Koko & Kira In The Enchanted Garden 🐼🪴 Bedtime Story

[00:00:10] Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original children's bedtime stories and meditations designed to make bedtime a dream. We're welcoming into the Koko Club with warm, warm hugs, Cohen and Toby from Brisbane, Australia, and Alex and Rowan. Thank you guys. Thank you for subscribing for the year. We love having you in here with us.

[00:00:33] And we hope that you're going to enjoy all of the back catalogue, loads and loads of stories and that you send in some of your good ideas. Before we begin, a quick message for the grown-ups. If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, unlock four bonus stories per month and much, much more, you can join Koko Club. Subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes. But now here's a quick word from our sponsors.

[00:01:02] Hey, sleepyheads! I'm Kelly, the host of Koala Shine, the perfect daytime adventure show for long car journeys, school runs and lazy Sunday mornings. I'm popping up here on Koala Moon because I've heard you want more Koala Kids stories, and I'm here to deliver. Beep beep, special delivery! Koala Shine is a tiny bit different from Koala Moon as it's designed for daytime listening. So after a great night's sleep with a story from Abby, you can have a big old stretch and tune into Koala Shine.

[00:01:30] Joining your favourite characters on crazy adventures around the world. With new episodes every Friday, we'll follow Hector and Sunny on a daytime safari, explore the big city with Munchie the Raccoon, and visit the circus with Super Soul. You'll also hear cool facts, jokes and learn about the world we live in. Plus, there's a chance for your voices to be featured on the podcast too. Koala Shine offers mindful fun entertainment on the move, designed to spark curiosity. Search Koala Shine now on your favourite podcast platform.

[00:01:59] And be sure to hit follow so that finding your next adventure is easy peasy lemon squeezy. Hope to see you there! Koala Shine! Now, bit of a question for everyone. Has it ever happened to you that you're walking in a really familiar place, like a park, or walking a familiar route, like to the local shop or to school,

[00:02:25] and suddenly you notice something really completely and totally new? Permanent like a fountain or a small building, but totally new to you. It gives me such an eerie sensation, whenever it happens, of realising that I've never noticed something that has been right in front of my eyes all along. Now, that exact same feeling is just about to happen to our lovable little siblings Coco and Kira.

[00:02:52] And it's a pretty major discovery, one which includes joke-telling plants, the most fruitful of trees, and all manner of enchanted flowers. Let's join them and find out the magic and majesty of a garden that has been planted right under their noses. Only, this is the first time they've ever seen it. Lie back in bed and take some lovely deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose.

[00:03:22] And out through your mouth. And again, in through your nose. And sigh it out. Maybe close your eyes at the same time. Lovely. Let's get ready to join Coco and Kira as they're heading home from school one afternoon. This is Coco and Kira in the Enchanted Garden by Alicia Ainsley.

[00:03:53] One delightfully sunny day in Sleepy Forest, Coco Koala and his little sister, Kira the panda, were walking home from school when they noticed something they hadn't noticed before. Rather extraordinarily, a mysterious garden had appeared in the middle of Sleepy Forest. It was a large, colourful garden, bursting with carefully planted flowers and trees surrounded by a white picket fence.

[00:04:21] There was no house nearby, so it was unclear who the garden belonged to. But whoever it was, they perhaps owned the most extravagant garden in the entire forest. Coco and Kira approached the white picket fence and peered over for a closer look. Everything in the garden appeared to sparkle in the sun. The flowers glittered. The grass shone.

[00:04:49] The paving stones glistened and the trees twinkled. It seemed as though everything was tinged with a little magic. It's the prettiest garden I've ever seen, whispered Kira. The curious siblings wondered how they had never come across it before.

[00:05:14] Coco and Kira were so fixated on the mesmerising beauty of the garden that they didn't notice a figure trotting over to them until they heard a friendly voice say, Good afternoon, you two. How are you today? Coco and Kira hopped back from the white picket fence. To their happy surprise, the familiar voice belonged to Fenella, the tiny unicorn.

