ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Vooks Storybooks Animated Read Aloud Kids Books | Winter Stories
In the chilly Arctic, animals are getting ready for a special Christmas party. The walrus is baking cookies, and Herman is wrapping gifts. Caribou is decorating his antlers with bows, and seals are planting candy canes. Whales are bringing sea stars from the ocean, and snowy owls are flying with mistletoe. Fox lights up lanterns for skaters, and hares make hot tundra tea. Everyone is excited because the penguins are coming to join the fun! When it’s time to hang the star on the tree, narwhal helps by tossing it from afar. Together, they watch the magical Northern Lights and wish each other a Merry Christmas. The penguins head back home, promising to return next year!
On a cold winter day, a boy is sledding down a hill. He wears a warm hat, boots, and mittens. As he zooms down, one mitten gets caught on a branch and falls off. A little mouse finds the mitten and snuggles inside. Soon, a bunny, a fox, a lynx, a wolf, and even a bear squeeze in too! But the mitten can’t hold them all, and it bursts open. The animals run away, laughing. When the boy returns, he finds his mitten, now bigger than before. Inside, a tiny mouse peeks out. The boy smiles and decides to take the mouse home, making a new friend.
As you glide over the snowy woods, there’s a secret world hidden below. Tiny animals like shrews and mice stay warm under the snow. Deer leave tracks, and snowshoe hares blend in with their white fur. Beavers chew on trees, and a fox hunts for dinner. As the moon lights the way, you imagine the animals sleeping and dreaming under the snow. After a day of adventure, you enjoy a cozy bonfire with hot cocoa and marshmallows, dreaming of the secret kingdom beneath the snow.
Hop on the Christmas train and hold your ticket tight! We’ll count from 1 to 20 as we travel through the night. Wave to the reindeer and enjoy cocoa on the ride. See Santa and his elves, sparkling trees, and gingerbread houses. Count poinsettias, Christmas bells, and sugar plums. Sing carols and enjoy twinkling lights. The train is full of holiday cheer, with treats and decorations everywhere. It’s a magical journey to celebrate Christmas!
Did you know that most snowflakes have six sides? Each one is unique, just like you! A man named Wilson A. Bentley, known as the snowflake man, was the first to photograph snowflakes. He discovered that no two snowflakes are alike. Snowflakes come in all shapes and sizes, and their designs depend on the temperature when they form. Even though they melt quickly, each snowflake is a masterpiece of nature.
As the forest changes colors, Little Red the fox and Hazel the dormouse play in the leaves. But winter is coming, and Hazel will soon hibernate. Little Red wishes Hazel could stay awake to play. Before Hazel sleeps, Little Red tells a story. They snuggle together, and Hazel promises to play again in the spring. It’s a sweet goodbye until the seasons change.
Hi, I’m Caleb! I’m practicing spinning my dreidel for Hanukkah, a special Jewish holiday. Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, celebrating a miracle from long ago. A small group of Jewish people won against a big army and lit a lamp that stayed bright for eight days with just a little oil. We light candles each night and play dreidel games. I’m excited to win and share my chocolate coins with others!
As the sun sets, we gather to celebrate Hanukkah. We light the menorah, adding a candle each night. It’s called the Festival of Lights. We eat latkes, which are potato pancakes, and sometimes jelly donuts. We also receive Hanukkah gelt, which are chocolate coins. Sharing with others is important, and we enjoy playing dreidel games together. Hanukkah is a time for family, fun, and giving.
Chinese New Year is a time for family and fun, celebrated for 15 days. We clean the house to sweep out bad luck and welcome good fortune. Grandma makes special dishes like chicken, fish, and long noodles for a lucky year. We wear new red clothes and hang decorations for good luck. On New Year’s Day, we give and receive red envelopes with money inside. It’s a joyful time filled with traditions and happiness!
Did you know that each snowflake is unique? Try making your own paper snowflakes at home! All you need is some paper and scissors. Fold the paper and cut out shapes to create your own special design. Once you’re done, compare your snowflakes with your friends’ or family members’ snowflakes. Are any two the same? Discuss how snowflakes form in nature and why each one is different.
