Winter had arrived. The forest stood in a silvery cloak. In the rays of the sun, it shimmered and sparkled with multicoloured glints.
A little rabbit with long ears, in a white fluffy coat, hopped along the forest path. Hop-skip, hop-skip… He had never seen such a forest before: it was the first winter of his life.
The little rabbit's mood was playful. He was nibbling on a large orange carrot and humming a little song:
I'm a cheerful little rabbit.
I hop through the forest.
I sing a cheerful song.
A black crow
Gave me a carrot,
I nibble it and sing a song.
A little squirrel descended from a large oak tree to meet the hopper.
Hello, little rabbit! You're so cheerful, nibbling on a carrot, singing a song. But where's your grey coat? And who gave you this new one—so white and fluffy?
Hello, squirrel! All little rabbits change their grey coat for a white one in winter. It's so we can hide easily in the forest: behind white snowdrifts, bushes in the snow and trees in white cloaks. That way the fox and wolf won't be able to see us. We little rabbits—cheerful little rascals—nature has given us such a gift.
I have a new coat too! Didn't you notice!
That's right, I didn't notice... So you change your coats for winter too?
Yes. Only our squirrel coats change from reddish to greyish. It's so we can't be seen in the trees," said the squirrel. "And we also store tasty provisions in our little cupboards in the hollows of trees during summer: pine cones, dried mushrooms, nuts, berries. And in winter we take them out and eat them, and treat our friends. Here's an acorn for you! Help yourself!
Thank you, squirrel. I'll give you a piece of sweet carrot.
The little rabbit bit off a piece of carrot, gave it to the squirrel and hopped on. He hops, sings a song and nibbles on carrot:
I'm a cheerful little rabbit,
In my new white coat.
I sing a cheerful song
And I nibble on carrot.
I treat everyone to sweet,
Juicy... lollies!
A grouse appeared on the path in front of the rabbit.
Hello, rabbit! I want a lolly.
Hello, grouse! Here's my lolly," and the rabbit handed him the carrot.
What kind of lolly is that?" the grouse was surprised. "That's a carrot!
For me, a rabbit, it's a tasty lolly!" the hopper said cheekily with a wink, and then boasted, "I have a new coat, look: white!
In winter I hide in a snowdrift, I'm warm and don't need a coat," replied the grouse, "but I'll take a piece of carrot. Thank you! Here are some birch buds for you. They're so tasty! We love them very much!
Thank you, grouse, for the gift!" the rabbit was delighted and hopped on.
The happy rabbit hops along the path and sings a song:
I'm a cheerful little rabbit,
I jump and hop—
I sing a song.
I treat everyone to carrot
And receive gifts!
Suddenly, long shaggy sticks appeared in his path from nowhere. The rabbit lifted his head, and there stood an enormous moose. He had large antlers on his head. The rabbit was frightened, trembled and fell silent at once.
Are you scared of me, rabbit?" said the moose loudly. "Don't be afraid. We moose don't hurt such small creatures.
I'm a cheerful little rabbit. I sing a song, I nibble on carrot..." mumbled the little rabbit.
You're a good fellow! Will you treat me to some carrot?
Help yourself," said the little rabbit quietly and handed all his carrot to the moose.
The large moose head bent down to the ground, and the rabbit placed the carrot right into the large mouth.
Thank you, rabbit, for such a tasty gift!
From behind the bushes, a red fox watched this scene. She had been following the rabbit for a long time, wanting to attack, grab him and take him to her burrow. But suddenly the little rabbit started talking to an enormous moose. And the fox was afraid of moose: they have large antlers that hurt when they poke. And the brave rabbit had treated this giant to carrot...
The fox became frightened. She realised that the rabbit was a friend of the large moose, and now she couldn't hurt him. In a panic, the fox ran through the forest and began telling all the animals and birds about the brave rabbit.
The little rabbit is now friends with the large moose!" she cried, running through the forest and sweeping her fluffy tail over her tracks.
