left with the parrot on his shoulder.

The next day, he took the parrot out to “Oh, what a fool I was to

search for money. Every few minutes, pay a thousand pieces of gold


he asked, “If I dig here, will I find gold?” for you,” he said to the parrot.



Every time, the parrot bobbed his head The parrot bobbed his head and

and said, “No doubt about it.” answered, “No doubt about it.”




But even though the man dug as deep The man couldn’t help laughing. “Well,

as he could, he didn’t find any gold. at least you told the truth that time. If I


After hours of digging, he realised want to make money, I guess I’ll have

he had been tricked. to do it through good honest work.”




“No doubt about it,” agreed the parrot

– and for the second time that day he

told the truth!





































Answer: There are 6 gold coins.


































23

Tales from Today






Mission to the Moon











onnor grinned all the way home from the Space Centre. He’d


Cseen actual rockets and a lunar lander. He’d stepped inside


a space module and he’d mined through moon rock.




He’d even taken the trainee astronaut

challenge – and he did so well, the man


at the museum gave him a special

badge with ‘NASA’ printed on it!



As a treat, when they got home, Dad


dished up freeze-dried ice cream in

a packet, just like real astronauts eat!


“Delicious!” said Connor.



They were finishing it off when there was

a knock at the door. It was a serious-


looking woman wearing a dark suit.



“Can I come in, please, Mr Bennett?”




“Who are you?” asked Dad.



“Commander Morgan. I’m with the

European Space Agency. I have an


urgent matter to discuss with you.” She

flashed an ID badge and Dad let her in.



Connor gulped. He wished he hadn’t


touched that moon buggy control panel

next to the ‘Do Not Touch’ sign.







24

“Pleased to meet you, Connor,” said Commander Morgan. “Did you have a good


time at the Space Centre today?”



“How did you know we were there and how did you find us?” asked Dad.




“I’m afraid we planted a small tracking device on you,” said Commander Morgan,

pointing at Connor’s new NASA badge.



Connor looked at it, amazed. “I only touched the control panel for a few seconds.


I didn’t press any buttons, I promise!” he cried.



Dad looked baffled and Commander Morgan laughed.


“I’m not here about that, Connor. I’m here because you

aced the trainee astronaut challenge. You got the highest

score we’ve ever seen, in fact. We’re in urgent need of


someone smart like you for our next moon mission.”



Connor looked at Dad suspiciously. “Is this a prank?”



“No!” said Dad, gawping at Commander Morgan. “He’s


eight. Eight-year-old boys can’t go to space!”



“Why not?” asked Commander Morgan. “Most eight-year-


olds know more about space than adults do, Mr Bennett.













































25

Plus Connor’s the perfect size. The next four weeks whizzed past.

Part of a space probe fell off and Connor had zero gravity training and


it’s lodged in a rocky moon crevice. space walk training in a deep pool.

Adults can’t access it. We’ll give him He learnt how to operate a robotic


world-class training and he’ll be back arm and drive a lunar buggy. It was

in a week. What do you say?” hard work, but so much fun.



“Yes!” cried Connor, but Dad looked


horrified. “Please, Dad,” he begged.
On the day of the launch, Connor’s
“I’ll be an astronaut – it’s my dream!”
dad came to wish him luck.

“We’ve been doing this for many
“I’ll be okay,” said Connor, already in
years,” added the commander. “A
his space suit. “I’ll be with Commander
clever boy like Connor will be fine.”
Morgan. This is her tenth mission.”


Dad was dumbfounded, but Connor
A few hours later Connor’s shuttle
looked so excited, he couldn’t refuse.
rumbled, growled and launched into
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but
the sky. For the first time, he felt
okay. When does he leave?”
anxious. He took deep breaths

“A month from now,” said Commander to calm himself down.


