The Mitten

Adapted by Jan Brett


The Players: Nicki, Baba, the grandmother, mole, rabbit, hedgehog, owl, badger, fox, mouse, storyteller.


Setting: wintertime in the forest

(Nicki and Baba are inside a house.)

Storyteller: Once there was a boy named Nicki who lived in the woods with his grandmother, Baba. Baba was getting ready to make Nicki a pair of new mittens for the winter.

Nicki: Baba, I would like my mittens to be as white as snow.

Grandmother: But if you drop one in the snow, you’ll never find it in the forest.

Storyteller: But Nicki wanted snow-white mittens, and finally Baba made them. That same day Nicki was ready to go out into the snow and play.

(Nicki gets dressed to go outside. He puts on his white mittens.)

Grandmother: When you come home, first I will look to see if you are safe and sound, but then I will look to see if you still have your snow-white mittens.

(Nicki goes outside and starts to play in the snow.)

Storyteller: So off Nicki went. And it wasn’t long until one of his new mittens dropped in the snow and was left behind.

(Nicki goes off to play and leaves his white mitten in the snow. A mole enters, sees the mitten, and crawls inside.)

Storyteller: A mole, tired from tunneling along, discovered the mitten and burrowed inside.Mole: It’s cozy and warm, and just the right size. I think I’ll stay here.

(A rabbit enters, sees the mitten, and wiggles inside.)

Storyteller: A rabbit hopping by saw the mitten. He wiggled in, feet first.

Mole: I don’t think there’s enough room for both of us. Just keep your kickers on your own side.

(A hedgehog enters, sees the mitten, and climbs inside.)

Storyteller: Next a hedgehog came snuffling along. Having spent the day looking under wet leaves for things to eat, he decided to move into the mitten and warm himself.

Hedgehog: Move aside, please. Prickles are coming through.

(An owl flies in, sees the mitten, and goes into the mitten.)

Storyteller: A big owl saw the commotion and decided to swoop down. The mitten looked warm, so he moved in too.

Owl: If you wouldn’t mind moving over, I would appreciate it.

(A badger enters, sees the mitten, and goes into the mitten.)

Storyteller: Up through the snow appeared a badger. He eyed the mitten and began to climb in.

Badger: I will just make myself at home in the thumb.

(It starts to snow. A fox enters, sees the mitten, and crawls inside.)

Storyteller: It started snowing, but the animals were snug in the mitten. A fox trotting by stopped to investigate the mitten.

Fox: I am so drowsy. I think I will crawl into this cozy mitten.

(A bear enters, sees the mitten, and crawl inside.)

Storyteller: A great bear lumbered by. Not being one to be left out in the cold, he began to nose his way into the mitten.

Bear: MOVE OVER, EVERYONE!

Storyteller: The mitten swelled and stretched. But Baba’s good knitting held fast.

(A mouse enters, sees the mitten, and crawl inside.)

Storyteller: Along came a mouse, no bigger than an acorn. She made herself comfortable on top of the great bear’s nose.

Mouse: Thank you!

Storyteller: The bear, tickled by the mouse’s whiskers, gave an enormous sneeze.

Bear: Aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaa-ca-chew!

Storyteller: The force of the sneeze shot the mitten up into the sky, and scattered the animals in all directions.

(The animals exit. Nicki enters and sees his mitten.)

Nicki: There’s my white mitten! I better go home now.

(Nicki enters his house with his mittens.)

Grandmother: I’m glad you are safe and sound. And I see you still have your snow-white mittens. But what happened?

(Baba holds up an overly stretched mitten. Nicki shrugs his shoulders.)

Storyteller: And to this day, Baba and Nicki have never discovered what happened to the mitten.