Tiewinkel bedtime stories

🐠 It's a magnificent winter's day in Tiewinkel and the animals are busy grooming themselves in the sun when Farmer Willems discovers that someone has been taking the goldfish! He sets out to find who the fish thief is. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: splendid: very beautiful to gaze at something: to look at something  to say something indignantly: to say something in an annoyed way because one thinks something is unfair vegan: a person or animal who only eats planted-based foods grooming sesh: short for 'grooming session' (a beauty session) to forage: to search for / rummage around for food to catch someone red-handed: to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong to summon: to invite / request the presence of Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🦚 What begins as a tranquil winter's day quickly turns into quite a commotion. Farmer Willems receives three displeased neighbours who threaten to turn his three young peacocks into pasties and pies. Together with Mr and Mrs Peacock and a certain Mr Floris of the Rambler pub in the hills, an exciting solution is found for the adventurous birds. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: tranquil: calm and quiet commotion: noise and confusion displeased: annoyed dratted: a wonder used to express annoyance pasty: a folded pastry filled with meat and vegetables anxiously: in a worried way obsidian eyes: glassy, black eyes Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🎄It's an icy cold morning on shamba and Farmer Willems and his wife and Kali and Genghis the dogs are enjoying the warmth of the farmhouse. They're about to decorate the tree when the doorbell rings and an unannounced visitor begs for help. The Tiewinkel animals team up and a little while later all is well that ends well. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: glistening: shining, glittering wisps of smoke: trails of smoke to gasp: to draw in one's breath wretched grandchildren: horrible grandchildren delinquent: very badly behaved Mrs Lavender came bursting through the door: Mrs Lavender charged through the door solemnly: seriously Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🐈 Jip the experienced grey and white cat shows Turtle the rescue cat her new home. The two friends explore shamba, meet the other animals and have a lucky escape.    BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: Jip couldn't contain her excitement: Jip wasn't able to hide her excitement to nuzzle: to push against with one's nose to prod: to poke anxious: worried agile: light on one's feet to bound: to leap majestic: very beautiful Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🍄Autumn has arrived and Genghis the boerboel is feeling blue. The big dog doesn't like the cold nor the mist nor the wet leaves on the ground. He's also puzzled by the strange behaviour of the other animals on shamba. To cheer the glum dog up Farmer Willems takes Genghis and his sister on an autumn adventure in the field. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: fawn-coloured: a light yellowish-brown colour a white veil of frost: a white blanket of frost glum: gloomy and sad to retort: to snap back reluctant: not eager to do something gnome: a legendary dwarfish creature who guards the Earth's treasures to scamper: to run with quick, light steps scarce: hard to find Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🎃It's Halloween and there is excitement in the air. Phoebe and Toby go trick-or-treating in Tiewinkel but have a scary encounter in the woods near shamba. The children run to the farm seeking shelter and after investigating the matter with Farmer Willems they make an unexpected find. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: to exchange glances: to look at one another sceptical: questioning, not sure about something frantic: distressed to gasp: to breath in sharply and deeply a droobeg: an imaginary monster the company of six: the group of six in anticipation: expecting something to happen rustling: a swishing sound in the leaves on the ground Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🐈 Farmer Willems makes an exciting announcement: a new rescue cat will be coming to live on shamba. Hearing the news, Jip the plump grey and white cat is worried. What if the new cat is horrible, or a bully? Marina the cat lady drops the newcomer off and to Jip's relief things go better than expected.  BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: gloomy: dark to fret: to worry to summon: to call for, to invite to confine someone/something: to limit the person or thing to a certain space (to lock up) to murmur: to say in a soft voice a fanfare: a special tune played to introduce someone important Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🍂 It's an autumnal day in Tiewinkel and Mrs Lavender drops by for eggs. Farmer Willems explains that the lovely speckled hens aren't laying because it's moulting season and Mrs Lavender is displeased. Martin the magnificent rooster overhears the alarming conversation she has with Farmer Willems and decides to take action. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: perch: a high-up place where someone or something sits majestic: splendid stout: big, heavily built disapproving: displeased, not happy with something/someone bedraggled: messy a shrill voice: a sharp, high-pitched voice moulting season: the time of year when an animal sheds its old feathers/hair/skin/shell to make way for new growth pitiful: (in this context) not looking good to summon: to call for someone to boast: to brag, to show off nightfall: dusk - the beginning of the night to reassure: to soothe  shake a tail feather: an old-fashioned expression meaning to hurry up Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

