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Christmas story for toddlers: Santa's hot cocoa
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It was evening at the North Pole. Outside, the snow fell softly. Inside, in his little wooden house, Santa was warm and cozy.
"Time for something nice," said Santa.
He took out his biggest mug. A red mug with white spots. He poured in warm milk. He stirred in chocolate. Round and round and round went the spoon.
Then he added one fluffy marshmallow on top. Plop.
"Perfect," said Santa. He sat down in his big armchair by the fire and lifted the mug to his lips.
Knock, knock, knock.
Who is at the door?
Santa put down his mug and opened the door. There stood a little white hare, with snow on his ears.
"Hello, Santa," said the hare. "It's very cold out here. And something smells very nice in there."
"Come in, come in," said Santa. "Warm your paws by the fire."
The hare hopped inside. He sniffed. "Is that hot chocolate?"
Santa looked at his big mug. Then he took a little cup from the cupboard and poured some hot chocolate into it.
"For you," he said.
"Thank you!" said the hare.
Knock, knock, knock.
More visitors
This time it was a small owl, with frosty feathers.
"Hoo-hoo," said the owl. "Is there room for one more?"
"Of course," said Santa.
He took a tiny cup from the cupboard and poured some hot chocolate into it.
Knock, knock, knock.
It was a little fox, with a white tip on her tail. And behind the fox... came Pip the elf, with his hat bell jingling.
"We saw the light in your window," said Pip.
Santa smiled. He took out two more cups. He poured and poured.
The last drop
Now everyone had a cup. The hare. The owl. The fox. And Pip.
Santa looked into his big red mug with white spots.
There was only one little drop left. And the marshmallow had gone.
"Oh," said Santa softly.
The animals looked at each other. Pip looked at the fox. The fox looked at the owl. The owl looked at the hare.
Then the hare poured one sip from his cup into Santa's mug.
The owl poured one sip too. And the fox. And Pip.
Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.
Santa looked into his mug. It was full again. Not to the top, but full enough.
"Well, well," he said. "That is the best hot chocolate I have ever had."
Together by the fire
They all sat by the fire together. The hare on the rug. The owl on the back of the armchair. The fox curled up by the fire. And Pip on Santa's knee.
They sipped their hot chocolate. Slurp, slurp, slurp.
Outside, the snow fell softly. Inside, it was warm.
And Santa thought: a mug of hot chocolate is nice. But a mug of hot chocolate with friends is much nicer.
Things to do together
- Who came to visit Santa? Can you remember them all?
- What did the animals do when Santa's mug was almost empty?
- What do you like to share with your friends?
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