Morgan. So it was all agreed.















































26

“Don’t worry, Connor. Every astronaut “Wow!” said Connor in awe.

gets nervous before a mission. Even It was the best day of his life.


me,” said Commander Morgan.
“It looks even better from the

He couldn’t believe how loud it was in moon,” said Commander


the shuttle and how bumpy! He heard Morgan, winking.

loud bangs as parts of the module
She was right. A few days
detached, and then they accelerated
later, they docked on the
so fast he felt like he had an elephant
moon. As Connor emerged
sitting on his lap, crushing him. “I wish
from the crevice gripping
I’d stayed at home!” he thought.
the crucial missing part of


Suddenly, the engines stopped and the space probe, he saw

they were in space. Connor’s arms the Earth suspended in the


floated upwards. He was weightless! sky. It looked like a brilliant

blue and green marble.
Through the window, against the jet-

black sky, he could see the amazing His heart skipped a beat


blue and green planet he called home. with excitement and …























LEArN IT!





For lots of fun facts,
challenges and classroom

resources to use at home

or in school, check out the

European Space Agency’s
website: www.esa.int/kids












27

He took one giant leap across the





























































































Answer: There are 10 footsteps.













SPOT IT!

Can you spot


na]m] Ƅp] \]nXbeem


bh na] jb[nol]Ҷ

moon’s surface and waved to his dad!










































































































How many

footsteps can


you count?

rite it here.

Favourite Fairy Tales







The Happy Prince










By Oscar Wilde






igh above the city, on a column, stood the statue of the Happy


HMlbh[]ҫ E] qXm [ip]l]\ qbna Ƅh] `ie\ e]Xp]mҮ aX\ nqi Zlb`an


sapphires for his eyes, and a large red ruby on his sword hilt.

He was very much admired.




“He is beautiful,” said a town councillor.




“Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince? He

never cries,” a mother asked her little boy.




“He looks like an angel,” said the school children.



Lh] hb`anҮ X ebnne] mqXeeiq Ƈ]q ip]l na] [bns ih bnm

way to Egypt. “Where shall I sleep?” he wondered.


Then he saw the statue. “I’ll stay here,” he cried.

ӂFn bm X Ƅh] jimbnbihҫ F qbee aXp] X `ie\]h Z]\liigҫӃ




He landed between the feet of the Happy Prince,

but just as he was putting his head under his wing

a large drop of water fell on him. “How curious!”


he cried. “There are no clouds in the sky.”



Qa]h Xhina]l \lij ^]eeҫ E] \][b\]\ ni Ƈs XqXsҮ

but before he opened his wings, a third drop fell.


He looked up and saw that the Happy Prince’s

]s]m q]l] Ƅee]\ qbna n]Xlmҫ Qa]s q]l] lohhbh`


down his golden cheeks.

“Who are you?” asked the swallow. nothing to give him, so he is crying.

Swallow, little Swallow, will you take
“I am the Happy Prince.”
her the ruby out of my sword, please?


“Why are you weeping, then?” I cannot move.”



“When I was alive, I didn’t know what ӂ>on F Xg Ƈsbh` ni A`sjnҮӃ mXb\ na]

tears were. By day, I played with my mqXeeiqҫ ӂF Xg Ƈsbh` oj na] Kbe]ҫӃ


friends, and in the evening I danced in
“Swallow, little Swallow,” begged the
the Great Hall. My courtiers called me
Prince, “will you stay with me for one
the Happy Prince, and happy I was.
night and be my messenger? The boy
Now that I am dead they have put me
is so thirsty and the mother is so sad.”
so high I can see all the misery of my


city, and I cannot help but weep. “I don’t think I like boys,” answered

the swallow. “Last summer, the
“In a little street,” he continued, “I see
miller’s sons threw stones at me.”
a poor woman. Her face is thin and

she has red hands, pricked by a But the Happy Prince looked so sad


needle. She is a seamstress. that the little swallow felt sorry. “It is

Her little boy is ill. He has a very cold here,” he said. “But I will

fever and his mother has stay with you for one night.”




















































31

The swallow pecked the ruby from na] giih lim] a] Ƈ]q ZX[d ni na]

na] Mlbh[]ӆm mqil\ Xh\ Ƈ]q ni na] Happy Prince.


boy. He was tossing feverishly and
“Swallow, little Swallow,” said the
his mother had fallen asleep. He laid
Prince, “will you not stay with me
the ruby beside her, then fanned the
one night longer?”
boy’s forehead with his wings.


