The Little Badgers' Big Bake 🦡🎂 Bedtime Stories For Kids

[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. Right, now we're saying a stellar shout out to the superstars, our freshest followers and premium listeners, that's you, Dylan Jane.

[00:00:31] Laura from Orlando, Zephyr Moon who just turned five, and his little sister Lulabelle who listens to Koala Tot's Clever Girl. Plus siblings Hayley, Jack and Nathan. Once again huge thanks from all of us here at Sleep HQ for your support in helping us to grow the show. We appreciate every single one of you.

[00:00:53] 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 Coco Club. Subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes. But now here's a quick word from our sponsors.

[00:01:13] Before we settle in for tonight's sleepy story, here's something for the grown-ups and for our little dreamers who love big adventures. With Groupon, it's easier than ever to make magical memories together. If your little one has ever wished they could leap into a koala moon adventure, like taking a ballet class with Coco and Kira, or riding the monorail with Hector and Sunny, Groupon might just have the real-world version waiting for you.

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[00:02:30] We understand how much you appreciate the bedtime stories on Koala Moon for your little ones. But as a mother myself, I know that parents need their relaxation time too. With soothing meditations and nostalgic stories, each episode of Sleep Wave is crafted to help busy minds slow down, so you can wake up feeling well-rested tomorrow.

[00:02:52] Each night, I'll guide you to sleep with beautiful visualizations and calming journeys, which listeners describe as perfect for drifting off to. Not sure where to start with meditation? Try one of my favorite episodes, A Mental Vacation, where I'll lead you through using your imagination to experience the deep relaxation of a holiday without ever leaving your bedroom. You can discover Sleep Wave on all major podcast platforms.

[00:03:21] Simply search Sleep Wave, Sleep Meditations, and hit follow so you can easily find the show later tonight. Sweet dreams. Now then, I have a question for you. Is there anything better than receiving a homemade card or prezzy? Oh, Coco's just reminded me that getting his first ukulele was very special for him.

[00:03:47] But I'm still of the opinion that receiving a gift that's been lovingly created for you by someone who's thinking about you is the most wonderful thing in the world. I mean, it only exists because you exist, right? They made it for you. And tonight, our little friend Betty Badger is going to experience some of that joy because her three children have given her an unexpected treat.

[00:04:15] Yes, we are back into the warm, sweet-smelling four walls of Betty Badger's bakery. But Betty won't be running the shop tonight. Tonight, let's find out if Chip, Ginger, and Lavender can run the bakery without their mother's help. And let's see where the secret destination is that Betty is heading to.

[00:04:40] But first, let's try and get a little relaxed and snoozy in readiness for the story. Lie back in your bed and rub your hands together like you're trying to keep them warm on a frosty morning. Rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub. Go on. And then quickly bring your warm palms up and place them over your eyes. Can you feel the heat? Try again if you like.

[00:05:08] And once your hands are over your eyes, just let them stay as long as they want as you breathe gently in and out, slowly lengthening out your breaths. Lovely. It's such a nice way to start to leave the day behind. And now that you're all relaxing, I'll begin The Little Badger's Big Bake by Alicia Ainsley.

[00:05:36] Betty Badger's Bakery had boomed in popularity lately. A very flattering article had been published in the Sleepy Forest Gazette, and it had brought a whole new wave of fresh customers through her door. Betty was grateful for the extra business, but in order to meet demand, she was practically working around the clock now.

[00:06:06] She hadn't taken a day off work in months. Nobody saw how hard Betty worked quite as much as her children did. Betty was the proud parent of three little badgers called Chip, Ginger and Lavender. The three little badgers would often assist their mother in the kitchen on the morning, whipping up the treats that would go on sale later. They were getting very good at baking, just like their mother.

[00:06:33] And Betty barely had to guide them and tell them how to do things these days. Her little badgers instinctively knew exactly what to do. Recently, Chip, Ginger and Lavender had noticed how tired their mother was and were keen to do something to help. She deserved a day off work more than anyone.

[00:06:58] But they knew she wouldn't want to disappoint customers by closing the bakery for a day. So, in secret, the little badgers hatched a plan. At 5am one morning, the little badgers leapt up onto their mother's bed, jumping up and down excitedly. Mummy! Mummy! Mummy! They giggled with excitement. We have a surprise for you! Betty Badger yawned and sat up straight.

[00:07:28] What could her three little badgers be so excited about at such an early hour in the morning? Chip held out a golden envelope towards his sleepy mother. Open it! He ordered with a grin. Betty rubbed the sleep from her eyes and took the envelope. From it, she slipped out an adorable, homemade greeting card.

