I translated this book from my language, so if anything sounds or looks odd, it's because of that. I tried to find the English version on the Internet but couldn't find it. The book is called "PB Bear's Birthday Party". My mum and older sister used to read it for me when I was younger. Used to be one of my favourite bedtime stories.
Hope you'll enjoy! :)
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Heavy rain fell from the dark night sky. Raindrops pitter-pattered on the bedroom window. Thunder rumbled loudly. Lightning flashed.
Five-year-old Noah Pinnock-Thirlwall was cuddled up in his mother's arms, head resting on her chest as he eagerly waited for her to start reading the book she held in her feminine hands.
"It's the fifth time this week I read this for you. Aren't you getting tired of it?" Leigh-Anne asked softly.
"No, I like Teddy and his friends" Noah replied.
"Okay. Are you ready then, buddy?" She asked her son.
"Yes, mammy!" Noah exclaimed excitedly.
Leigh-Anne chuckled heartily. She thought Noah was absolutely adorable when he was excited. He reminded her so much of her wife Jade when it happened. Feeling all warm and fuzzy at the thought of her wife, she placed a loving kiss on top of her son's head. Then she opened the children's book and finally started reading.
"This is Teddy. He's wearing his new blue-striped pyjamas, He likes it very much. Bedtime is the best thing he knows. Teddy is a real slugabed! But one morning, Teddy woke up early. He didn't want to stay in bed on this special day.
He put on a morning robe and slippers, and went to the bathroom. He filled the sink with water and washed his face with soap. Then, he dried off with a towel and brushed himself with a brush. When he was finished, he looked in the mirror.
- Happy birthday, Teddy, he said to himself.
Teddy put on pants, a shirt and a bow tie. Then, he went to the kitchen.
Right then, there was a hard knock on the door.
- Mail for Teddy, the mailman said happily. He gave Teddy two presents, three letters and one big package that looked very interesting.
What can that be?, Teddy wondered.
He wanted to open it right away, but he hadn't eaten breakfast yet, so he went to the kitchen and ate some bread with marmalade, and drank a glass of orange juice.
Right when he finished, there was another knock on the door. It was his best friend Tim, with a present with a bow on top.
- Happy birthday, Teddy, Tim said, Aren't you going to open the big package?
- No, not yet, Teddy replied.
- It could be a dangerous tiger, a zebra or a kangaroo, said Tim, Or maybe it's a big elephant!
- We'll see what it is when I have opened it, but first I have to bake. Can you help me? Teddy asked.
Teddy put on an apron and fetched a big cookbook. Teddy poured the batter into a round baking pan and Tim put it in the oven.
Then there was another knock on the red door. Who could it be this time?
Roscoe Rabbit had a present wrapped in blue wrapping paper.
Hilda Hen had a present wrapped in green wrapping paper.
And Lucy Lamb had a present wrapped in yellow wrapping paper.
- Happy birthday, Teddy! They shouted, and gave him all three presents.
- Thank you very much, everybody, Teddy said.
- What's in the big package? Hilda Hen peeped.
- Maybe a bike, Roscoe Rabbit said.
- Or a car, Lucy Lamb added.
- I know! It's a firetruck, Tim said.
- Why don't we open it and have a look? Teddy suggested.
Teddy fetched a scissor and cut off the rope. He opened the big package.
What do you think he got to see?
Inside the big package, there was a green box, and inside the green box was a blue box, and inside the blue box was a red box.
That was a lot of presents!
- Is there something inside of them? Tim asked.
- It's a train and twelve wheels, Teddy said.
What do you think they are for?
The friends made a long train out of the locomotive and the twelve wheels and the three boxes.
- Yay, let's go on a field trip! Teddy said.
He ran to the kitchen and took out the warm sponge cake he baked earlier from the tiny oven. Tim placed candles in the cake. Teddy and his friends packed a basket. Can you see all the good stuff they packed in the basket?
They put the basket in the first wagon on the train, and the presents and the letters in the third wagon.
- Ready for take-off! They all shouted when they sat down in the second wagon.
- Let's go! Tim shouted.
- Toot!
The train left the town and chugged out to the countryside. There were many trees and flowers. The train chugged past a cow, who said: Moo! Happy birthday, Teddy!
A scarecrow croaked huskily: Boo! Happy birthday, Teddy!
At last, the train stopped at a sunny glade and the friends hopped off. There were birds and butterflies and squirrels in the green trees.
- Let's play hide and seek! Teddy said, I'll count to ten and you go hide.
Teddy closed his eyes and started counting. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.
- I'm coming for you guys now! Teddy shouted as he opened his eyes.
Can you help Teddy find his friends?"