“My friends are waiting for me in
“How cool I feel,” said the boy. “I must
A`sjnҮӃ Xhmq]l]\ na] PqXeeiqҫ
be getting better.”


“Swallow, little Swallow,” said the
Qa]h na] mqXeeiq Ƈ]q ZX[d ni na]
Prince, “across the city I see a young
Happy Prince. “It is curious,” he said,
man leaning over a desk. He is trying
“but I feel quite warm now.”
ni Ƅhbma X jeXsҮ Zon a] bm nii [ie\ ni

“That’s because you have done a write and hunger has made him faint.”


good deed,” said the Prince.
“I will wait with you one night longer,”

Ta]h \Xs Zlid]Ү na] mqXeeiq Ƈ]q said the Swallow, who really had a


to the river and had a bath. “Tonight good heart. “Shall I take him a ruby?”

F qbee Ƈs ni A`sjnҮӃ a] mXb\Ү Zon qa]h























































32

“Alas! I have no more rubies,” said the Prince.

“My eyes are all that I have left. They are made


of sapphires. Pluck one and take it to him. He

qbee m]ee bn Xh\ Zos ^ii\ Xh\ Ƅl]qii\Ү Xh\

Ƅhbma qlbnbh` abm jeXsҫӃ




“Dear Prince,” said the swallow, “I cannot do that.”



“Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “please


do as I ask.”



So the Swallow plucked out the Prince’s eye and

Ƈ]q ni na] sioh` gXhҫ Fn qXm ]Xms ni `]n bhҮ Xm


na]l] qXm X aie] bh na] lii^ҫ Qa] sioh` gXh qXm

asleep with his head buried in his hands, so he

\b\ hin a]Xl na] Ƈonn]l i^ na] Zbl\ӆm qbh`m il na]


mXjjabl] Z]bh` \lijj]\ Zs abm mb\]ҫ









The next day, when the moon rose, the swallow

Ƈ]q ZX[d ni na] EXjjs Mlbh[]ҫ ӂF aXp] [ig] ni

mXs `ii\Zs]ҮӃ a] [lb]\ҫ




“Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “will

sio mnXs qbna g] ih] hb`an eih`]lҶӃ




“It is winter,” said the Swallow. “The chill snow

will soon be here. Dear Prince, I must leave.”



“In the square below,” said the Happy Prince,


ӂbm X ebnne] gXn[aӒ`bleҫ Pa] aXm eimn a]l gXn[a]mҫ

E]l ^Xna]l qbee Z]Xn a]l b^ ma] \i]m hin Zlbh`


aig] mig] gih]sҮ mi ma] bm [lsbh`ҫ Pa]

has no coat or hat. Pluck out my other

]s] Xh\ `bp] bn ni a]lҫӃ

“I cannot pluck out your eye. You will The next day he sat on the Prince’s

be blind,” said the swallow. shoulder and told him stories of what


he had seen in strange lands.
“Swallow, little Swallow,” said the

Prince, “please do as I ask.” “Dear little Swallow,” said the Prince,


“you tell me of marvellous things, but
So he plucked out the Prince’s other
je]Xm] Ƈs ip]l gs [bns Xh\ n]ee g]
eye and swooped past the match-girl.
what you see there.”
He slipped the jewel into her hand


and she ran home laughing. Pi na] PqXeeiq Ƈ]q ip]l na] [bns Xh\

saw rich people making merry in their
Qa]h na] mqXeeiq Ƈ]q ZX[d ni na]
beautiful houses, while the homeless
Prince. “You are blind now,” he said,
q]hn aoh`ls Xh\ [ie\ҫ E] Ƈ]q ZX[d
“so I will stay with you.” That night,
and told the Prince what he had seen.
he slept at the Prince’s feet.







































































