The Animals in the Mitten

One snowy winter's day, an old grandfather was gathering firewood in the forest with his dog. As he walked, without noticing, he dropped one of his mittens in the snow. It was a red, woolly, cosy mitten.

A little later a small mouse came running along. When it saw the mitten, it crept inside: "I'll live here!" Soon a frog came hopping along: "Who lives in the mitten?" "Me, Nibbling Mouse. Who are you?" "I'm Hopping Frog. Will you let me in too?" "Come in!" Now there were two in the mitten.

Then a rabbit came: "Who lives in the mitten?" "Nibbling Mouse and Hopping Frog. Who are you?" "I'm Long-Eared Rabbit. Let me in too!" "Come in!" Now there were three of them.

Next came a fox. "I'm Bushy-Tailed Fox," she said, and in she went. Then came a wolf. "I'm Grey Wolf," he said, and he squeezed in too. The mitten stretched and stretched, and its seams creaked, but inside it was lovely and warm.

Then, from between the trees, came a huge bear: "Who lives in the mitten?" "Nibbling Mouse, Hopping Frog, Long-Eared Rabbit, Bushy-Tailed Fox and Grey Wolf. Who are you?" "I'm Grumbling Bear. Let me in too!" "Where will you fit?" "I'll squeeze into a little corner." And the bear squashed himself in too. Now the mitten was puffed up like a balloon.

Just then a tiny flea came hopping along: "Can I come in too?" The moment the flea stepped into the mitten... crack! pop! The seams of the mitten burst, and all the animals tumbled out into the snow! They all laughed and laughed, and then each of them ran off to its own home.

Meanwhile the grandfather's dog found the mitten and brought it to the grandfather, barking. The grandfather put the mitten on and was amazed at how big and how warm it was.

Now snuggle into your blanket as if it were a mitten. It's warm inside, and there's room for everyone. Sleep well.