High up in a cloud lived a tiny snowflake. Her name was Snizhka.
Snizhka was white, white as can be. She had six tiny arms, thin and sparkly. She was the first snowflake of the year.
"I'll float down to the ground all by myself," Snizhka said with a sigh. "It will be cold and lonely down there."
The cloud patted her softly. "Don't be scared, little one. Just go!"
So Snizhka drifted off the cloud. She twirled in the air. A gentle breeze caught her and carried her down.
"Oh!" she gasped.
Down, down she floated, until she landed on the warm nose of Fluffy the bunny.
"Hello!" said the bunny. "You're so pretty!"
Snizhka felt happy. She wasn't alone anymore!
Fluffy hopped through the woods, and Snizhka flew beside him. Then, all of a sudden, more snowflakes started falling from the sky. One, two, ten, lots!
"Hello, Snizhka!" they called. "We're your sisters!"
They all danced together. They settled on branches. They covered the little green fir tree. They spread a soft white blanket over the ground.
Red the fox cub came running. He yapped with joy: "Snow! The first snow!"
Tsvirka the chickadee flew down. "How beautiful!" she chirped.
Burko the bear cub came out. He tried to catch snowflakes with his paws and laughed and laughed.
Snizhka landed on a big pine branch. Her snowflake sisters landed beside her. There were so many of them.
Down below, the little animals were playing. They danced and played in the snow.
"Thank you, Snizhka!" shouted the bunny. "You brought us winter!"
Snizhka smiled. Her heart felt warm. She wasn't alone. Her snowflake sisters were all around, and her animal friends were playing below.
The forest turned white and magical. Soft snow lay everywhere. Fluffy the bunny sat under the fir tree and watched the sky. Snowflakes kept falling softly.
Snizhka closed her eyes and rested on the branch with her sisters. Everything was quiet and cozy.