34

“I am covered with gold,” said the na]s q]l] gX\] i^ mbep]lҮ na]s q]l]

Mlbh[]ҫ ӂVio gomn nXd] bn iƂҮ e]X^ so bright and glistening. Long icicles


Zs e]X^Ү Xh\ `bp] bn ni na] jiilҫӃ aoh` \iqh ^lig na] ]Xp]mҮ ]p]lsih]

qXm qlXjj]\ oj qXlges Xh\ ebnne]
Pi na] mqXeeiq jb[d]\ iƂ e]X^ X^n]l
children skated on the ice.
e]X^ i^ `ie\Ү ohnbe na] EXjjs Mlbh[]


eiid]\ \oee Xh\ `l]sҫ E] `Xp] na] Qa] jiil ebnne] PqXeeiq `l]q [ie\]l

`ie\ ni na] jiilҮ qai eXo`a]\ Xh\ and colder, but he would not leave


said, “We can buy bread now!” the Prince because he loved him so

go[aҫ E] jb[d]\ oj [logZm ionmb\]

na] ZXd]ls Xh\ nlb]\ ni d]]j abgm]e^


=^n]l naXn na] mhiq [Xg] Xh\ na]h qXlg Zs ƇXjjbh` abm qbh`mҫ >on Xn eXmn


na] ^limnҫ Qa] mnl]]nm eiid]\ Xm b^ he knew he was going to die.

E] aX\ comn ]hio`a mnl]h`na ni Ƈs oj na] mnXno] Xh\ mXb\Ү ӂ@]Xl g]ұ Eiq

to the Prince’s shoulder and murmur, maXZZs na] EXjjs Mlbh[] eiidmұ Qa]


ӂCii\Zs]Ү \]Xl Mlbh[]ұӃ loZs aXm ^Xee]h ion i^ abm mqil\Ү abm

]s]m Xl] `ih]Ү Xh\ a]ӆm hi eih`]l
ӂF Xg `eX\ sio Xl] `ibh` ni A`sjn Xn
`ie\]hҫ E]ӆm hi Z]nn]l naXh X Z]``XlұӃ
eXmnҮ ebnne] PqXeeiqҮӃ mXb\ na] Mlbh[]ҫ


ӂVio aXp] mnXs]\ a]l] ^il nii eih`ҫ E] XllXh`]\ ^il na] mnXno] ni Z]

F eip] sioҮ \]Xl ^lb]h\ҫӃ joee]\ \iqh Xh\ g]en]\ҫ Eiq]p]lҮ


ni ]p]lsih]ӆm moljlbm]Ү na] EXjjs
Qa] mqXeeiq dbmm]\ na] EXjjs Mlbh[]
Mlbh[]ӆm a]Xln qioe\ hin g]enҮ mi na]s
`ii\Zs] Xh\ ^]ee \iqh Xn abm ^]]nҫ
e]^n bn bh X loZZbma jbe]Ү qa]l] bn eXs


Just then, a curious crack sounded Z]mb\] na] ebnne] mqXeeiqҫ


bhmb\] na] mnXno]ҫ Qa] jlbh[]ӆm e]X\]h
Qa]s q]l] na] nqi dbh\]mn Xh\
a]Xln aX\ Zlid]h bh nqiҫ
gimn jl][biom nabh`m bh na] [bnsҮ

AXles na] h]rn gilhbh`Ү na] JXsil Zon na] JXsil qXm nii ^iiebma


jXmm]\ na] [ieoghҫ E] eiid]\ Xn ni l]Xebm] bnҫ





























































36

COLOUR IT!




Make the Happy Prince shine

again! Download our Happy Prince
Colouring Sheet and colour him in.

Don’t forget his sapphire eyes too.
Visit storytimemagazine.com/free






















































37

Myths and Legends




The Queen of












Everything














n ancient Mesopotamia, the goddess Inanna was angry with her


Ifather, Enki. He had given powers to everyone – except her.