[00:05:40] Her rainbow-swirled horn and her long silver hair shimmered with a luminous sheen. Good morning, Fenella, Coco greeted her cheerfully. You made us jump a little. We were so busy admiring this amazing garden that we didn't notice you approaching. Fenella's face lit up with a smile. Do you like it? She asked. Kira grinned and replied,

[00:06:10] Oh yes, we've just discovered it. We've never seen it before, but it is absolutely beautiful. Coco added, Whoever owns this garden must be very proud. Fenella, the tiny unicorn, giggled and flicked her silky hair over her shoulder. She responded,

[00:06:35] Oh yes, the person who owns this garden is very proud. That person is me. Coco and Kira gasped in awe. You own this incredible garden? Kira repeated. You must spend all day every day here to keep it growing so nicely.

[00:07:01] Fenella admitted that she did visit her garden regularly, but the upkeep wasn't quite as demanding as they probably assumed. Some of the dazzling plants in this garden were enchanted, so they mostly cared for themselves. The idea of an enchanted garden blew away Coco and Kira. They wanted to know more. Do you need any gardening help? Coco offered.

[00:07:29] We'd be happy to lend you a hand. That is, if you need one. Fenella considered their offer. She had already carried out most of her gardening duties for the day, so there wasn't much left to do. But seeing the eager looks on Coco and Kira's faces, she could tell that they wanted to explore. With a smile, Fenella nudged open the gate in the fence and offered for them to step inside.

[00:07:59] Coco and Kira raced through the gate into the enchanted garden. Their little feet dashed out onto the softest, spongiest, brightest green grass they'd ever seen. Every step felt like a massage. Coco and Kira couldn't help but giggle. Mid-step, Coco paused and asked Fenella. Wait a second.

[00:08:26] This grass isn't enchanted, is it? Fenella chuckled and answered. No, the grass isn't enchanted. Kira responded. Oh, good. Before flopping down onto the grass and rolling around in it happily. This grass feels amazing. Fenella and Coco laughed at Kira rolling around in the soft grass.

[00:08:55] She was right. It did feel wonderful. Like the softest mattress Kira had ever laid down on. Coco wandered further into the garden. Fenella had truly done a marvellous job. He could understand why she usually kept this place to herself. It was luxuriously tranquil and quiet with nobody else around.

[00:09:20] In the garden, Coco couldn't hear a thing except the gentle breeze blowing past his round furry ears. Coco stepped onto the garden path. The path was made up of white marble paving stones, but they were so much more than he realised. Every time Coco stepped on a stone, it glowed yellow and emitted a musical note.

[00:09:48] The garden path played music as he walked along it. Coco grinned and called, Kira, this garden path is made of magic. Look. Kira sat up in the grass and watched Coco hopping along the path, playing music with his feet. She wanted to join in too, so she ran over and jumped on the garden path by Coco's side.

[00:10:16] It's like a giant piano, Kira observed, treading on a few stones and playing a chord. Yes, but so much better, Coco tacked on. Together, Coco and Kira followed the path through Fenella's garden, hopping from stone to stone and playing joyful melodies along the way.

[00:10:39] They passed radiant, colourful flowerbeds that smelt of the most heavenly sweet fragrances. They crossed a narrow babbling brook, jumping from stepping stone to stepping stone. They spotted cleverly carved stone statues perched between shrubs and bushes. There were pretty blossom trees and a giant oak that stood proudly at the end of the path.

[00:11:06] Every detail of Fenella's garden was perfect. Once they reached the end of the path, below the giant branches of the towering oak tree, Coco and Kira decided to rest for a moment. They sat down with their backs against the bumpy tree trunk and gazed out across the garden. Fenella was currently tending to a flower bush and looked perfectly content.

[00:11:36] This place is wonderful, Kira sighed dreamily. I wish this was our garden. Ah, Coco suggested. Maybe we should have a go at growing our own garden. I'm sure that our parents will have some seeds in a cupboard somewhere. We could grow our own vegetable patch.

