Underneath the deep, soft snow, in the dark, quiet earth, a tiny little snowdrop was fast asleep. She was so small she could fit right in your hand.
One morning, the little snowdrop woke up. “I want to see the sun!” she whispered.
But all around her was dark and cold. Heavy snow lay on top, like a big, fluffy blanket.
“Stay here,” grumbled Grandpa Root. “Winter is still here. It’s cold outside!”
“I’m going anyway,” said the little snowdrop softly.
She reached up. First, she pushed her thin little stem through the earth. The earth was wet and heavy. She pushed and pushed — and finally broke through!
But ahead was the snow. White, cold, thick snow.
“Oh, it’s so chilly!” cried the little snowdrop, and she shivered.
“Go back down!” called the Pebbles. “You’ll freeze!”
The little snowdrop stopped. She really was very cold. Her stem trembled, her little leaves curled up.
But somewhere, way up high, the sun was shining. She could feel its warmth.
“I have to go,” she whispered.
And she pushed upward again. The snow creaked and crackled and tumbled on her head. She wiggled through it, even though her leaf-hands shook and her stem bent.
And then — light!
Warm, golden, gentle sunlight poured right into her eyes.
“Oh!” gasped the little snowdrop, and she opened her blue flower wide.
The sun warmed her, hugged her with its golden rays. The little snowdrop smiled and sparkled with tiny dewdrops on her petals.
“Look!” chirped the Sparrows from the tree. “The first flower! Spring is here!”
The little snowdrop stood in the snowy meadow, so small and blue. Snow still lay all around, but there she was, in the sunshine.
A little Bee flew down to her.
“Thank you, little snowdrop,” buzzed the Bee. “You showed us spring first.”
The little snowdrop just nodded her head. She didn’t say a word. She just stood under the warm sun and smiled softly.
And all around, the snow began to melt.