[00:07:56] On the front, there was an image of a badger that looked a lot like Betty, lying down on a lily pad with cucumber over their eyes. The badger had a big smile on her face and was holding up what appeared to be a steaming cup of tea, raising a cheer to the observer. This is very lovely, Betty gushed. Who drew this?

[00:08:25] Ginger raised his hand proudly and claimed that he had. However, Lavender and Chip were keen not to let Ginger take all the credit. Lavender had written the message inside and Chip had been the one to gather all the resources to make the card. Betty smiled and congratulated them all on the team effort to produce such a sweet card. Lavender said,

[00:08:56] But you haven't even read what's inside yet. That's the best bit. Betty opened the card and read the neatly handwritten message inside. It read, Dear Mummy, Dear Mummy, We see how hard you work in your bakery every day. You are so kind to all your customers and you always go the extra mile to make sure that everyone leaves happily.

[00:09:25] Today, we think that you should take the day off to take care of yourself instead of others for once. We hope you like your surprise. Love and kisses, your little badgers. Betty's heart felt full of love from her children's sweet message. However, she insisted she couldn't take a day off work. The bakery wouldn't run itself.

[00:09:53] Luckily, Chip, Ginger and Lavender already had a plan up their furry sleeves. They informed their mother that they had booked her a surprise day at the Sleepy Forest Spa. There she could relax and refresh herself while her little badgers ran the bakery for the day. Are you sure you want to do this? Betty asked.

[00:10:21] Running the bakery is harder work than you might think. But the little badgers were adamant that they could handle it. After all, they helped out in the kitchen and on the shop floor all the time. Betty had unintentionally been preparing them for this very opportunity. So, Betty rolled out of bed and packed herself a swimming bag.

[00:10:48] She had to admit she was very excited about the prospect of lying around all day. Maybe she would get a spa treatment or two. She had been wanting to have her nails painted for ages, but simply hadn't had the time. But now, she did. When she was ready, Betty waved goodbye to her generous children and wished them good luck with the bakery.

[00:11:16] Chip, Ginger and Lavender advised her that there was no need to check in on them. They would have it all under control. So, Betty set off to enjoy her day at the spa. As soon as Betty was out of sight, the little badgers headed to the kitchen. Couldn't spare another moment if they wanted their busy day to go without a hitch.

[00:11:42] The first job would be to plan out the bakery menu for the day. Chip, Ginger and Lavender had complete free reign and they were ready to have a bit of fun with it. Look at Chip and Marshmallow cookies today, Lavender begged her brothers. They are my favourite. Oh, yummy, good idea, Chip replied.

[00:12:12] Shall we also make some sticky sweet cinnamon buns? Ginger licked his lips and suggested, We should bake some cheese twists too. And some raspberry muffins and some rosemary loaves and some carrot cakes. I want to make everything. Lavender giggled and gently told Ginger to slow down. They couldn't make everything today.

[00:12:40] But they certainly could whip up a few things. So, the little badgers wrote their top choices on the kitchen chalkboard and set to work. Across the forest, Betty Badger reached the doors to the sleepy forest spa and gasped with delight. She had never visited the spa before, so she had no idea what to expect.

[00:13:06] But to her great pleasure, what she could see was even dreamier than she could have imagined. Two tall bamboo gates stood grandly between tall tangled hedges of luscious forest plants. Purple and red flowers decorated the spa walls. And a giant white sign had the words,

[00:13:33] Sleepy Forest Spa painted upon it, right next to the gate. At a welcome desk, also made of bamboo, a pretty white dove waited for arriving guests with a kind smile. With the softest voice Betty had heard, the bird cooed, Welcome to the sleepy forest spa. Do you have a reservation?

[00:14:04] Betty gave her name and the gentle dove checked her clipboard. Ah yes, welcome Betty Badger. We are so delighted to host you today. Please follow me. Betty watched in awe as the bamboo gates floated open, almost as if powered by magic, welcoming Betty inside.

[00:14:33] They walked along a marble-paved path, lined with tall hedges made up of silky leaves. Tiny candles lined the edges of the path, all the way up to a set of red oak doors at the other end. Next to the doors was a large golden gong, hanging from a metal frame.

[00:14:58] The dove picked up a little fluffy beater and banged the gong three times. Gong. The enchanting sound vibrated around the space, and Betty's body felt all tingly. After a few moments,

[00:15:26] the tingling settled and Betty noticed that her body felt calmer than before. The red oak doors opened, and Betty's eyes grew wide with amazement. Beyond the gates was a giant lake with the most crystal clear water she had ever seen.

