hello my name is gok and  i'm here to read you a cbeebies bedtime story i've  

spent a lot of my life helping people feel better  about themselves because i want everyone to feel  

brave and fearless including you our story tonight  is about a mum who is all of that and so much more  

it's called my mum is a lioness it's written  by swapna haddow and illustrated by dapo adeola

run hide my mum is a lioness  

oh my goodness you're so cute i could just gobble  you up see she's been chasing babies all day  

laying down her catch on the floor and  now she's on the hunt for bigger prey

you can't outrun my mum she will catch you in  a single pounce because she's a mighty lioness  

she spends all day thinking  about how best to serve you up  

perhaps you'll be tossed in a wrap perhaps you  will be seasoned and perhaps you will be roasted  

and toasted and drizzled in oil because she's an  imaginative lioness sometimes she hunts in a pride  

no one is safe from the aunties  she roars louder than anyone

wahoo

even dad even grandad she always makes me show  off for all the aunties because she's a very proud  

lioness she paws at my hair and pinches my  cheeks and the pride joins in too mum loves sports  

she teaches me how to chase and how to pounce  and how to leap higher than all the other cubs  

because she's a tireless  lioness but i'm still learning

mum she carries me to safety and covers me  in licks her strong warm lioness hugs make  

everything better my mum might be a lioness  but there isn't anyone i'd rather cuddle with  

than my mum besides there are beasts fiercer than  lionesses wait until you see my sister's bite

i wonder if you know someone who sounds like this  it might be your mum your grandma or a teacher at  

school maybe you'll grow up to be a strong  confident fearless lioness or lion yourself  

i really hope that's the case  because we all have that inside us  

just waiting to come out remember though  even brave lionesses need to sleep  

so close your eyes and have a perfect  night's rest good night sleep tight