Tiewinkel bedtime stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's a blustery spring day in Tiewinkel and the animals are up to mischief. Jip the cat tries to persuade Henry to join her on a goldfish-catching expedition but her lazy friend declines. The determined young cat goes fishing alone and learns that it is always best to look before you leap!BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: blustery: very windy to mesmerize: to charm and fascinate someone or something her eyes glistened: her eyes shone  to retort: to answer in an annoyed or witty way giddy with excitement: dizzy with excitement whopper: something very big racket: a loud unpleasant noise frenzied splashing: uncontrolled and wild splashing bedraggled: untidy and scruffy to be roused by something: to be awoken by something Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

Farmer Barnd needs a new home for his peahen Conchita, so Farmer Willems and his wife welcome the bird on shamba. The peacock family are wary of the newcomer who has trouble settling. Conchita makes friends with Martin the magnificent rooster and within a fortnight an unexpected truth is revealed. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: sceptical: to be unsure and have doubts about something  stocky: big, heavy and chunky awkward: clumsy and shy enviable: so good that it makes others want it too to pester: to tease to mature: to grow up plumage: the peacock's dress of feathers to deny something: to not accept something or say that something isn't so crested head: the peacock family have a crown of feathers on their heads  to beam: to smile a big, broad smile Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

Farmer Willems and his wife reminisce about Genghis and Kali's first day at puppy school. Genghis agrees that they have come a long way since and there is help on its way for uncontrollable Gustav the cocker spaniel and his owner Mrs Lavender. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: caress: gentle touch sphinx pose: a yoga pose where you lie on your tummy and prop yourself up on your elbows to sidle closer: to sneak a bit closer to mutter: to say something in a low voice in an irritated way  insecure: not confident to shriek: to scream/screech to exchange glances: to look at each other to ponder: to think about something carefully before taking action Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

It's a beautiful spring day on shamba and the animals are enjoying the sun. When Mrs Willems goes to check on the sheep she is alarmed to find them missing. Find out why she doesn't follow Victor's advice to send out a search party banging wooden spoons on pots. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: Jip lay sprawled: Jip lay stretched out contented: happy and relaxed to forage: to look for to be intercepted by: to be stopped/interrupted by to enquire: to ask she stated emphatically: she said in a very firm way to scowl: to frown and have an angry expression on one's face waterlogged: full of water Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

On a beautiful spring day Farmer Willems decides to prepare the overgrown vegetable garden for planting. The peacock children eye the inviting vegetable beds and decide to explore. After a fabulous day of fun they return home and learn a lesson. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: he said contentedly: he said in a satisfied/pleased way to gush: to speak in a very enthusiastic way majestic: very beautiful, magnificent, grand, splendid ecstatic: extremely happy or excited immaculate: perfectly neat and tidy to ponder: to think about something carefully before reaching a conclusion Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

Farmer Willems is concerned because his once thriving bee population isn't well at all. Together with the animals he investigates and comes up with a Plan B for Farmer Hendrick who has been up to mischief in the neighbouring field. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: thriving: growing or developing very well dire: very serious/urgent to reconvene: come together for another meeting exasperation: annoyance and frustration ominous: giving the feeling that something bad is going to happen obsidian eyes: black eyes shifty: dishonest and sneaky Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

One day Farmer Willems and his wife return home to find broken flowerpots on the ground and the peacock family missing. Even Martin the magnificent rooster and his lovely hens can't explain where the peacock family might be. A few days later the mystery is solved and the animals agree that there really is no place like home!BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: to venture somewhere: dare to go somewhere that might be dangerous (bamboo) thicket: very thick group of trees or bushes  pensively: thinking about something very deeply grim: very serious, stern to diminish: to become less stately home: a large, mansion-like house irresistible: too attractive and good to be resisted - very inviting iridescent: showing beautiful colours that seem to change when seen from different angles - sparkling to blurt out: to say something suddenly without thinking about it before saying it Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

When Martin the magnificent rooster falls seriously ill even Dr Devitsky the experienced vet can't help. Farmer Willems and his wife don't give up on their sickly friend and with the help of their wise bees are able to nurse Martin back to health. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: to approach: to come near to to feel deflated: to feel low and discouraged solitary: alone without a companion (a solitary bee = on its own) to deposit something: to put or set down in a specific place propolis: "bee glue" - a sticky substance that bees collect from trees to fill cracks in their hives. Bees also use propolis as a medicine.  Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at

Martin the magnificent rooster and his lovely speckled hens go on an adventure to the compost heap at the far end of the big field. Farmer Willems had warned them not to as the skies above the field are patrolled by Mr and Mrs Buzzard. The company of 10 magnificent birds soon run into trouble and narrowly escape ending up as buzzard pie. They learn that good friends stick together. BIG words from the story explained for our young listeners: summoned (to summon someone): to invite, to send for, to require the presence of in anticipation: being excited about something that is about to happen luscious: rich, in this case full of delicious insects and worms engrossed (to be engrossed): having all your attention on something to ask quizzically: to ask in a puzzled way to waddle: to walk with short steps and a swaying motion like a duck or goose sheepish: embarrassed/uncomfortable from shame or lack of confidence Please send your feedback, questions, suggestions and requests to Alex at