[00:15:51] The scent of soothing lavender drifted into her nostrils, and the sound of trickling waterfalls and beautiful oriental music filled her ears. Butterflies fluttered above the still water, flying from orchid to orchid planted around the lake's edge. Giant lily pads floated on the surface,

[00:16:20] and a few spa visitors were already lying on them, drifting with the slow current. Nobody said a word to each other. There was a mutual understanding that this space was sacred and should remain silent. As the gentle dove handed Betty a soft towel, a fluffy robe,

[00:16:49] and a pair of matching slippers, Betty could tell she was going to like it here. Back in the bakery, chip, ginger and lavender were off to a flying start. They had successfully whipped up dozens of loaves of bread, cakes and pastries, plus a batch of lavender's favourite chocolate chip and marshmallow cookies.

[00:17:18] Now it was time to get the food out onto the bakery floor, ready to sell to customers. The three little badgers carried the trays of fresh food from the kitchen out onto the shop floor. They stocked the shelves and filled the cabinets to the brim, then stood back to admire their work with pride.

[00:17:46] Great job, guys! Lavender smiled. The day hadn't even properly begun for the three little badgers, but they were already covered from top to toe in flour and sugar. Their hands were sticky with dough and ginger had a suspicious hint of melted chocolate in the corner of his mouth. We had better clean ourselves up quickly before we open the doors,

[00:18:16] chip suggested. The shop window blinds were lowered, but they could see that customers were already lining up outside, waiting for the bakery to open, ginger gasped. Everybody really likes Mummy's bakery, don't they? Of course they do, chip declared with pride.

[00:18:43] This is their best bakery ever. Once they dusted the flour off their aprons and washed their paws, they all gathered together in the middle of the shop. Alright, so let's go through the plan of action for today, Lavender suggested. It's going to be busy, there's no doubt about that, but it's nothing we can't handle

[00:19:12] if we stick to a plan. Lavender proposed that they each have a particular duty that they were responsible for during the day. Ginger could serve up the baked goods and place them in bags. Chip could add up the cost of all the items and take the customers' money and Lavender could keep the shelves topped up with food so that they didn't run out. They agreed on the plan

[00:19:42] and Chip and Ginger took up their positions behind the shop counter. Lavender lifted the window blinds and a flurry of voices outside started to chirp and cheer. Are you ready? She asked her brothers with a grin. She unlatched the lock on the bakery door, turned the sign over from closed to open

[00:20:10] and pulled the door wide with a tinkle of the bell. Good morning everyone, she greeted the customers. Welcome to Betty Badger's Bakery. Please form an orderly queue and we will be happy to serve you. The customers immediately filed into the shop and the little badger's busy day began.

[00:20:39] At the Sleepy Forest Spa, Betty Badger wasn't busy at all. In fact, she was having her nails painted. She laid back on a spongy lily pad with slices of cooling cucumber over her eyes, just like in her children's drawing, while a steady-handed frog painted her nails. Betty had chosen a bright pink colour

[00:21:08] that popped against her black fur. Seeing the vibrant colour on her fingers made her feel like a new woman already. Betty felt so relaxed. The lily pad gently drifted across the water and with her eyes closed and her head back, Betty felt like she was slowly spinning into space.

[00:21:37] Her body felt as light as a feather and there were moments where she forgot where she was and imagined she was levitating up into the sky. Ah, this is what I needed, Betty sighed. The frog painting her nails croaked quietly. Betty. Your nails

[00:22:06] were in need of some care. I can see that you work hard with your hands. What do you do? Betty told the frog beauty therapist about her busy bakery and the frog gasped as if she had met a celebrity. She knew exactly who Betty was and knew all about the bakery too. I adore

[00:22:36] I adore your strawberry tarts the frog said. So, if you're here today then who is taking care of the bakery? Betty explained how her children had surprised her with this spa day as a reward for her constant hard work. In her absence her little badges were taking care of the shop for her.

[00:23:06] The frog sighed with adoration. How positively sweet of her children to be so thoughtful. Betty smiled to herself. Yes, it was very thoughtful of her children to arrange. She wondered how they were faring back at the bakery while she had her feet up at the spa. The bakery had been open for a couple of hours by now

[00:23:36] and Chip, Ginger and Lavender had fallen into a successful working rhythm. Focusing on their separate duties was working well and all of their mother's usual customers were very impressed with the little badger's competent level of service. There may have been sticky paw prints all over Betty's usually pristinely clean bakery but it didn't matter. The little badgers

[00:24:05] were having so much fun running the shop that even when things went a little wrong they didn't mind. Aside from a few hiccups here and there the little badger's day was going pretty well. Despite a consistently long queue they didn't keep their where is your mother today? Mr. Moose inquired as he

[00:24:35] ordered. Is she sick? Chip handed over Mr. Moose's loaf of bread and assured him that their mother was quite well. They had given her the day off to take care of herself. Mr. Moose thought that was a splendid idea. Everybody needs to relax once in a while the old Moose declared. Your

[00:25:05] mother must be very proud of you all. Chip thanked Mr. Moose for his kind words, took his money and gave him his change. Then Mr. Moon left the bakery with his bread and muffins to return home for a quiet rest of the day. Chip started writing down the totals of the last few orders on his list including Mr. Moose's but paused when something didn't add up right.