[00:12:03] All of a sudden, a voice that they didn't recognise interrupted their daydream. A slow, deep, gentle voice rumbled from behind them. That sounds like a nice idea, the voice said. I recommend starting with radishes.

[00:12:31] Radishes grow quickly so you'll see the fruits of your labour fast. And there's nothing more motivating than seeing your hard work come to fruition. Coco and Kira got back to their feet and stared at the oak tree. They hadn't noticed before, but now they could see clearly that there was an old wrinkly face moulded into the bark.

[00:13:01] The face had large, wise eyes, a bulbous nose and a wide, smiling mouth. Coco smiled in return and responded to the talking tree. I was thinking more that we could grow pumpkins or giant broccoli. The talking oak tree hummed and replied,

[00:13:25] Hmm, yes, those are good ideas too. You could grow anything you like. Kira was bewildered by the fact they were talking to a tree. No, the trees could talk, she gasped. The talking oak smiled and commented, Some of us can.

[00:13:56] All trees have souls, but only some of us have mouths. Fenella plodded over and greeted the talking tree like an old friend. Fenella explained that this oak was over 500 years old and therefore was very wise. She had met the wise tree months ago whilst assisting one of her tiny friends,

[00:14:24] Callie Caterpillar, who lived in a neighbouring tree. Fenella and the wise oak had gotten talking and she had told it all about the enchanted garden she was growing. Longing for a restful retirement, the talking oak had asked if it could move into her garden. Of course, Fenella was very happy to oblige. It worked out for both of them.

[00:14:50] Now, she had a spectacularly giant tree in her garden and the oak could enjoy retirement in peace. Coco and Kira were impressed. You are 500 years old? Kira repeated in awe. What is the best thing you've seen in 500 years?

[00:15:17] The talking oak contemplated Kira's question. With 500 years worth of memories to rifle through, its answer could have taken a while. But after only a few moments, the wise oak responded, It would be impossible for me to narrow down everything I've experienced into one special moment.

[00:15:47] However, there is something that I have never tired of in all my years, and that is watching the magic of metamorphosis unfold. In the tree beside where I planted my roots for many, many years,

[00:16:11] caterpillars would come year in and year out to weave their cocoons and sleep. During those restful months, I saw nothing of them until, finally, they would awaken and burst from their cocoons as butterflies.

[00:16:34] Seeing the transformed caterpillars fly out of the other tree with their colourful wings and into the sky was always a spectacular sight. I have never once taken that miraculous sight for granted. Coco and Kira smiled at the image the talking oak had painted in their mind,

[00:17:03] of the beautiful butterflies fluttering out of the tree like blossom petals blowing in the wind. They could understand why the wise oak would have loved watching that scene year after year. Coco and Kira wished the wise talking oak tree a happy retirement and strolled into another area of the garden with Fenella.

[00:17:31] The proud unicorn fondly pointed out all of the beautiful plants she had grown and nurtured. There was a glorious bed of purple whimsy flowers that make you giggle if you sniff them and a dock leaf bush that soothes any sting or bites with its healing sap.

[00:17:53] Fenella identified a tall, thick stem with about 20 pink buds up its sides waiting to unfurl. She said that this was a smarty plant which makes you extra intelligent if you chew on one of its petals. The smarty plant still had a way to grow but once it bloomed it would be a spectacular vision in the garden.

[00:18:20] Fenella also directed Coco and Kira's attention to a bed of spiky blue vervain flowers that, when put under your pillow, allow you to fall into a deep, undisturbed sleep. It seemed that Fenella had grown flowers for practically every occasion. Next, she led Coco and Kira past a bed of multicoloured flowers with long, rounded petals

[00:18:49] in all the primary colours, red, yellow and blue. These flowers are my favourite. They always brighten up my day, Fenella confessed. Then, one of the scarlet red flowers added with a smirk. And that's not just on account of our cheerfully bright colours.

[00:19:14] Coco and Kira laughed with delight at the fact the flower had spoken. But they weren't surprised. By now, they expected everything to talk in Fenella's enchanted garden. They seem very nice, Coco complimented the flowers. But why are these flowers in particular your favourite?