One day, she came up with a plan to convince Enki to give her some powers

i^ a]l iqhҫ Pa] e]^n na] [bns i^ RlodҮ qab[a ma] loe]\Ү Xh\ m]n iƂ ^il a]l ^Xna]lӆm


temple in the great city of Eridu. She sailed there in her special ship, the ‘boat

i^ a]Xp]hӆҮ qbna a]l eisXe ^lb]h\Ү na] ^]gXe] qXllbil KbhmaoZolҫ



Ta]h na]s l]X[a]\ Alb\oҮ KbhmaoZol mnXs]\ ni `oXl\ na] ZiXnҮ qabe] FhXhhX

gX\] a]l qXs ni a]l ^Xna]lӆm n]gje]ҫ




Ahdbӆm g]mm]h`]lҮ Fmbgo\Ү `l]]n]\ a]l qXlgesҫ ӂQXd] X m]Xn

Xn Ahdbӆm nXZe]ҮӃ mXb\ Fmbgo\Ү iƂ]lbh` a]l [Xd] Xh\ X Zlihu]


`iZe]n Ƅee]\ qbna na] Ƅh]mn qbh]ҫ ӂE] qbee Z] a]l] miihҫӃ



>on FhXhhX \b\hӆn mbj na] qbh]ҫ Fhmn]X\ ma] \lXhd qXn]l


Xh\Ү qa]h Ahdb cibh]\ a]lҮ ma] Ƅee]\ abm `iZe]n aXmnbesҫ



ӂ@Xo`an]lұ Fn bm X je]Xmol] ni m]] sioҫ Tas aXp]

sio [ig]ҶӃ Xmd]\ AhdbҮ mbjjbh` na] qbh]ҫ Fn


tasted so good, he took a big gulp.




















38

“Just to see you, dear Father. It has “Oh, wonderful daughter, I’ll give

been such a long time.” you the power of heroism ... hic ...


happiness, kindness, movement and
“How are things?” asked Enki.
relaxation.” Enki pushed the carved


“They are good, but they could be tablets that held these special powers


better if I had more powers. I could towards his daughter.

teach people so many things.”
Inanna was stunned. She had hoped


“But I have already given you a whole to win just one or two powers, but Enki


city,” said Enki, taking another sip. had guzzled so much wine, he was no

longer thinking straight.
“True,” said Inanna. “Let’s eat and

drink and catch up on our news.” “Thank you, Father!”


FhXhhX mh]Xdbes Ƅee]\ Ahdbӆm `iZe]n
ӂTXbnҮ F aXp]hӆn Ƅhbma]\ s]n ҫҫҫ ab[ ҫҫҫ
again, but carried on sipping water.
I’ll give you the power of carpentry,

=ee ]p]hbh`Ү Ahdb koXƂ]\ `iZe]nm i^ building, writing, basket-weaving and


wine while Inanna sipped water and blacksmithing.” Enki took another big

kept her wits about her. gulp of wine. “I’ll also give you the

jiq]l i^ qbm\ig ҫҫҫ ab[ ҫҫҫ Xln Xh\ Ƅl]Ӓ

Over the course of the night, Enki grew
making ... hic!”
quite merry and began to heap praise


on Inanna. “You are such a wonderful

daughter!” he cried. “Those powers

you mentioned earlier – of course


you may have them!”



Inanna grinned. Her plan had worked.

“Oh, thank you, dear Father. What


will you give me?”






















39

And so Enki went on until he had When he found the tablets missing,

given Inanna every precious power memories of the night before came


in his possession, including his own Ƈii\bh` ZX[d ni abgҫ

kingship of Mesopotamia. He left
“What have I done?” he cried, calling
himself without a single power.
for Isimud. “Where is Inanna? Has she

When his list came to an end, he left already?”

slumped onto the table and began
“She left last night, Master.”
to snore. Inanna grabbed the tablets

of power and loaded them onto her “We must get my powers back from


boat before her father could wake her before she reaches Uruk. Take the

up and change his mind. m]X gihmn]lm Xh\ Ƅh\ a]lҫ I]n FhXhhX


go unharmed, but seize her boat and
“Ninshubur, we must leave now!”
bring it back to me with my powers!”
she cried, and they set sail for Uruk

without delay. So Isimud summoned seven sea


monsters with serpent heads and


scaly wings. Together, they

Enki woke the following morning with raced across the water to

a sore head and a horrible feeling catch up with Inanna.


he had done something silly.

