Jupiter Twins: The Hippogriff Who Couldn't Sleep 🫩 💤 Bedtime Stories For Kids | Rewind

[00:00:10] Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids designed to make bedtime a dream. Tonight, our wizarding twins Lily and Jake Jupiter encounter another magical creature in the middle of the night that has them returning to the library for a very special book indeed.

[00:00:35] The poor twins keep getting woken up in the middle of the night by a noisy hippogriff admiring the view from the roof above their bedroom. I know, annoying! But it turns out the poor hippogriff is suffering from insomnia. And so Lily and Jake take it upon themselves to help their new friend out. Let's snuggle down in bed and get ready to listen.

[00:01:00] Perhaps close your eyes or just let your gaze softly rest on something in the room. Listen to your breathing as you take a breath in through your nose and let it out. Breathe softly for a few moments. And if you need to adjust yourself in bed so that you're really comfy. Lovely.

[00:01:26] This is Jupiter Twins, The Hippogriff Who Couldn't Sleep by Luke Prendergast. Before we begin, here's a quick ad break. Then we'll start tonight's bedtime story. If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad-free listening and unlock all our premium stories, you can join the Coco Club. To join, follow the link in the show notes. Parents, summer can be such a magical time for kids.

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[00:05:52] So don't miss out. Tap to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or head to the link in our show notes for Spotify, Yoto and other players. Jake and Lily Jupiter were in their dormitory, right at the top of the highest tower in the Leora Academy of Magic.

[00:06:18] Through the wood-framed windows, the night sky unfolded like an ink-black ocean, dotted here and there with twinkling little stars, and a crescent moon turned around so that it looked just like a smile. It was bedtime and the Jupiter twins were in their pyjamas, their teeth were brushed and their dark purple bedspreads were turned down and waiting. But they weren't yet asleep.

[00:06:44] That's because Lily was too busy regaling her brother with a tale about something that had happened to her that very day. But Jake, she said, you don't understand. It's absolutely the coolest thing imaginable. You won't believe the books they've got in.

[00:07:07] Jake smiled at Lily and did his best not to roll his eyes, or at least to stop her from seeing it when he did. Trust his sister to get so excitable she couldn't sleep just because the Leora Library had just had a new stack of books delivered. Jake liked books, sure. He particularly liked books with beautiful illustrations in them, or ones that were full of jokes.

[00:07:37] But books weren't a patch on flying around on a broomstick, or playing a game of cards with your favourite drumble deck. He could tell you that much for certain. Jake, however, knew that Lily loved nothing more in the whole wide world than books. Except that is maybe her family on a good day.

[00:08:02] So, because he loved her, he made sure he was smiling and nodding and looking engaged when she told him all about the library's new acquisitions. They've got a book where you can write a sentence on one side, she was saying, and it will translate it for you on the other side, in whatever language you want it to. Trollish, pixie, even plant language.

[00:08:31] Isn't that cool? And, and, they've got another one that can sing you lullabies to send you to sleep. And another one which has feathers just like a bird and can fly around behind you reading stories out loud while you get on with your life. Can you imagine that? You'd be able to listen to stories every minute of every...

[00:08:56] But Lily didn't get to finish her sentence, because just then there was a very strange noise from above them. They both looked up at the ceiling. It sounded like something rather heavy had landed on the roof. For a moment, there was silence. And so both twins thought to themselves that they might have just been imagining it. But then there were more noises.

[00:09:25] A kind of scraping on the roof tiles. And then the sound of footsteps pacing around. But Lily and Jake were in the highest tower in the whole of the school, way up high in the sky. How did someone, or something, manage to get up there? And why on earth would they want to?

[00:09:53] Jake, who was closest to the window, tiptoed across the room, lifted up the window panes and stuck his head out into the warm night air. He craned his head around to try to get a good look at what was going on above him. And in the pale light of the thin crescent moon, he saw the most peculiar thing. He pulled his head back inside the dormitory and said,

[00:10:23] It's some kind of creature. Except I can't tell what kind of creature it is at all. At first I thought it was a huge bird, but then he looked more like a donkey. And then I thought maybe it was a lion. It was hard to tell because it's dark. All I could see was a silhouette.

[00:10:52] How strange, Lily replied. And what's it doing up there? She came over to the window in order to have a look herself. But before she managed to get her head outside, there was the great sound of beating wings.

[00:11:12] The creature had taken flight from the roof and was now flying away in front of them before disappearing into the dark. Lily gave a little gasp. Oh, Jake, she said. I know exactly what that was. That was a hippogriff. Jake frowned. A what? A hippogriff.