[00:25:36] Oh gumdrops Chip exclaimed spotting his mistake. I forgot to charge Mr. Moose for his muffins. Ginger comforted his brother. Don't worry about it Chip it's only a couple of muffins your brain must be boggled from all that constant adding up. You're bound to make a couple of mistakes here and there when your brain is tired. Then Ginger leaned in closer and whispered

[00:26:05] Don't tell anyone but I accidentally served Agatha Periwinkle a black black black black pie instead of an apple pie earlier. She's going to get a surprise when she bites into it later. The two brothers giggled at the mistake. It didn't matter if there were a few blunders made here and there. They were doing the best that they could and that was what really mattered.

[00:26:37] The little badgers continued to serve their customers with big smiles and a positive outlook. After some time Ginger checked the clock on the wall and noticed that it was five minutes to closing time. The day had gone surprisingly fast and the little badgers hadn't stopped for a break once. Lavender turned the sign on the door over to signal that

[00:27:07] they were closing and Ginger and Chip served the last customers. Once the final one had left the shop the little badgers sighed with relief and collapsed under the counters. I'm so tired Ginger admitted. That was the hardest day's work I've ever done. Lavender took three leftover

[00:27:36] cookies off a shelf and handed one to each of her brothers. I think we deserve a treat, she said, taking a bite of the deliciously gooey cookie. At the Sleepy Forest Spa, Betty Badger had enjoyed a delightfully relaxing massage, courtesy of an octopus with eight tentacles. Her body felt like it had been

[00:28:06] relieved of every ounce of tension it had once held. She felt like a new badger. As she sat on the bank of the tranquil lake and sipped a glass of cold iced lemonade, Betty sighed gratefully. She had needed a day like this more than she knew. Betty knew that thanks to this wonderful day off, she would return to work

[00:28:36] tomorrow with a fresh tank full of energy and a spring in her step. Wrapping her fluffy robe tighter around her body, Betty took one last satisfying look at the peaceful surroundings of the spa. She would certainly have to make trips to the sleepy forest spa a regular part of her routine. If today had taught Betty

[00:29:06] anything, it was that putting time aside to rest was essential and that she had perhaps the sweetest children in the whole of sleepy forest. She finished her lemonade, took a deep satisfying breath and decided to head home to check on her little badgers. Betty walked through the bakery door just as Ginger

[00:29:35] wiped the last dusting of sugar off the shop counter. My little badgers, Betty cried with her arms open wide. Chip, Ginger and Lavender raced over to their mother ecstatically and gave her the biggest hug. How was your day mummy? Lavender asked. Did you get a massage? Chip questioned.

[00:30:05] I like your nails, Ginger exclaimed, inspecting Betty's freshly painted fingers. Betty told her children that she had thoroughly enjoyed her time at the spa and felt perfectly refreshed after it, all thanks to their generosity. Betty asked how their day in the bakery had been. She was delighted to hear that the children had done a

[00:30:35] fantastic job of keeping everything under control. It had been busy but it was nothing they couldn't handle. They proudly informed her they had sold out of almost everything they had baked that morning. It was a fun day although they had to admit they didn't know how their mother worked this

[00:31:12] Betty chuckled and told her children how proud she was of them. She was grateful that they had taken care of the bakery while she was away. It had made it much easier for her to relax knowing that her precious bakery was being well looked after. Betty and her children locked up the bakery and headed inside their home to rest.

[00:31:42] Usually Chip Ginger and Lavender would spend their afternoon playing games or reading but right now they could think of nothing better than sleeping. We need a down on the sofa. Ginger sat next to

[00:32:12] her and rested his head back against the cushions whispering sleepily I think so as well. I'd quite like to get my nails painted too. I might go for orange instead of pink though. Chip climbed up silently and nestled himself in between his

[00:32:42] siblings. The three little badgers closed their eyes and snuggled in for a nap. Betty placed a big blanket over their legs and tucked them in with a soft smile. Sleep tight my darlings Betty whispered. You should be very proud of yourselves for what you did today.

[00:33:13] Chip Ginger and Lavender stirred briefly before settling into a deep well needed snooze. We are Lavender whispered dreamily as she drifted off to sleep.