Think about the animals in the story “Under the Snow.” Choose one animal and learn more about how it survives in winter. Draw a picture of the animal in its winter habitat and share one interesting fact you discovered with your class or family. For example, how does a fox find food in the snow? What does a bear do during winter?
Imagine you’re on the Christmas Train from the story. Create a counting game with holiday items you might see on the train ride. For example, count how many reindeer, Christmas trees, or gingerbread houses you can find in your home or neighborhood. Write down your findings and share them with your friends. Can you think of other things to count during the holiday season?
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, removing any unnecessary or distracting elements while maintaining the essence of the content:
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**Arctic Christmas**
A very cool pop-up book. Animals hurry beneath a full moon in the frigid far north; they’ll have visitors soon. Walrus bakes cookies, and Herman wraps gifts for dear southern friends braving icebergs and drifts. Caribou covers his antlers with bows, while seals plant candy canes into the flow. Beluga and humpback whales resurface and blow, delivering sea stars from deep down below. Bald eagle dives downward, and snowy owls soar to place festive mistletoe over the doors. Fox lights the lanterns so skaters can see. Hares wearing snowshoes brew hot tundra tea. Then polar bear cheers as penguins float into view; they’re in time for the tree-trimming party! Just when it seems they can’t hang the star, narwhal is ready and flings it from afar. All gathered together to watch the Northern Lights add shimmering holiday magic at night. The penguins head home to Antarctica as wishes from Arctic friends rise on the breeze and echo off icebergs, the words loud and clear: “What a cool Merry Christmas! We’ll see you next year!”
**The Mitten**
It was a cold and windy winter morning, and a little boy hustled up the path, dragging his sled behind him. He was dressed for snowy adventures, from his knit cap to his warm boots to his two soft mittens, which hung from his sleeves on a piece of string so he wouldn’t lose them. The boy headed to his favorite spot, a stupendous hill perfect for sledding. He dashed through the trees, eager for his first long slide across the snow. But as he jumped over the stone wall at the top of the hill, one of his mittens caught on a low branch. The boy was going so fast he barely felt the small tug of the mitten before the string gave way. He was out of sight and down the hill before his mitten even hit the snow.
All was quiet. Then tiny shivering mouse darted out from the stone wall, saw the cozy mitten, and crept right in. Soon, a bunny hopped along, caught sight of the mitten, and jumped in right next to the mouse. Next, a fox wandered by and crawled inside. The wind blew through the treetops, and a lynx padded out of the forest and saw the mitten. All the animals cuddled together in a warm ball of fur. The wind was still for a moment, then a wolf came loping up the hill, followed by a bear. They ended up jostling and cramming their way into the mitten together.
Poor mouse was at the bottom of the pile, but he found a nice soft spot right on bunny’s belly. All that wiggling and shifting made bear laugh too. Well, it was too much for the mitten to take, and with a giant pop, out tumbled bear, wolf, lynx, fox, and bunny, and off they ran back to their homes, laughing themselves silly the whole way.
It wasn’t long before the boy made his way back up the hill. He was just about to step over the stone wall when a flash of red in the snow caught his eye. “My mitten!” he said, and picked it up. It was bigger than he remembered. Puzzled, he turned it over in his hands. Deep inside the mitten, something was moving. Suddenly, a wee head with velvety ears peeked out over the cuff. It was mouse!
“Oh!” cried the boy. “Hello, little fellow! Have you found yourself a new home in my mitten?” Mouse groomed his whiskers contentedly and crawled back down into his cozy new nest. “I will take you home then,” the boy said, “and you may live in my mitten as long as you’d like and be my friend.” The boy put on his mitten, cupped his hand gently around mouse, and dragging his sled behind him, headed to his own warm home across the snow.
