It was a frosty winter morning. Grandpa trudged through the snowy forest. His little dog trotted along beside him. Grandpa wore warm woolen mittens. But suddenly, one fell into the snow. Plop! Grandpa didn’t notice. He just kept walking, crunch, crunch.
Along came a little mouse. She sniffed at the mitten. She called out, “Who, who lives inside the mitten?” Nobody answered. Only the wind whistled softly. “Then I’ll live here,” said the mouse. “I’m Scratchy Mouse.” She crept inside and scratched herself a soft nest. How warm it was!
Together: Call out together: “Who, who lives inside the mitten?”
Hop, hop! A frog came through the snow. “Who, who lives inside the mitten?” “Me, Scratchy Mouse! And who are you?” “I’m Croaky Frog. May I please come in?” “Come right in!” said the mouse. Now there were two in the mitten. The frog croaked with joy.
Hippity-hop! A hare came bounding over. “Who, who lives inside the mitten?” “Me, Scratchy Mouse!” “Me, Croaky Frog! And who are you?” “I’m Speedy-Feet Hare. May I please come in?” “Come right in!” The hare squeezed in with them. His long ears tickled the frog. The frog had to giggle.
Pad, pad, softly came a fox. “Who, who lives inside the mitten?” “Me, Scratchy Mouse!” “Me, Croaky Frog!” “Me, Speedy-Feet Hare! And who are you?” “I’m Little-Sister Fox. May I please come in?” “Come right in!” Now it was getting snug. The fox’s tail stuck out.
Together: What do you think: who will come next?
Trot, trot! A wolf came out of the thicket. “Who, who lives inside the mitten?” “Me, Scratchy Mouse!” “Me, Croaky Frog!” “Me, Speedy-Feet Hare!” “Me, Little-Sister Fox! And who are you?” “I’m Little-Brother Wolf. May I please come in?” “All right, come in!” Everyone scooted closer. The seams creaked: creak, creak!
Grunt, grunt! A wild boar came huffing up. “Who, who lives inside the mitten?” “Me, Scratchy Mouse!” “Me, Croaky Frog!” “Me, Speedy-Feet Hare!” “Me, Little-Sister Fox!” “Me, Little-Brother Wolf! And who are you?” “I’m Tusky Boar. May I please come in?” “But there’s no room!” “I’ll fit!” And whoosh, in he went.
Together: Grunt together like the boar: grunt, grunt!
Stomp, stomp, crack! A big bear came along. “Who, who lives inside the mitten?” All six called out their names at once. “And who are you?” “I’m Heavy-Step Bear. May I please come in?” “Oh, there are so many of us already!” “I’ll make myself very thin.” Everyone took a deep breath, and the bear squeezed inside. Creak, creak, went the seams.
Just then, Grandpa noticed. “My mitten is gone!” He sent his little dog back. The little dog ran off, sniffing in the snow. There lay the mitten. It wiggled and creaked! “Woof, woof!” barked the little dog. Whoosh! Everyone tumbled out into the snow. They laughed and ran home, each in a different direction. Nobody got hurt.
Grandpa picked up his mitten. It was toasty warm from all the guests. The mouse slept in her hole, the frog in the mud, the hare in a hollow. The fox slept in her den, the wolf in the thicket. The boar lay in the leaves, the bear in his cave. Grandpa sat by the stove. The mitten dried. Outside, the snow fell softly.