🌝 It's full moon and Genghis and Kali the dogs can't sleep. Farmer Willems and his wife and the two dogs go outside to explore the farm that is bathed in silver moonlight. They learn that the moon is powerful and affects living beings and nature. Farmer Willems shows them an experiment with a tree and Kali is convinced that her friends have gone mad because of the moon. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: melancholy: sad to exchange puzzled glances: to look at each other in confusion fawn-coloured: yellowish-brown majestic: magnificent, beautiful sap: the fluid that is in a plant to break into song: to start singing to scuttle: to run in a hurried way Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

When Kali and Genghis return from their holiday they detect a strange scent in their garden and find their box of toys upside down. Their friends report sightings of a wolf, pony or lion. The puzzled dogs investigate and win a friend. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: to stop dead in your tracks: to suddenly come to a full stop fawn-coloured: a light-yellowish brown colour skeptically: with doubt, not believing something utterly bewildered: very confused and puzzled barmy: mad, crazy strewn all over the floor: scattered all over the floor anxious: worried emerging from the study: coming out of the study to gush: to say something in an excited way Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

Farmer Willems is worried about Nutmeg, the young, shiny black sheep who is limping badly. Neighbour Victor, who happens to be passing by, suggests frightening the sheep so she is easier to catch and examine. Together with the lovely speckled hens, Mrs Willems shows Victor that there is a better and far more gentle way - sheepnosis! BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: to beckon: to wave with your hand to make someone come closer paddock: a small field where sheep or horses are kept grim faces: worried faces back in a jiffy: back in a moment  to stride: walk with long steps in a specific direction to bustle: to move around in a busy and energetic way to observe: to watch astonishment: surprise, amazement to be mesmerised: to be hypnotised and fascinated by something disbelief: refusing to believe that something is true or real voodoo: black magic, sorcery Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

It's a beautiful summer's evening and Genghis requests a story. Farmer Willems and his wife remember how they collected Genghis and Kali when they were puppies. The dogs learn that everyone is different and special in their own way and that it's important to be proud of who you are - because there's only one you, and no one can be you better than you! BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: satisfied: pleased to smile contentedly: to smile in a pleased way (happy and at ease) inquisitive: curious to ponder: to think about something carefully to blurt out: to call out something suddenly  skeptical: to have doubts about something to ruffle: to run your hands through something Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

It is a magnificent summer's day on shamba and the animals are enjoying the sun. Darius the deer is excited because his young niece Phoebe the fawn is hiding in the neighbouring field. He tells Mitzi the young sheep who is alarmed that such a young animal should be left alone by its mother. The arrival of four visitors endangers Phoebe the fawn but thanks to the sheep, chickens and dogs she has a lucky escape. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: to gaze wistfully: to look at something in a longing way paddock: an enclosed field for animals matriarch: an older woman/female who is the head of a family manure: animal droppings used for fertilising land fawn: a young deer in its first year to forage for food: to look for food to reassure someone: to put someone at ease about a worry they have flared nostrils: dilated/puffed out nostrils Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

Neighbour Victor is angry because Mrs Fox has taken three of his hens in two days. While he is plotting revenge with Mrs Lavender they are interrupted by Farmer Willems and his wife. The couple show Victor something that makes him question his bloody plan and things take a turn for the better. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: commotion: a lot of noise to rouse someone: to wake someone up to be engrossed in something: to have your attention fully absorbed by something agitated: upset, troubled scoundrel: a dishonest, naughty person/animal predator: an animal that hunts and eats other animals to scowl: to frown in a bad-tempered way gruffly: in an abrupt way skeptical: doubtful cub: a young fox Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at 🐝 tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com🎋

After a night of disturbed sleep, Genghis and Kali decide to investigate their nighttime visitor. They take a nap to prepare and wait for nightfall. Many hours pass and just when they are about to abandon mission they make an interesting find. Farmer Willems is woken by the commotion and explains who the visitor is to the puzzled dogs. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: savannah-coloured: the colour of the savannah (= brown) to lie sprawled: to lie stretched out  to nod eagerly: to nod in an enthusiastic way an uneventful day: an unexciting day  surveillance mission: to be on the lookout for something/someone immersed in darkness: to be completely dark a scuttling noise: the sound of something running with short, quick steps cautiously: carefully to prod something: to poke something commotion: a noisy disturbance quills: a hedgehog's sharp spines creepy crawlies: a spider, worm or other small creature that some people find frightening rascal: a naughty person solemnly: in a serious way Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at ???? tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com????

