When Old Man Winter arrives, the fairies rush to tell the forest animals they must come to a very important meeting. Once there, Old Man Winter offers them all a choice of tails. But Bear falls asleep misses the meeting. What will he do?

This retelling of a traditional Belarusian folktale both captures the spirit of the animals and prompts children's thinking with its question list after the story. Being softly illustrated in the tones of winter, it carries ancient echos even down to today.

The bilingual text is presented in English and Belarusian, a Slavic language deemed vulnerable to endangerment even within Belarus. It is suitable for migrants and their children whether they are learning English or wish to sustain their cultural heritage through their native language.

Additional Credits

Translation Editor:

Elias Hartung

Hi there! I love using different voices for each character, making every story an exciting adventure. I enjoy bringing themes of adventure, bravery, and imagination to life, often set in magical forests with mythical creatures. Let's embark on whimsical journeys together, where bravery knows no bounds and imagination runs wild!