[00:19:42] Fenella grinned and explained that these flowers love to tell jokes. Every time she visited, the flowers would have a fresh batch of jokes to tell her. Oh, I love jokes, Kira said excitedly. Please, can we hear one? The flowers all turned their heads away and whispered amongst themselves.

[00:20:08] After a few seconds, they turned back to face Coco, Kira and Fenella. Alright then, a buttery yellow flower agreed. Why is a flower like the letter A? There was a pause. Because a bee goes after it. The bed of flowers fell into a fit of giggles. And Coco, Kira and Fenella all laughed too.

[00:20:37] Please, could we have another? Coco asked. A sky blue flower was happy to oblige. What do you call a clumsy flower? The blue bloom recited. A whoopsie daisy. Yet again, everybody laughed. Fenella was right. The flowers were sure to put a smile on your face.

[00:21:03] Then a ruby red flower threw in a third joke. The flower giggled. How do sunflowers stay so positive? They always look on their sunny side. Everybody's laughter was so contagious that flowers, plants and trees all around the garden started to chuckle along with them.

[00:21:32] That's very good. A nearby cherry tree chortled, getting in on the action. Making a joke of his own, Coco tittered. I don't know about you, but I think these jokes are going from bud to worse. Kira clutched her sides as she laughed. You made our daisy, she joked.

[00:22:00] The bed of joke-telling flowers bowed their heads as if they were graciously accepting applause from an audience. Fenella whispered to Coco and Kira. I told you, they always brighten up my day. Kira was starting to wonder if every plant and tree here spoke. She dashed over to another tree and called out,

[00:22:29] Hello, do you talk too? However, she was met with silence. It didn't appear that this tree was quite as chatty as the wise oak, the chortling cherry tree or the joke-telling flowers. However, what it lacked in speech, it made up for in its intriguing appearance. Kira gazed up at the unusual tree in front of her and inspected it closer.

[00:22:58] Hanging from the branches were fruits of every colour of the rainbow. Perhaps even more colours than there were in the rainbow. There were brown fruits and turquoise fruits, violet and red, yellow and neon green, not to mention black and silver. It was a very strange-looking fruit tree. Kira called over to Fenella.

[00:23:26] What type of tree is this? I haven't seen anything like it. Fenella trotted over and explained, Oh, this is the fantastic, flavourful tree. Every fruit that grows on it tastes completely different. That's why each fruit is a different colour too.

[00:23:53] Wow, that sounds so cool, Kira said. Are we able to try one? Fenella chuckled and replied, Of course you can. The only thing is, I'm too small to reach the branches now. The tree has gotten too tall for me. Luckily, Coco could climb the tree. Koalas were notoriously good climbers.

[00:24:22] So it would be easy for him to grab everyone a piece of fruit. Coco wrapped his arms and legs around the trunk of the fantastic, flavourful tree and clambered his way upwards and into the leafy branches. He shuffled out onto a thick branch and called down to Kira and Fenella. What colour fruit would you both like?

[00:24:48] Kira called up that she would like a purple piece of fruit and Fenella requested a pink one. Coco grabbed the coloured fruit as requested and also picked a blue one for himself. Look out below! He shouted down as he dropped the three pieces of fruit into Kira's outstretched hands. Then he safely made his way back down the tree.

[00:25:14] A mission accomplished, he announced, brushing his hands together. Kira passed Fenella her rosy pink fruit to try. Passed Coco, his blue snack, and then inspected her own selection. She was very keen to try the unusual fruit from this unique tree. She wondered what her purple piece would taste like.

[00:25:40] Fenella took the first bite and groaned with delight. Mmm, it tastes of rose petals, she said as she chomped happily. Coco and Kira eagerly bit into their fruit and were pleasantly surprised by the tasty flavours that overwhelmed their taste buds. Mine tastes like bubblegum, Coco said.

