The Scarecrows Wedding By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

Hello there. Welcome to Albert's Bookshelf. I'm Albert's dad. Now, Albert loves listening to a story. Would you like me to read one of his favourite books? Okay, well, get yourself comfy and I'll begin.

The Scarecrow's Wedding By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay were scarecrows. They scared lots of crows every day. Harry loved Betty and Betty loved Harry. So Harry said, Betty my beauty, let's marry. Let's have a wedding. The best wedding yet. A wedding that no one... will ever forget. Betty agreed, so they hugged and they kissed. Then Betty said, Harry dear, let's make a list. Just as you say, answered Harry O'Hay.

so they wrote down the things they would need on the day. A dress of white feathers, a necklace of shells, lots of pink flowers, two rings and some bells. Then Harry gave Betty O'Barley his arm and the Scarecrow set off on a hunt round the farm. They hadn't gone far when they spotted some geese. Oh geese, if you'll give us a feather apiece. You can come to our wedding, the best wedding yet, the wedding that no one will ever forget. We will, honked the geese, and they each gave a feather.

A spider friend offered to sew them together. Hooray! said the scarecrows. They hugged and they kissed and they hurried back home and crossed dress off their list.

Then Harry gave Betty O'Barley his arm, and they set off once more on their hunt round the farm. They hadn't gone far when some cows gathered round, and the bells round their necks made a wonderful sound. Ring-a-ding-ding, ring-a-ding-ding. Oh, cows, will you please come and make your bells ring for our wonderful wedding, the best wedding yet, the wedding that no one will ever forget.

Yes, mooed the cows. We can chinkle our bells. Then a crab scuttled up with a necklace of shells. Some mice found two rings in a bin, they were certain. The rings had belonged to an old farmhouse curtain. Hooray! cried the scarecrows. They hugged and they kissed. Pink flowers are the only things left on our list. Then Harry said, Betty dear, I can find those. Why don't I pick some while you have a doze? Pink flowers, pink flowers.

buzzed a big stripy bee. I can find you a field of pink flowers. Follow me. So the bee led the way and they travelled for hours till they came to a field full of pretty pink flowers. Harry stood thinking, I won't pick them yet. I'll need to find water to keep their storks wet. Just follow me, croaked a lumpy old toad. There's a lovely wet pool at the top. of this road they climbed up the road it was terribly steep i'm tired said the toad so they stopped for a sleep early next morning

They came to the pool. This water, said Harry, it's beautifully cool, but now I need something to carry it in. A jug or a vase or a cup or a tin. I think I can help, said a small, squirrely snail. I can show you the way to a very fine, pale...

So the snail and the scarecrow set off on their way. But the snail was so slow, it took more than a day. Betty was worried. What's happened to Ari? Where is the scarecrow I'm planning to marry? The farmer came by with a frown on his face, and he made a new scarecrow to take Harry's place. Good day, said the scarecrow. I'm Reginald Rake.

He took Betty's hand and he gave it a shake. Together, he told her, we make a fine pair. You're really quite pretty apart from your hair. Then he jumped in the tractor and told her, Hop in! I'm a really fast driver. Let's go for a spin. But Betty said, no, I must wait here for Ari. He is the scarecrow I'm going to marry. We're planning our wedding. The best wedding yet.

The wedding that no one will ever forget. Reginald laughed. You'll be waiting forever. Forget about Harry. I bet he's not clever. I must be the cleverest scarecrow alive. I can sing lots of songs. I can dance. I can drive. I'm dashing. I'm daring. I'm cool as can be. I can even blow smoke rings. Just watch me and see. And he took out a big fat cigar from a packet the farmer had foolishly left in his jacket. But smoking is bad for you, Betty exclaimed.

Really, you ought to be feeling ashamed. Don't be a fusspot, said Reginald Rake. My smoke rings are staggering, make no mistake. He struck up a light. and he tried hard to smoke, but straight away started to splutter and choke. The lighted cigar tumbled out of his hand. It fell to the ground and it started a fire.

Betty screamed, Help! as the flames flickered higher. But Reginald Rake said, I'd better be off, and he bounded away with a terrible cough. Then suddenly, who should appear on the farm? but Harry O'Hay with a pail in his arm. "'Bey!' cried Harry. "'My own future wife!' He poured on the water and saved Betty's life. Then they picked up the flowers.

They hugged and they kissed. And they said, Now that's everything crossed off the list. So Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay wed one another the very next day. And everyone, even the snail who was late, said don't they look happy and don't they look great this they agreed as they sprinkled confetti on harry ohay and his beautiful betty is the best wedding ever

The best wedding yet. The wedding that no one will ever forget. I hope you enjoyed another one of Albert's favourite books. There's plenty more to listen to. If not now, maybe another time. Thanks for listening.