[00:11:42] You know, hippogriffs. I'm afraid to say, Lil, said Jake, shaking his head. That, in fact, I do not know hippogriffs at all. They're magical creatures, Lily explained, with a horse's body and an eagle's head and wings, which explains why you couldn't tell what animal it was. They're meant to be very clever and very friendly, too.

[00:12:11] Oh, I wonder what that one's up to. And where it's gone. And that night, the two of them had wondrous dreams full of creatures with great lustrous wings. The next night, the same thing happened. Except this time, Lily and Jake were fast asleep when the hippogriff landed on their tower roof, and it woke them both up.

[00:12:41] They had to lie there, blinking in bed for a while, listening to the sound of the creature pacing around on the roof, before, at last, it flew away and they could get some sleep. When it happened again for the third night in a row, Lily slipped out of bed and said to Jake,

[00:13:03] We should probably go and talk to that hippogriff and find out why it keeps coming to land on our tower every night. Otherwise, we might never get a peaceful night's sleep again. That's a great idea, Lily, Jake said. And then after she'd stood there staring at him expectantly for a while, he said, Oh, you want me to go and talk to it?

[00:13:34] Oh, all right then. And he too slipped out of bed and went to lift up the window. It was another warm night. Star twinkled, and the moon had grown a little bigger. Now it looked like a wedge of cheese.

[00:13:54] Jake climbed out of the window and very cautiously, and with Lily watching him with a levitation spell on her lips, just in case he slipped, he climbed the little ladder that went up onto the roof. He hoisted himself up, dusted off his pajama bottoms, and said, Hello, hippogriff. Sorry to disturb you. My sister and I live in the room just below.

[00:14:25] The hippogriff blinked at him, as though taken mildly by surprise. Jake blinked back. The hippogriff was one of the most beautiful creatures Jake had ever seen. She had the hind legs and body of a dappled grey horse, her coat the colour of pale smoke or moonlight.

[00:14:50] But her front legs were those of an eagle with shining talons, and her chest and head were an eagle's too, with feathers of gold and silver, and a smooth golden beak. Once the Jupiter twins' mum had taken them to the seaside for a day trip, a couple of hours' drive from their home.

[00:15:14] There they'd sat on the beach eating ice creams and watching as the sunset turned the sea into burnished shining colours. And the golds and silvers of the hippogriff's coat made Jake remember that sunset and its brilliance. The hippogriff's coat was the same as the sky, and the sky was the same as the sky. The hippogriff's coat made Jake remember that the hippogriff's coat was the same as the sky. The hippogriff said, The hippogriff, did I wake you up? I didn't mean to.

[00:15:42] I didn't think anyone would be sleeping in such a high-up tower. Jake said it was perfectly okay, then introduced himself. I'm Jake, he said. And this is my sister, Lily, he added, pointing behind him, where Lily had followed him up onto the roof and now stood next to him on the tiles. She gave the hippogriff a little wave.

[00:16:11] Hello, said the hippogriff, giving a little bow of her head. My name is Golden Wings, but all my friends call me Goldie. Nice to meet you, Goldie, Lily said. You've been coming to visit the top of our tower a lot lately. Goldie nodded. Yes, she said.

[00:16:40] And I'm sorry for waking you up. It's just, well, the thing is that I've been having quite a lot of trouble sleeping recently. And I like coming up here because, at least I can look at the beautiful view, the sky and the stars and the hills and forests spreading out below me.

[00:17:08] And it takes my mind off not being able to sleep. That doesn't sound very nice at all, Jake said sympathetically. I hate it when I can't sleep. And Lily asked. Why is it that you can't sleep? I don't know, Goldie said, giving her feathered haunches a shrug.

[00:17:40] I fall asleep just fine. But then, five minutes later, I wake up. And then no matter what I do, I can't seem to get back to sleep. I just don't feel tired, you see. The Jupiter twins agreed that did sound very odd indeed.

[00:18:06] And that it would be much better if Goldie could manage to stay asleep. Say, Lily suggested. Would you like our help but finding some way to help you sleep? In my experience, you can always find the answer you're looking for in the Leora Academy. You just have to look. Oh, really? said the hippogriff.

[00:18:36] You'd help me? Oh, yes, said Jake. Let's go. So Jake and Lily climbed back into the dormitory and Goldie sailed in after them. It was fun, they both agreed, to have a new friend. They left the dormitory and descended the tower stairs, crossed a broad landing

[00:19:02] and went down the grand spiral staircase until they found themselves in the school's entrance hall. It was unusual to see the hall so empty, but it was night time after all, and all the students were in bed. The hall was empty apart from the friendly ghosts, who every now and then floated out of one wall, gave them a wave, and floated in again.

