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Winter story
Where Is Puschel’s Winter Store?
A story about hidden nuts, remembering together and real squirrels resting in winter.
How to begin
If you want to play along, draw three large nuts on paper and hide them indoors. Do not use small real nuts or objects. Leave animal hiding places and leaf piles untouched outside.
The story
The first snow
During the night, snow had dusted the roots white. Puschel looked in his food basket. Puschel“There were three nuts left!” Flauschi smiled. Flauschi“You hid them in autumn. Can you remember where?”
Join-in cue: Show three fingers or place three paper nuts nearby.
The round stone
Puschel hurried to a round stone. Puschel“My best place was here,” he said. But only a leaf lay beside it. Flauschi“What did you see when you hid the nut?” Flauschi asked. Puschel thought. Puschel“A tree with a crooked root!”
Join-in cue: Look around for an imaginary crooked root.
The wrong trail
Puschel found one nut beneath the crooked root. Then he saw a big pile of leaves. Puschel“Perhaps the others are there!” Flauschi gently stopped him. Flauschi“A hedgehog could be sleeping here,” Flauschi said. Flauschi“We will not look inside. We must leave this possible winter home alone.” They moved on quietly.
Join-in cue: Tiptoe onwards. Never uncover an animal nest or leaf pile.
Two little hiding places
Puschel remembered a fork-shaped branch and a mossy stone. The other nuts were there. Flauschi“You did not forget everything,” Flauschi said. Flauschi“Sometimes it helps to think together.” Puschel proudly carried the nuts home.
Join-in cue: Find the other two paper nuts or point to imaginary hiding places.
A warm place
Inside, they snuggled up on the bench. Flauschi“Real squirrels rest a lot in winter,” Flauschi explained, Flauschi“but they do not hibernate. They are active even on winter days and collect food from their stores.” Puschel nodded. Puschel“I am glad we found those three hiding places.”
Join-in cue: Settle down comfortably and count to three together.
Afterwards
Real squirrels do not hibernate. They rest for longer in winter but remain active and look for food. Hedgehogs hibernate. Watch wild animals and their homes only from a distance.