**Under the Snow**
Over the snow, I glide into woods frosted fresh and white. Under the snow is a whole secret kingdom where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm. You’re skiing over them now. Over the snow, I glide past beech trees rattling leftover leaves and strong silent pines that stretch to the sky. On a high branch, a great horned owl keeps watch.
Under the snow, a tiny shrew dodges columns of ice, following a cool tunnel along the moss out of sight. Look, Dad says, tracks always tell a story. Over the snow, a deer has crossed our path, deep hoof prints punched through the crust. Under the snow, deer mice huddle up against the cold in a nest of feathers and fur.
Over the snow, I climb, digging in my edges so I don’t slide back down. Under the snow, a snowshoe hare watches from a shelter of spruce, almost invisible as she smooths her fur coat of winter white. Over the snow, I glide past wreaths where tadpoles play tag in springtime. Under the snow, fat bullfrogs dream of sun-warmed days back when they had tails.
Over the snow, I stand and stare at little mountains in the marsh. Under the snow, beavers gnaw on aspen, settled in for supper. My tummy rumbles too. Over the snow, we stand like statues carved in ice until a bushy-tailed fox steps from a thicket, tips his ear to the ground, listens, and leaps out onto the snow after an invisible dinner.
His paws scratch away to find the mouse he heard. Over the snow, I glide as a full moon lights my path. Under the snow, a chipmunk wakes for a meal—bedroom, kitchen, hallway—his house under my feet. Over the snow, I climb one last hill. Bonfire smoke rises, warm hands, hot cocoa, hot dogs sizzling on pointed sticks. Under the snow, a black bear snores, still full of October blueberries and trout.
Over the snow, the fire crackles, and sparks shoot up to the stars. I lick sticky marshmallow from my lips and lean back with heavy eyes. Shadows dance in the flames. Under the snow, a queen bumblebee drowses away December all alone; she’ll rule a new colony in spring. Over the snow, I glide home on tired legs as clouds whisper down feathery soft flakes. Under the covers, I snuggle deep and drift into dreams of cuddling deer mice, slumbering frogs, hungry beavers, tunneling voles, drowsy bears, fizzy squirrels, and the secret kingdom under the snow.
**Christmas Train**
All aboard the Christmas train! Hold your ticket tight. We’ll count our way from 1 to 20 all throughout the night. Wave bye to the reindeer; they can fly, you know. Get some cocoa, grab a seat—alright, now where do we go?
What jolly Santa, cheering nose and cheeks! Two clever elves making toys for weeks. It’s trees sparkling spruce and pine, paper packages tied with festive twine. Bye tasty houses made of gingerbread, six poinsettias blooming vibrant red. Seven colored balls wrapped for girls and boys, Christmas bells bringing Yuletide joys.
Sugar plums sweet for children dreaming, shining stars, silent watches gleaming. Bits of coal make a man of snow, Christmas candles flicker warm and glow. Candy canes striped with red and white, carolers sing into the night. Stockings hanging by the blaze, twinkling lights for days.
Candy’s, chocolates, nuts, and sweets, cookies, cakes, and frosted treats. Children nice as nice can be, funny ornaments filling up the tree.
**Snowflakes**
Most snowflakes have six sides; some have twelve. The first person to photograph a snowflake in 1885 at the age of just 19 is also the person who first recognized that no two snowflakes are alike. Wilson A. Bentley, now known as the snowflake man, looked at snow crystals through his microscope and was amazed that each revealed a masterpiece of design.
Snowflakes come in all sizes. The largest snowflake in recorded history fell in Montana in 1887, measuring 15 inches wide and eight inches thick. They tickle your tongue and land on the snowman’s nose. Snowflakes come in all shapes; the shape of a snow crystal takes is dependent on the temperature at which it is formed.
Snowflakes are very hard for scientists to examine because they melt, and that unique design is then forever lost. The snowflake man was frustrated at his inability to complete drawings of beautiful snow crystals under his microscope before they melted, so he turned to photography.
All snowflakes are beautiful. Bentley published more than 5,000 photographs of snowflakes in his lifetime, each demonstrating the complexity, variety, and beauty of the infinite combinations of snow crystals. Each one is unique, just like you.
