to remain a snowflake.
Day by day, Polina grew tired. She missed the sky and the cold wind. She whispered, “Maybe it’s okay to let go.”
The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the window, Polina melted. Her water seeped into a potted plant on the windowsill.
Spring came, and a flower bloomed in that very pot. The boy smiled and said, “Even winter leaves gifts behind.”
Moral:
Letting go can lead to something beautiful.
Notes:
– Sparkling – shining brightly (искрящийся).
– Mitten – a warm glove with one part for the thumb (варежка).
– Grant – to give or fulfill a wish (исполнять).
– Seeped – flowed slowly through small holes (просочилась).
The Fox and the Frozen Lake (Лиса и замёрзшее озеро)
One frosty morning in a quiet Russian village, a fox named Zorya tiptoed across a frozen lake, her paws clicking softly on the ice. She was searching for fish under the ice to feed her cubs.
Suddenly, she heard a loud crack! The ice beneath her feet began to split. Zorya froze, unsure what to do.
A raven flying above cawed, “Run, fox, run! The ice will swallow you!”
But Zorya didn’t move. She whispered to the lake, “I trust you. You wouldn’t let me drown.”
The lake, flattered by her words, steadied its surface. Zorya carefully backed away to solid ground.
That evening, the fox gathered her cubs by the lakeshore and taught them an important lesson: “Panic breaks the ice, but calm keeps you afloat.”
Moral:
Stay calm in the face of danger, and you’ll find your way to safety.
Notes:
– Tiptoed – walked quietly on the tips of the toes (шагала на цыпочках).
– Split – broke apart (раскололся).
– Flattered – pleased by praise (польщённый).
– Afloat – staying on the surface, not sinking (на плаву).
The Bell That Rang in the Fog (Колокол, который звонил в тумане)
In a small Russian village surrounded by misty hills, there stood an old bell tower. The bell, named Darya, hadn’t rung in years because no one climbed the creaky stairs anymore.
One autumn evening, a thick fog rolled in, covering the entire village. Travelers on the nearby road lost their way, stumbling blindly through the haze.
“Where is the village?” a man cried. “We need help!”
Darya heard the voices through the still air and thought, If only someone could ring me, I could guide them.
Summoning all her strength, Darya shook herself. At first, only a faint chime escaped, but she didn’t stop. She rang louder and louder until her clear tone pierced the fog.
The travelers followed the sound and arrived safely at the village. The villagers, hearing Darya’s call, rushed to greet them with warm blankets and hot tea.
From that day on, the villagers took care of Darya, climbing the stairs to polish her and make sure she would never fall silent again.
Moral:
Even forgotten voices can save lives.
Notes:
– Misty – filled with fog (туманный).
– Haze – a thin mist or fog (дымка, мгла).
– Chime – a clear ringing sound (перезвон).
– Pierced – broke through something (пронзил).
The Hedgehog Who Lost His Needles (Ёжик, который потерял иголки)
In a quiet birch grove near a river, there lived a hedgehog named Pyotr. His sharp needles made him feel safe from any danger. But one day, after an unusually strong storm, Pyotr woke up to find his needles scattered all over the ground.
Panicked, he rolled into a ball, but without his needles, he felt exposed and helpless. “What will I do now?” he thought.
His friends, a squirrel and a sparrow, came to help. “Let’s find something to replace your needles!” they said. The squirrel brought pine needles, and the sparrow found feathers. Pyotr stuck them to his back, but they kept falling off.
Finally, an old owl perched nearby said, “You don’t need to hide, Pyotr. Try trusting others for once.”
Pyotr hesitated but decided to walk through the forest without his needles. To his surprise, no one attacked him. His friends stayed by his side, protecting him.
As spring arrived, Pyotr’s needles grew back, but he had learned an important lesson: strength isn’t just about what you carry on your back.
Moral:
True strength lies in trust and friendship.
Notes:
– Needles – sharp spikes on a hedgehog’s back (иголки).
– Exposed – without protection (уязвимый).
– Replace – to put something new in place of something else (заменить).
– Hesitated – paused before making a decision (колебался).
The Moonlight Fox and the Frozen River (Лиса-луна и замёрзшая река)
On the outskirts of a snowy Russian village, people whispered about a magical fox with a silvery coat that shimmered like moonlight. She was called Luna.
One harsh winter, the river froze solid, cutting the villagers off from the other side where food and firewood lay stored. Desperate, they called out, “Who will cross the ice for us?”
Luna appeared that night, her coat glowing under the moon. “I will guide you,” she said, her voice soft as snow.
The villagers followed her carefully as she traced a safe path across the ice. They moved slowly, but Luna’s tail brushed the surface, revealing cracks they couldn’t see.
By dawn, everyone was safely across, and the villagers cheered, thanking Luna. She bowed her head and disappeared into the forest, leaving behind only her glowing pawprints in the snow.
Moral:
True leaders guide others safely, even through the darkest nights.
Notes:
– Shimmered –