[00:19:32] Hmm, said Jake, rubbing his chin. Where shall we try first? Just then, Lily smelled the sweet smell of cakes rising up a narrow staircase. Let's try the kitchens, she said. I bet one of the elf chefs has got a suggestion for how to sleep. So down they went and entered the large school kitchen.

[00:20:00] In comparison to the entrance hall, the kitchen was bustling with activity. House elves in aprons and white chef's hats were stirring bowls and kneading dough, chopping fruit and inspecting ovens. Lily guessed that the evening was an important time for the school chefs, preparing the next day's meals while everyone else was in bed.

[00:20:26] One house elf tottered past, balancing a big trifle in his arms, and the sight of it made Lily lick her lips. Oh, she really loved trifle. She couldn't wait for lunch tomorrow now. Jake was casting his eyes around the room when they fell on a familiar face.

[00:20:52] Cranky! Jake said with delight, going over and enveloping his and Lily's old friend in a big hug. Cranky was Lily and Jake's old house elf, who had once been a very grumpy creature. But Lily and Jake had worked out it was just lonely, and invited him to spend the holidays with their family. Since then they'd been the best of friends.

[00:21:22] Lily and Jake introduced Cranky to Goldie and explained the young hippogriff's predicament. She needed something that would help her sleep. Cranky scratched the top of his head as he had a good think. Then his eyes lit up with an idea. I've got just the thing, he told them. You need to try my magical hot chocolate.

[00:21:52] It's the most marvellous drink in the world. It'll send you right off to sleep, I'm sure of it. Jake and Lily and Goldie followed Cranky across to the other side of the kitchen, and watched as he prepared a mug of steaming hot chocolate. It was a rich, dark colour, and into it he sprinkled all kinds of extra ingredients.

[00:22:21] Some nutmeg, he told them. A smidgen of chilli to warm you up. And a couple of other secret ingredients, he added with a wink. He held the cup of hot chocolate out, and gratefully, Goldie lowered her beak to the hot chocolate and took a long sip. Wow, she said, licking some chocolatey remnants from her beak.

[00:22:52] That is the tastiest hot chocolate I've ever tasted. Maybe even the tastiest drink. And she took another swig. Cranky offered some to Lily and Jake too, and they both took very little sips. They wanted to be careful that Cranky's magical sleeping hot chocolate didn't send the both of them off to the land of Nod.

[00:23:22] How would they be able to help Goldie anymore, if they were both fast asleep on the kitchen floor? The hot chocolate sent waves of warmth through their bodies, and even a sip made them both rub their eyes and yawn. They watched Goldie for the same effects. But none came.

[00:23:47] She just blinked at them patiently for a few minutes, and then said, It was delicious, but I don't think it's worked. Hmm, said Lily. I guess we'll have to find something else. They thanked Cranky heartily, and the Jupiter twins told him they would see him in the morning.

[00:24:16] Then, the three of them left the kitchen, climbed the stairs, and found themselves back in the entrance hall. I wonder what we can try next, Jake said. There came a little cough from next to them, and they turned to see one of the school ghosts.

[00:24:40] A friendly lady called Madame Fantôme, hovering in the air next to them. Excusez-moi, Madame Fantôme said. But I couldn't help overhearing that you young mortals were looking for a way to get to sleep. Oh, yes we are, said Lily, smiling up at the ghost.

[00:25:07] Our friend Goldie here is finding it very hard to sleep. Well, well, said Madame Fantôme, leaning in confidently. Whenever I cannot sleep, I close my eyes and count bunny rabbits. Count bunny rabbits, said Jake. He was sure that in his world people counted sheep.

[00:25:37] But Madame Fantôme was nodding. Mais oui, she said. And I always drop off before I get to forty. Go ahead. Try it now. So Goldie lay down and curled her legs beneath her. She closed her eyes. And Jake and Lily and Madame Fantôme watched her as she counted.

[00:26:06] They must have been standing there for a good five minutes or more. And Lily wondered if Goldie had indeed fallen asleep when the hippogriff peeked one of her eyes open. It hasn't worked, she said. I got to over a thousand. It was just a field full of cute bunny rabbits. But not a wink of sleep in sight.

[00:26:37] Madame Fantôme made a tutting noise. Alas, she said. Perhaps it only works for ghosts. And with that, she sank down into the floor and disappeared. Now what were they all going to do?

[00:27:01] They scratched their heads and stroked their chins and walked in thoughtful circles. None of them could come up with anything. I guess one thing we could do, Lily said, is go to the library. There must be a book in there that could tell us something about why a hippogriff isn't sleeping. They've got books on everything in there.

[00:27:31] Trust his sister to think that the answer could be found in a library. But he didn't have any better ideas. So Jake said, okay, let's go. And together the three of them walked across the hall and into the grand library. As ever, it was quiet inside. Even the books seemed to be sleeping.