It's a humid summer's day and Ginger the young sheep is restless. She is bored of her daily routine and yearns for excitement. When she spots Darius the deer in the neighbouring maize field she makes a bold decision but learns that the grass is not always greener on the other side. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: to yearn for: to want something very badly humid: muggy, sticky, stuffy, clammy cud: partly digested food that comes back up from a sheep's first stomach for further chewing to slip away: to leave quietly without saying goodbye to nod approvingly: to nod in an impressed way inquisitive: curious sturdy: solidly built, strong to quiz someone: to question someone Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at ???? tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com????

It's a hot summer's day on shamba and the animals are hiding from the sun. The earth is cracked and the meadow is brown because it hasn't rained for two months. Mrs Willems tells Mrs Lavender that only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun while Martin the magnificent rooster and his lovely speckled hens try to make it rain. A few hours later Julio the ram is surprised by something and all ends well. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: a shrill voice: a high-pitched voice to plop oneself down: to sit oneself down gently but clumsily to gulp down: to swallow in large mouthfuls scowl: an angry or bad-tempered expression to exclaim: to cry out in a surprised way screech: a loud cry  to say something triumphantly: to say something in a boastful way ("Ha! I was right!") to predict: to say something will happen in the future to reassure: to put someone's mind at rest eclipsed by: hidden by/ blocked out by muzzle:  the nose and mouth of an animal such as a sheep, horse or dog slow poke: someone who moves very slowly Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at ???? tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com????

Farmer Willems is concerned because Martin the magnificent rooster and his lovely speckled hens are upset about something. Martin explains that Snow Flake the hen has gone missing. Farmer Willems and the animals search high and low - in vain. Just when the search party is about to give up Mr Peacock reports an interesting find and the story takes an unexpected turn. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: fancy-free: free to do what you like and go where you like because you have no responsibilities like a family/relationship to be blue: to be sad to quiz someone: to question someone he replied glumly: he replied in a sad way  bamboo thicket: a cluster of bamboo plants to detect: to discover nosey parker:  a very curious/nosey person or animal respectable: clean-living and proper Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at ???? tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com????

Tana and Mitzi the lambs are excited because it's their birthday. Their family have organised a big party for them with a treasure hunt, obstacle course race and delicious snacks and drinks. Tana and Mitzi also have a surprise in store: a complicated acrobatics routine that Victor's grandchildren, Toby and Penelope, witness when walking past. The two bored children find out that playing outdoors is fun! BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: alfresco: outdoors in the open air bubbly: very cheerful and happy to challenge someone to do something: to dare them to do something  out of earshot: far enough to no be heard to mutter: to say something in a low and/or annoyed voice synchronised: things that happen in the same way at the same time to say something neutrally: to say something without emotion to nudge someone: to poke someone to get their attention agile: able to move quickly and easily to nod eagerly: to nod in an enthusiastic way Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at ???? tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com????

Farmer Willems is excited because today might just be the day! The warm, sunny weather is ideal for roaming bee swarms. A loud buzzing sound is reported and he goes to investigate. Upon his return with a humming cardboard box he reassures a frightened Mrs Lavender that bees are friendly and like it most when humans mind their own business. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: savannah-coloured: a warm, light-brown colour swarm of bees: a very large number of bees that leave their hive with a queen in search of a new home to cock you head: to tilt your head to the side to reassure: to put someone's mind at rest, to comfort a tepee of bees: a cone-shaped collection of bees to vibrate: to shake  frenzied bees: bees flying in a fast, panicky way to gasp: to draw in one's breath, to pant reconnaissance flights: exploration/investigation flights  Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at ???? tiewinkelbedtimestories@outlook.com????