Page 1
Lewis Cardinal sat on the lowest branch of his hickory tree.
He was sad. This was his first winter in the north woods.
He was sure he should be busy like everyone else.
Page 2
Cinnamon Bear told Lewis about her winter plans. "I'm almost ready for my long nap, Lewis. I've been eating a lot of fish and berries and roots. I'm so full and tired I can hardly wait to sleep. I'll see you in the spring!" she said.
Page 3
"Maybe I should eat a lot of food, too," thought Lewis. "Then I'll be ready for winter." But somehow that just didn't seem right for him.
Page 4
Lewis flew off to see how the
other animals were getting ready
for winter. He swooped down to
the creek, where Polly was busy
burying herself in mud and leaves.
"I'm okay, Lewis. This is the
way some frogs get
ready for winter,"
she said. Lewis
didn't think
Polly's way
would work
for him.
Page 5
Lewis saw Silver shimmering in the water. "Silver," he called to the fish, "how are you getting ready for winter?"
Silver didn't answer. Instead, he slowly sank to the bottom of the stream. This didn't seem like much of a plan to Lewis.
Page 6
Back at the hickory tree, Roberta and her
robin friends chirped farewell. "So long,
Lewis. We'll be back soon!" "How soon is soon?"
Lewis asked, but it was too late. They were
already gone. Lewis moaned. "I'm a bird too.
I'm sure I should be doing something or going
somewhere for the winter."
Page 7
Night fell, and the woods grew quiet.
High up in the hickory tree, Solomon Raven, the wisest bird in all the forest, looked down on the little cardinal. "What's wrong Lewis?" Solomon called gently.
"I'm sad all my friends are leaving," cried Lewis. "Cinnamon, Polly, and Roberta say they will be back. But, I don't know why they have to go. And Silver isn't
saying anything at all."
Page 8
"Well, Cinnamon and Polly hibernate, like all bears and frogs," explained Solomon. "That means they sleep part or most of the winter when it would be hard to find food. Roberta Robin migrates each year. She flies away to a warm place, but she always comes back. And Silver stays right in the stream. You'll see, Lewis. It will be all right."
Page 9
Lewis was still worried.
"Will I have friends if I stay?" asked Lewis.
"A lot of animals stay. I will be here, too," Solomon answered. "Let's see who will brave the winter with us."
Page 10
They flew high above the autumn woods. Pearl Squirrel was gathering nuts. Madison was digging a den, like all good badgers do. Marilyn Rabbit hopped along the trail.
Page 11
"Pearl will be right in our own tree," said Solomon. "Madison hibernates when it's really cold, but we'll still see him sometimes. Marilyn will be hopping by all winter."
Lewis was starting to feel a little better.
Page 12
Then, Solomon pointed to a nearby evergreen tree. There sat a lovely cardinal, singing a sweet song. Lewis darted to the tree and perched beside the pretty bird. "I'm Cheri Cardinal," the pretty bird warbled. "Are you going to be here all winter, like me?"
Page 13
Lewis gazed at Cheri and felt warm as a summer night inside. He thought of all the friends he and Solomon had seen. He wasn't afraid of being alone anymore.
Page 14
Solomon smiled down on the pair of cardinals, so beautiful in the evergreen tree. He thought, "It's going to be a very good winter after all."