[00:27:57] They were ranged on high bronze shelves in rows and rows. And between them stood the desks and plush armchairs and soft and saggy couches where students could often be seen reading. But now, all was still. Lily looked around the place, blinking but not moving.

[00:28:24] It was very unusual for her to be in the library and not know exactly what she was looking for. I guess we could go and look in the fantastical animal section, she suggested, and began to walk in that direction. But Jake had paused and raised his finger in the air as though he was remembering something.

[00:28:55] Something that Lily had said a few nights ago. Something, he felt, which would be very useful in just this situation. The memory hovered just out of reach, like a playful pixie. Then, with one more mental exertion, he had it. Lily, he said.

[00:29:25] Of course. It's just like you said. Like I said. Like I said. Asked Lily. And Jake reminded her how a few nights before, the night when they had first heard Goldie landing on their tower roof, Lily had been talking about all the new books the library had stocked.

[00:29:49] And one of them, he reminded her, was a book that could sing lullabies. Bedtime lullabies. Of course, whispered Lily. Jake, that's brilliant. What a memory you have.

[00:30:12] And Lily, ambled over to the new books section, pulled one off the shelf, and returned. The book she held was beautiful. It was fur-covered like the softest soft toy, and coloured in soft pinks and velveteen blue.

[00:30:34] She opened it, and inside, instead of words, the book had a mouth. And that mouth started singing a wonderfully peaceful lullaby. Straight away, Lily felt light and airy.

[00:30:53] The lullaby loosened her mind and made her feel so sleepy, like she could just slip into bed right now. Jake felt the same, and Goldie felt it too. Oh, she sighed. I'm tired. Lily closed the lullaby book.

[00:31:23] Best not to fall asleep in the library, she whispered. Come on, let's get back to our dorm. Jake sighed and rubbed his eyes. I wish we didn't have to climb all those stairs though, he said. Well, said Goldie. You don't have to.

[00:31:50] And just minutes later, Jake and Lily Jupiter were sitting on top of the hippogriff. Goldie, their legs wrapped snugly around her body. Their hands tucked lightly into her feathers. Goldie spread her wings, and with two beats they were in the air, soaring so gently and so gracefully,

[00:32:20] the sky, up towards the sky. The sky that it felt to Lily, like she was sailing on top of a soft cloud. The whole sky spread out before them, and the wind rippled through their hair.

[00:32:40] Goldie was so comfortable to sit on, and so effortless in her flight, that just a minute later, they were up at the highest tower of Leora Academy, and sailing through the Jupiter twins' open dormitory window. They slipped off Goldie, and each gave her a hug.

[00:33:08] Thank you, they said. You're very welcome, she replied. Besides, I should be the one thanking the two of you. It was late now, the middle of the night almost, and way beyond the Jupiter twins' bedtime.

[00:33:33] So they slipped their pyjamas on, and crawled under the covers. Goldie folded her legs beneath her, and curled up on the floor between their beds. She lay her eagle's head upon the carpet. It was perfectly comfortable for her, she said. Jake gave a big yawn.

[00:34:06] Okay, Lily, he said. Open the lullaby book. It's about time we all got a good night's sleep. Lily lifted the book off the floor, and stroked its furry cover with the flat of her hand. Then she opened it, and lay it like that on her bedside table.

[00:34:36] A few seconds later, the book began to sing. It sang a lullaby so sweet that all three of them, Lily and Jake, and their new friend, Goldie the Hippogriff, felt sleep creep through their limbs, lay heavy on their eyelids, and spread serenity all over them.

[00:35:07] Goldie let out a big yawn and closed her eyes. She could feel the dreams calling out to her already, beckoning her towards them. She was so sleepy. She was so glad to be going to sleep.

[00:35:29] And so, like that, with Jake and Lily in their beds, and Goldie nestling down on the floor in between them, the Jupiter twins fell asleep with their new friend, to the sound of the lullaby book.

[00:35:52] And it will probably come as no surprise to you that the sleep that the three of them enjoyed that night was one of the most restful and peaceful sleeps any of them had ever had. And, of course, it would not be the last.

[00:36:17] For what better way is there to fall asleep than with a hippogriff snoring gently on the floor beside you, and the sounds of the lullaby book filling the air like a chorus of guardian angels. For what better way is there to be the lovely you, and there are so many people who are mistreated that are lovely and содержly. Children and meet with the children at their home in the night for a while still, and to the north of Christ. And to meet with the children of the children in the river, a people like that. And to hear out more details about the beautiful ways the children of their families were being sent off by their families with their babies. And to hear out more details about their children. And to hear out more details about their husbands, that were given the story.