Snowflakes are all different. The snowflake man demonstrated that no two snowflakes are alike, but why is that true? The reason is that snowflakes are each formed by up to 200 snow crystals, each consisting of hundreds of billions of water molecules randomly scattered throughout and each shaped by the temperature and wind. That process yields an infinite number of shape possibilities, so no two will ever be identical.
**Before We Sleep**
As the season turned, the forest was dressed in new colors of rich amber, burnt orange, and chestnut brown. Little red the fox was happy because now it would be much easier to hide. A fox would be hard to spy among the dried brown leaves, burgundy bushes, and coppery grasses. Only in the open meadow would Hazel the dormouse be able to catch sight of little red.
Little red and Hazel spent hours playing hide and seek together, jumping and rolling in the crisp dried leaves. They loved the rustling sound. During these moments of happiness, the cold air hinted at the coming winter. Red felt a tinge of sadness; the smell of winter meant one thing—loneliness. Soon, little red’s very best friend in the world would settle down in a warm burrow to hibernate.
“Hazel, perhaps this season you will sleep less,” said little red hopefully, trying to sound cheerful. “Little red, I am a dormouse. I’d like to stay awake and keep you company, but you know in the end I must always sleep.”
So little red started to think of ways to keep Hazel from falling asleep. What if I could ask the forest to hold its fruit? Then there would be food all winter long. What if I tickled Hazel to stay awake? Then we could play and play.
The dormouse started to yawn. “Hazel, I want us to stay together forever,” pleaded the friend. “Little red, I promise when the winter gives way to spring, I will be here for you, and we will play again.”
“I know, Hazel, but before you sleep, may I tell you a story?” “Why yes, as long as it is short,” replied Hazel sleepily, with head nodding and eyes closing. So little red curled up on the forest floor, and Hazel nestled into the soft warm tail to listen.
**Caleb’s Hanukkah**
Hi, I’m Caleb. See this dreidel I’m spinning? We play a game with it for Hanukkah. That’s a Jewish holiday that starts tonight, so I’m practicing. This year I really want to win. Hanukkah lasts for eight nights and usually takes place during December. The timing is based on the Jewish calendar.
I keep spinning while Dad tells me the Hanukkah story. It happened over 2,000 years ago. A Greek king named Antiochus IV made it against the law to practice the Jewish religion. He took over the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah began in the city of Jerusalem, which is in the country now called Israel. In modern times, Jewish people all over the world celebrate Hanukkah.
Some Jewish people fought back. Their army was much smaller than the king’s, but they beat the king’s big army. They took back their temple and were free to practice their religion. The Jewish people were not supposed to study their religion, but they got together to do it anyway. Sometimes the king’s soldiers saw them studying in groups. Stories say the Jewish people then pretended they were just playing dreidel. Dreidels helped them keep their secret.
After the Jewish people cleaned the temple, they lit the temple’s special oil lamp, but there was only enough oil to light the lamp for one day. Then a miracle happened: the oil lasted for eight whole days. That’s why we celebrate eight days of Hanukkah.
The word Hanukkah means dedication. These marks on my dreidel are Hebrew letters. Dad says they stand for a great miracle happened there. I bet another great thing is going to happen tonight. I’m finally going to win the game!
**Lighting the Candles**
Relatives come to celebrate with us as the sun sets. We say blessings to God and use a helper candle to light the first candle of Hanukkah. We’ll add another candle each night. Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights. People light the menorah each night; it holds a candle for each day of Hanukkah plus the helper candle. Families often put their menorah in a window so everyone can see it.
Then the kids get Hanukkah gelt as presents—that’s money! Some of the coins are chocolate, and some of the money is real. I’ll share some of mine; I’ll give it to people who need it more than I do. Some families receive gifts for Hanukkah, and some share what they are given with others. Sharing with those in need is part of the Jewish religion.
