Snoutie and His Friends

IN WHICH ALL THE CREATURES GATHER AT CHEZ ROYAL CHEF RABBIT

A hot summer flew quickly by, followed by a rainy fall, and then winter set in again. The friends gathered in the snowy field to play hide-and-seek. It was Burly Boary’s turn to seek, and he let out a happy grunt whenever he found someone. Soon he had found everyone except for Goose.

At first Goose, who had hidden under the snow-laden branches of a pine tree, was quite pleased that Boary was having trouble finding him. But then he started to feel that maybe it was taking a little too long and that perhaps Boary wasn’t trying as hard as he should.

“Maybe they’ve stopped looking for me because they’ve forgotten all about me,” thought Sensitive Goose, falling into his usual sad mood. “Well, I guess if they’re not looking for me, I’ll take advantage of this Poetic Alone Time and work on my Ode.”

Goose slipped out from under the pine without anyone noticing and flew over to the next field. From there he headed over to the river, where ice was already starting to form. He flew up onto the only small, dry tree on the shore and enjoyed the winter sunset as he waited for the arrival of Goosey Inspiration and tried to get into a poetic mood.

“Ga-ga…goose quill…and everything is whiter than white,” he began.

But Goose did not have the chance to continue working on his Ode this time either.

“So that’s where you’ve been hiding!” rang out a happy snort. “I knew I would find you here!” A satisfied Boary ran out onto the shore of the river. “Let’s go! Everyone’s waiting for you. We need to get ready for the big event!”

You see, Snoutie and his friends had decided to have a Christmas costume party and then gather at Chez Royal Chef Rabbit.

While Hedgie the Valiant and Housey Mousey made the costumes, Snoutie wrote another song:

A costume party we’ll hold

With all our friends young and old.

We’ll cut down a bushy Christmas tree

And decorate it for all to see.

Housey Mousey will be the Princess

Robin will be King of All

Burly Boary will be our Master,

And Loppy, well, he’ll be a kind troll.

Froggy will be a pirate,

The nobleman, well, that’s me,

Honorable Goose will be our Hussar,

And Mole will serve the King tea.

Little Penguin will be our clown,

Royal Chef will be Santa Claus,

And our friend Valiant Hedgie

Will sew all the pretty clothes.

That evening there was a special holiday fireworks display over Chez Royal Chef Rabbit.

About the Author

Author and illustrator Diana Malivani lives in Paris and has a young daughter named Michelle, for whom the book Snoutie and his Friends was originally written. Diana is a Doctor of Medicine (M.D., Ph.D.), and a specialist in Sports Medicine and Dietology, with extensive experience in the fitness industry. Diana enjoys oil painting and cooking tasty and healthy dishes following her own recipes.

Other books by the Author

English Edition

Snoutie and his Friends

The Great White Rabbit

Bazilio and the Little Mice

The Happy Little Pigs

The Little Honey Bears

The Gnome Magicians

The Little Lost Elephant

The Little Mouse Musicians

French Edition

Snoutie et ses Amis

Lapin Blanc Le Magnifique

Bazilio et les Souriceaux

Les Petits Cochons Heureux

Les Oursons de Miel

Les Nains Magiciens

Le Petit Éléphant Perdu

Les Souriceaux Musiciens

German Edition

Snoutie und seine Freunde

Der Große Weiße Hase

Bazilio und die Kleine Maus

Die Fröhlichen Kleinen Schweinchen

Die Kleinen Honigbären

Die Gnom-Zauberer

Der Verlorene Kleine Elefant

Die Kleinen Mäusemusikanten