When they found her, the sea monsters surrounded the boat

of heaven, splashing their tails and snarling.




Isimud said, “My Queen, your father sent me here. I must

bring him the boat of heaven and its contents, but he will


allow you to travel safely to Uruk on foot.”



“So my father wants to take back the powers he gave me,”

said Inanna. “But he can’t – I rule Mesopotamia now!”




As soon as she said these words, the seven sea monsters

surged forward and surrounded the boat. They gripped it

in their claws and tried to force it to turn round.




“Ninshubur, my warrior!” cried Inanna. “Save the boat and

my powers before we capsize!”





































































41

Ninshubur sprang towards a sea monster and plunged her spear into its claws.

The sea monster howled and loosened its grip. She thrashed at it wildly until


it dived into the water to escape. One by one, Ninshubur scared away the

gihmn]lm ohnbe ihes Fmbgo\ qXm e]^nҫ Q]llbƄ]\Ү a] \bp]\ iƂ na] ZiXn Xh\ mqXg


all the way back to King Enki in Eridu.



Victorious, Inanna and Ninshubur sailed home to Uruk. As they passed through

the gates to their city, Inanna held the many tablets of power up high so that


everyone could see them. People ran out onto the streets and cheered.



Inanna ordered a great festival to celebrate the exciting times

that lay ahead for her people. Thanks to her cunning, she


was now the Queen of Everything – and there was nothing

Enki could do about it.





















































DID YOU KNOW?




Ancient carvings of the goddess Inanna

show her with a bow and arrow and a lion

by her side. She was worshipped from

4000 BC onwards, which makes this story

over 6000 years old!

Storytime









Playbox




















Pick your way through our puzzles, mini quizzes and word search.


Plus take our parrot drawing challenge and feed a hungry iant!





1 MONTH Draw lines to match the month


MATCH! 1
the harvest it brings for Marus a.






A March



What does January bring B JUne

in The Twelve Months?
Circle the correct answer. 2 2






2 C september 3







3 AM I?
1 WHO



2 SPOT IT! ? 3








The swallow has dropped the

Happy Prince’s ruby and

his sapphire eyes on our Tab[a Pnilsnbg] [aXlX[n]l bm nabmҶ
puzzle pages. Tick this
1. I am female
Zir qa]h sio Ƅh\ na]gҫ
2. I leave my home to go an adventure

3. I find help in the forest

4 LOTS





OF POTS







How many pots and pans have the

fairies borrowed from Carys the baker?
Write your answer in the box.






Draw your favourite cake here.






































5 TELL THE The Whhite Rabbit’s pocket
TIME
watch is broken. Fill in the


missing hands so he can

reach onderland on time.































7:45 1:30 10:15

6 ASK A





BE AN ASTRONAUT! GROWN-UP!

Follow our easy craft and go on a mission to the moon with Connor.




• Print out our Astronaut Template from storytimemagazine.com/free

• Colour it in or collage it using foil or silver sweet wrappers.

• Find a picture of your face and cut it out to fit inside the helmet.

Glue it on and cut around the whole astronaut shape.

• Stick it to a large piece of black paper or card. Make sure it’s at

an angle, so you look as if you’re floating in space.

• Draw a half circle on a piece of white paper. Draw around a small

plate or drinking glass to help you, then cut out the half circle.

• Scrunch up some foil or paper towel, dip it in grey or yellow paint
and then dab it all over the half circle for a textured effect.


• When it’s dry, stick the half-moon to the edge of your picture, so
it looks as if you’re in space with the moon in the foreground.