[00:26:09] Mine tastes like grape juice, Kira added. How funny that every piece of fruit tastes different. When he looked up from his fruit and at Kira, he was startled by something very unusual. Kira had somehow transformed colour.

[00:26:33] No doubt by magic, Kira's fur was now a shade of purple. Very similar to the colour of the fruit she was consuming. Kira, you're turning purple, Coco giggled. Kira looked back at Coco and began to giggle too. And you are turning blue, Coco, she said.

[00:27:01] Coco glanced down at the fur on his arms. And just as Kira had said, his fur was indeed turning blue. By eating the fruit, they were both turning different colours. Fenella laughed and assured her friends that it was perfectly normal when eating from the fantastic, flavourful tree.

[00:27:27] Whoever bit into a piece of fruit from it would temporarily change colour. It was all a part of the magic. Coco and Kira giggled with amusement, but noticed that despite eating from the tree too, Fenella hadn't changed. Why have you not changed colour? Coco asked Fenella confusedly. Because I have a pink piece of fruit,

[00:27:57] and my skin is already pink, she pointed out. But don't worry, your new colour will wear off shortly. It doesn't last forever. Coco nodded and took another bite of his bubblegum flavoured fruit. But Kira pouted disappointedly. She quite liked being purple. It was her favourite colour.

[00:28:23] The three of them finished their yummy portions of fruit, and just as Fenella had said, Coco and Kira's fur turned back to their original colours. Coco and Kira gazed around the enchanted garden and admired its beauty. They hadn't experienced so much magic in one place before.

[00:28:50] This garden was truly special, but there still was a question lingering in their minds. Fenella, can I ask you a question? Coco inquired. Why have we never come across your enchanted garden before? Kira and I have walked this route to school several times,

[00:29:17] and never spotted your garden until now. Fenella considered whether to share her secret with the koala and his sister. Eventually, she decided that she might as well. Fenella looked around to check nobody could overhear, before whispering, You haven't seen it before, because the garden has a charm placed over it.

[00:29:48] I enlisted a fairy friend of mine to help. I wanted to keep this garden for myself, as a place I could come to whenever I needed some alone time. So, she cast a spell that would make the garden only visible to me. Kira was fascinated, but questioned, Then, why can we see the garden now?

[00:30:18] Fenella shrugged, and admitted she didn't know why. The enchantment cast by the fairy stated that the garden could only be seen by those who would truly appreciate it. Maybe the enchantment had decided that Coco and Kira were worthy of seeing through the spell and experiencing the garden too. Coco and Kira smiled.

[00:30:48] They were glad the fairy's charm had chosen them to enjoy the enchanted garden with Fenella. I hope you didn't mind sharing it with us today, Coco apologized. But Fenella assured him that she was overjoyed to have been able to show them around her garden. It filled her with a sense of pride, seeing other people enjoying her hard work

[00:31:16] and getting as excited about it as she did. Coco and Kira were welcome to join her in the enchanted garden any time they liked. The fairy siblings were grateful for Fenella's hospitality. They would definitely love to return again in the future. Kira gazed at the sky

[00:31:42] and noticed that the sun was growing low behind the trees. They had best be heading home soon. However, before they did, Kira longed to lie down in the comfortable grass one more time. She lay down on the soft blades and stretched out her arms and legs like a starfish or a snow angel.

[00:32:09] She sighed contentedly. I might come back just to do this again, Kira confessed wistfully, and Fenella chuckled. Coco lay down by her side to see what all the fuss was about. He instantly could see why Kira loved it so much.

[00:32:37] The satin-like grass felt like silk sheets on a plush bed. He felt so relaxed that he couldn't help closing his eyes and sighing with satisfaction. Coco and Kira lay in the grass for a while longer, inhaling the scents of the garden and listening to the breeze flowing over them.

[00:33:05] They couldn't know for sure what made them feel so relaxed and safe here. But perhaps the pollen from the blue vervain flowers had drifted on the wind, filling their bodies with its sleep-inducing effects and lulling them towards a wonderfully deep slumber.