Winter had arrived. The forest stood in a silvery cloak. In the rays of the sun, it shimmered and gleamed with multicoloured sparkles.
A little rabbit with long ears, in a white fluffy coat, was hopping along a 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 a large orange carrot and humming a little song:
I'm a cheerful little rabbit.
Hopping 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 came scampering down from a large oak tree to meet the hopper.
Hello, little rabbit! You're so cheerful, nibbling a carrot, singing a song. But where is 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 rascals — have been given such a gift by nature.
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 with us squirrels, our coat changes from reddish to greyish. It's so we can't be seen in the trees, — answered the squirrel. — And we also store tasty provisions in our little cupboards in the hollows of trees in summer: pine cones, dried mushrooms, nuts, berries. And in winter we take them out and eat them, and treat our friends. Here, have an acorn! 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 his carrot:
I'm a cheerful little rabbit,
In my new white coat.
I sing a cheerful song
And I nibble my carrot.
I treat everyone to sweet,
Juicy… sweets!
A black grouse appeared on the path in front of the rabbit.
Hello, little rabbit! I want a sweet.
Hello, black grouse! Here's my sweet, — and the rabbit held out his carrot.
What kind of sweet is that? — the black grouse was surprised. — That's a carrot!
For me, a rabbit, it's a delicious sweet! — 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 black 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, black grouse, for the gift! — the little rabbit was delighted and hopped on.
The happy little rabbit hops along the path and sings a song:
I'm a cheerful little rabbit,
Hopping and skipping —
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 little rabbit was frightened, trembled and fell silent at once.
Are you frightened of me, little rabbit? — the moose said 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 a carrot… — the little rabbit mumbled.
You're a good fellow! Will you treat me to some carrot?
Help yourself, — the little rabbit said 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, little rabbit, for such a tasty gift!
From behind the bushes, a red fox had been watching this scene. She had been following the rabbit for a long time, wanting to pounce, seize him and carry him off 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 a carrot…
The fox became frightened. She realised that the rabbit was friends with 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 tracks away with her fluffy tail.