Why not cut out a smaller circle and colour
TIP! it in green and blue? Stick it in the background




to look like Earth.









7 PUZZLING A. TAR

POWERS







Inanna’s new powers got muddled up B. TRIGWIN
on the way home. Unscramble the

letters to work out what they are. C. MOWSID





Which power do you



think is most useful?


Write it here. SWERS: 1. Month Match! – A3, B2, C1, January brings 3 – snow; Writing, C. Wisdom. Tell the Time – see right; 7. Puzzling Powers – A. Art, Who Am I? – Maruska from The Twelve Months; 4. Lots of Pots – 15; B. 5. 3.

8 COPY THE PARROT!










Using our grid below for

guidance, draw a parrot

like the one in our fable.












Fun Fact!








Parrots are super-intelligent.
They can remember words
and song lyrics and have

even been trained to roll

over, ride skateboards and







HA HA! play mini basketball.







Q. What’s orange

and sounds like


a parrot?



A. A carrot!








DID YOU






kNOW?



Parrots can live as long What colour

as humans. Cookie the
will your
cockatoo lived in a US
zoo until he was over
parrot be?
82 years old!

Storytime





















Find the characters from our stories hidden in this grid.

Words run up, down, backwards, forwards and diagonally.


C U R I C A N E




I O N U N I O J L E H H X C I



K P M Y B U R B M U A O C A W



N I T M E U A R T P F O M R O




E J B Z A K H Y P N N I N Y L



Q Z A V S N P S O N P G O S L



P A G U T R D R O T H I Y W A




I J R E I G C E N N L N G I W



X A N N O Z R I W I R A X L S



M P C S V N D I R E N N M L L




A E J A N U A R U M P N E I L



T I B B A R E T Y N O A A A M



R U S O V Q O J I H W R H M S




T A S X L Q C T A S R Z G S C
N
I
G
C
V
P A R R O T B N G A C X X A N
J
I

A
R
P
T
O
N
R
I
G
A
T
A
N
S
G
B
E
H
I
A
B
T
W
R
R
I
M
T
Carys Williams Enki Helena Ninshubur
Y
A
A
O
J
E
A
A
R
N
U
I
M
N
C
M
Commander Fox Inanna Parrot
L
N
N
A
N
R
A
S
R
I
I
L
E
R
U
D
N
R
W
N
I
Morgan Giant January Swallow
I
W
O
S
A
N
S
P
Y
N
E
H
S
K
L
A
Y
N
M
P
N
U
L
A
Connor Happy Prince Maruska White Rabbit
R
K
P
B
O
M
O
F
W
A
I
C
O
O
A
U
H
E
E
N
L
A
C
C
X
H
R
ANSWER:

FEED TH









GIANT

























Viol gbmmbih bm ni ^]]\ na] `bXhn Xh\ Ƅee oj abm noggs

Xm kob[des Xm sio [Xh Z]^il] a] `]nm aoh`lsұ


How to Play GIANT













To get started, you need two or more GAME IDEA!
our
players, a pen and paper to keep your Tas h
scores, and our Giant Food Counters from CbXhn Bii
storytimemagazine.com/free. Cut them ^ohhs ^ii i\ ?iohn]lm qbna
n gXd] siol iqh
out, then follow our instructions. iqh m[il]m

mҶ JXd] oj siol
Place the Giant Food Counters face m ^il na]g niiҫ
down on a flat surface and mix them u up.


Each player takes it in turns to pick up

counter and place it in the giant’s mou uth. uts


– If you pick up a Sweet Treats coun nter,

you score 1 Eels

– If you pick up a Healthy Snac cks

counter, score 2 Sprouts
Brussel

– If you pick up a Brussels Spro outs T
counter, the giant spits it out: s score 0.

Place it face down and mix up the Sweet s

counters again Treats


– If you pick up an Eels counte er, the
giant is happy; score 5 Healthy


The first player to score 20 wins the Snacks

game. Well done!