They gave him their gifts and bowed down and worshipped him. (Take down the OHT and the kings can sit down.) Oh”, said Babushka, “I’m not sure that he would welcome me” she said. “And what could I bring for a gift? Toys! I know I could bring a toy. I’ve got a cupboard full of toys.” she said sadly. “My baby son died when he was small.”

Legend says that she is still looking, and that each time she passes a house where small children live, she leaves small gifts for them in honour of the special baby she seeks. Anyway, she thought, how long would she be away? What would she wear? What about the gift? She sighed. There is so much to do. The house will have to be cleaned when they’ve gone. I couldn’t just leave it.

Give AI a Try!

The kings said they must leave at once, but Babouska could try and catch them up. Babouska set to work cleaning her house from top to bottom. She swept the floor, cleaned the windows and tidied up. Then she got together a large bag of presents to take to the baby king. Then she set off. Once in a small Russian town there lived a women called Babushka. Babushka always had work to do sweeping, polishing, dusting and cleaning. Her house was the best kept, most tidy house in the whole village. Her garden was also beautiful and her cooking was wonderful. Babushka cleans her little house all day long to stop herself from noticing how lonely and sad she is. She’s so busy brushing away the spider, the mouse and the fly, that she fails to notice beautiful things going on around her: a new star shining in the sky, an angel hovering in her garden and an exciting message being spread by three mysterious kings. Babushka followed him across the yard. “Here’s the stable.” he said, and left her. “Babushka?” Someone was calling her from the doorway. He looked kindly at her. She wondered if he knew where the family had gone. She knew now that the baby king was the most important thing in the world to her. “They have gone to Egypt, and safety,” he told her. “And the kings have returned to their countries. But one of them told me about you. I am sorry to tell you, but you are too late.” After cleaning, scrubbing, and washing, she gathered her coat and some small gifts. However, the star the wise men had followed was nowhere to be seen. So she wandered off searching for the star, and people say she is wandering still, leaving gifts for children everywhere.

Balthasar stopped Babushka as she went to tidy the kitchen up. “This new king could be your king too. Come with us when the star appears tonight”, he said. “I’ll think about it”, sighed Babushka. There were three kings at her door with one of their servants! “My masters need a place to rest,” said the servant, “and yours is the best house in the village.”“You want to stay here?” asked Babushka. “Yes”, replied the servant. “It would only be until night falls and the star appears again.” Babushka was nervous, and gulped. “Come in, then.” she said. Babushka shook herself. There was no time for dreaming, all this washing-up and putting away had to be done. "Anyway," she thought, "how long would she be away? What would she wear? What about the gift?" She sighed. "There is so much to do. The house will have to be cleaned when they've gone. I couldn't just leave it." Suddenly it was night-time again and the star was in the sky. "Are you ready, Babushka?" asked Balthasar. "I'll come tomorrow," Babushka called, "I must just tidy here first and find a gift." She followed them. However, when she arrived at the stable, she realized she had nothing to give. She looked around for flowers, but no flowers were growing through the snow.

Tell the following legend. Choose a girl to play Babouska, dressed in a headscarf and apron, and three children to play the three wise men, wearing crowns and carrying gifts. Ask the children to act out the story as you tell it.