Behind the forest and across a wide meadow stands a kindergarten. Children from all over the city come here to play, to learn new things, and to rest. Every day at this kindergarten is full of discoveries. But today is different. Today, something very special is supposed to arrive—all the way from the sky. A letter from the Sun.
All morning, the children had been waiting impatiently for the teacher to check the mailbox. As soon as she opened the kindergarten door, they all gathered around her and asked: “Do you have it? Do you have a letter from the Sun? What does it say?” they asked eagerly. The teacher just smiled. She pulled a bright yellow envelope out of her pocket. She asked the children to sit nicely on the carpet. She sat down among them and began to read the letter from the sunny envelope.
The Letter from the Sun
My dear children,
Spring has arrived, and my rays are growing stronger. I love watching you play in the garden and frolic in the grass. That’s why I shine as brightly as I can—to keep you warm.
But I need your help. There is so much to do! I must wake the hedgehogs and other animals from their long winter sleep. I must turn the grass green, warm the soil, and make the dandelions bloom. Yet sometimes clouds or a late frost get in my way, and then I don’t have enough strength to warm the earth.
So please, will you help me bring spring? Sing a springtime song together. If you all sing with joy, I will hear you, and my rays will grow stronger and warmer. Then spring will truly come.
Will you do that for me?
“Yes!” shouted all the children at once, then immediately asked the teacher which song they should sing.
She thought for a moment, then smiled.
Together they chose a song, quickly got dressed, and ran out into the garden so the Sun could hear them.
The children joined hands and formed a circle. Spinning and laughing, they sang:
“Spring, spring, come our way,
Paint the world both bright and gay.
Shine with warmth, the cold is done,
We’ve received your note, dear sun.
Golden rays now light the sky,
Springtime’s here—oh, joy is nigh!”
Their voices rang out far and wide. All the children were singing, holding hands and spinning around. The birds and hedgehogs heard the song. Even the moles peeked out of their burrows, curious about the beautiful singing. The children’s singing sounded beautiful and reached all the way to the sky. The Sun heard. It spread its golden rays and warmed the earth with new strength. Birds circled above the children to the rhythm of their song.
As the ground began to warm up, animals crept from their hiding places and stretched after their long winter sleep.
Spring had truly arrived.
And the children were proud—they had completed the task the Sun had given them.
Thank you, dear children, for helping me bring spring, the letter said.
As a reward, I will shine and warm you, so that you can enjoy the days ahead and watch the world awaken and bloom.
The teacher beamed. She could not wait to show the children all the flowers, trees, and animals that were coming to life.
Because that is the wonder of nature:
it offers us so many treasures for free.
All we need to do is look around.