Then we eat latkes—those are potato pancakes. We always have them for Hanukkah. Mom fries them in hot oil; the oil reminds us of a miracle. People in Israel usually eat jelly donuts instead of latkes. Donuts are fried in oil too.
Finally, it’s dreidel time! We all take turns spinning. I win a big pile of chocolate coins! I’ll share those too. People use coins, chocolate, and other items as game pieces, and dreidel players take turns spinning. The Hebrew letter that lands up tells what happens next. A player might have to put a game piece in the middle, or he or she might win everything from the middle. The one to get all the pieces is the winner. There are seven more nights of Hanukkah—that’s seven more nights of dreidel to help us celebrate!
**Lucky Chinese New Year**
People spend 15 days preparing and then 15 days celebrating Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day all bundled together. My grandma is here to help me.
I do not carry dirt out to the front door because that means a family member will leave. I sweep out the bad luck before the new year comes. I also sweep out my crying baby brother. Grandma says I’m naughty, so I sweep him back in and rub his big Buddha belly.
I make sure my windows are super clean. Grandma says the windows need to be spotless; good fortune needs to flow in. I can’t clean on New Year’s Day; I’d wipe out good luck. Grandma has a lot of funny rules about luck. I want to be lucky, but following her do’s and don’ts is hard work.
At midnight, I open the windows and doors to allow the old year to leave. Grandma gets my bath ready and reminds me to wash my hair. I wash it tomorrow, but Grandma says my good luck will wash down the drain along with the soapy water. I want good luck, so I wash my hair three times.
Grandma makes a whole chicken so our family will stay together. She prepares a fish with the head and tail still on so we’ll have a good beginning and a good ending. It’ll also help make our wishes come true. I cross my fingers; this adds extra American luck.
The last dish Grandma makes is noodles. I want to break my noodles in half, but Grandma says noodles should be long and unbroken like life. I eat two bowls full of my long noodles. I eat my baby brother’s noodles too; I want to live forever!
We hang red and gold banners and paper cuts to ensure a flow of good luck and to invite in good spirits. I’m busy making and pasting Chinese paper cuts. Grandma bought a special sign from Chinatown that says it’s the Chinese word for luck. She puts this on her door and hangs it upside down; the Chinese words for upside down sound like “arrive,” so this means luck has arrived.
I do not sleep on New Year’s Eve; my parents will live longer lives. I drink green tea so I can stay awake past midnight. No sleeping for me!
Here it is—Chinese New Year’s Day! Happy Chinese New Year! I make a ruckus running around the house. The first person you meet today and the first words you hear are important to your fortune in the new year. I want to be the first person my baby brother sees today.
I whisper in his ear, and he falls back. I do not greet people in their bedrooms; it’s unlucky. I bring him to the living room where Grandma makes food offerings to our ancestors. On Chinese New Year’s Day, Grandma says I can’t say any bad words or think bad things.
I push bad thoughts out of my head, but it’s really hard work, especially when my baby brother is around. I do not call him bad names, even when he pulls my hair. This is the hardest rule to follow.
I do not cut away my good thoughts; do not use knives or scissors on this day. I wear my new red cheongsam, and my baby brother wears his new red cheongsam. Grandma says these are traditional Chinese clothes. She says children should have new clothes and new shoes for the new year. She also says we should wear red to keep bad luck away.
I eat a couple of oranges because I want to be happy and rich. I eat more because I want to be super happy and super rich. Grandma tells me to give oranges to Mom and Dad. I use my brand new red marker to write them a card. Grandma almost has a heart attack—no red ink!
I thought red was lucky. Grandma says writing in red ink means you want that person to go away. I think about writing a card to my baby brother in red ink.
My favorite part of Chinese New Year is getting the lai see. These are lucky red envelopes. Grandma says my parents have to give lai see to little children, married family members, and their own parents. Lai see have crisp brand new dollar bills inside. I’m glad I’m not a grown-up because I don’t have to give away any lai see.
Finally, the house is quiet. A lucky new year is hard work. I put two red envelopes next to my baby brother’s head and whisper to him, “You’re lucky
