رَجُلُ الثَّلْجِ وَالشَّمْس
The Snowman and the Sun
A Hayya Beena Naqraa story · Tier 2 · For ages 7–9
Cover page
رَجُلُ الثَّلْجِ وَالشَّمْس
The Snowman and the Sun
🎨 Illustration prompt
A wide watercolor scene of a small Lebanese mountain village covered in fresh snow. Two siblings — a brother around 8 and a sister around 9, both with dark curly hair, bundled in warm wool coats and knit hats — stand proudly beside a chubby snowman. The snowman has a carrot nose, two dark stones for eyes, and a long red-and-cream striped wool scarf. Stone houses with red-tile roofs rise behind them, smoke curling from chimneys. Pine trees dusted with snow line the hills. Soft morning light, gentle blues and warm creams. Aspect ratio 4:5 portrait. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 1
في الصَّباحِ، نَزَلَ الثَّلْجُ عَلى قَرْيَتِنا في الجَبَل. نَظَرَتْ لَيْلى مِنَ النّافِذَةِ وَصَرَخَتْ: "كَرِيم! تَعالَ بِسُرْعَة!"
In the morning, snow fell on our village in the mountains. Layla looked out the window and shouted: "Karim! Come quickly!"
🎨 Illustration prompt
Inside a cozy Levantine mountain home, Layla stands at a tall window in her pajamas, hand pressed to the cold glass. Outside, fresh white snow blankets the stone rooftops and the small garden. Her brother Karim is mid-run toward her, eyes wide with excitement. A simple wooden table with two empty tea glasses sits behind them. Warm interior light, cool blue light from the window. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 2
لَبِسا المِعْطَفَ وَالقُفَّازاتِ وَرَكَضا إِلى الحَدِيقَة. كانَ الثَّلْجُ نَاعِمًا وَأَبْيَضَ كَالحَلِيب.
They put on their coats and gloves and ran out to the garden. The snow was soft and as white as milk.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Layla and Karim bundled up in colorful wool coats and mittens, mid-step as they rush into a snow-covered garden. Their breath puffs out in little clouds. A low stone wall borders the garden, and an old fig tree stands bare and dusted with snow. Their boots leave the first footprints in the fresh powder. Joyful motion, warm cheeks, bright morning light. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 3
قالَتْ لَيْلى: "هَيّا نَبْنِي رَجُلَ ثَلْج!" بَدَأَ كَرِيم يَجْمَعُ الثَّلْجَ بِيَدَيْه. كَبِرَتِ الكُرَةُ شَيْئًا فَشَيْئًا.
Layla said, "Let's build a snowman!" Karim began gathering snow with his hands. The ball grew bigger and bigger.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Karim crouched low, rolling a large snowball across the garden, leaving a clean trail through the snow. Layla beside him, patting snow onto the ball with her mittened hands. The snowball is already the size of a watermelon. Their faces are pink with cold and focus. Pine trees and a stone house in the background. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 4
وَضَعا كُرَةً كَبِيرَةً، ثُمَّ كُرَةً وَسَطًا، ثُمَّ كُرَةً صَغِيرَةً لِلرَّأْس. ضَحِكَتْ لَيْلى وَقالَتْ: "صارَ لَهُ جِسْم!"
They placed a big ball, then a medium ball, then a small ball for the head. Layla laughed and said, "Now he has a body!"
🎨 Illustration prompt
The two siblings standing back, admiring their three-tiered snowman who has no face yet. Karim wipes snow off his gloves; Layla has both hands on her hips, grinning. The snowman is round and a little lopsided — clearly made by children. Soft midmorning light, long blue shadows on the snow. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 5
أَحْضَرَ كَرِيم جَزَرَةً مِنَ المَطْبَخِ لِلْأَنْف. وَجَدَتْ لَيْلى حَجَرَيْنِ صَغِيرَيْنِ لِلْعَيْنَيْن. ثُمَّ لَفَّا حَوْلَ رَقَبَتِهِ وِشاحَ أَبِيهِما القَدِيم.
Karim brought a carrot from the kitchen for the nose. Layla found two small stones for the eyes. Then they wrapped their father's old scarf around his neck.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Close-up of the snowman as the siblings finish him. Karim pushes the bright orange carrot into the snow-face. Layla, on tiptoes, places a dark grey stone into one eye-spot — the other eye already in place. A long striped wool scarf in deep reds and creams is tied around the snowman's neck, one end trailing. Warm, focused, tender moment. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 6
نَظَرَ كَرِيم إِلَيْهِ وَقالَ: "اِسْمُهُ حَمُّود!" وافَقَتْ لَيْلى. مَدُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْه.
Karim looked at him and said, "His name is Hammoud!" Layla agreed. They reached out and shook his hand.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Layla and Karim standing on either side of the finished snowman, Hammoud, each gently shaking one of his stick arms as if greeting a new friend. The snowman has a crooked carrot nose, two pebble eyes, and the long scarf draped around his neck. The siblings are laughing. Behind them, the village rooftops are softly blurred. Late morning sun. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 7
في اليَوْمِ التّالي، أَشْرَقَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَوِيَّةً وَدافِئَة. وَقَفَ كَرِيم وَلَيْلى عِنْدَ النّافِذَةِ يَنْظُرانِ إِلى حَمُّود.
The next day, the sun rose strong and warm. Karim and Layla stood at the window watching Hammoud.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Interior view from behind the two siblings as they stand close together at a frosted window, their faces and hands pressed near the glass. Through the window, the snowman Hammoud sits in a sunlit garden, the snow around him already beginning to soften and shine wet. Golden morning sunlight streams in. A small clay pot of mint sits on the windowsill. Quiet, watchful mood. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 8
شَيْئًا فَشَيْئًا، بَدَأَ حَمُّود يَذُوب. سَقَطَ الوِشاحُ عَلى الأَرْض. وَقَعَتِ الحِجارَةُ. ثُمَّ سَقَطَتِ الجَزَرَة.
Little by little, Hammoud began to melt. The scarf fell to the ground. The stones dropped. Then the carrot fell.
🎨 Illustration prompt
An outdoor scene of the snowman now half its size, slumping gently. The striped scarf has slipped down into the wet snow at his base. One stone eye is gone, the other dangling. The carrot nose tilts downward. Puddles form around him, reflecting the blue sky. The light is bright and warm — almost cruel in its cheerfulness. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 9
شَعَرَ كَرِيم بِالحُزْنِ وَقالَ بِصَوْتٍ هادِئ: "حَمُّود راحَ." جَلَسَتْ لَيْلى بِجانِبِهِ وَوَضَعَتْ يَدَها عَلى كَتِفِه.
Karim felt sad and said quietly, "Hammoud is gone." Layla sat down next to him and put her hand on his shoulder.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Karim sitting on the floor by the window, knees pulled up, chin resting on them, looking out at the melting snowman. His eyes are glassy with sadness — not crying, just quiet. Layla beside him on the floor, one arm around his shoulders, her cheek almost resting on his head. The window light falls softly on both of them. A wool blanket pools near them. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 10
قالَتْ لَيْلى بِلُطْف: "لَكِنَّنا بَنَيْناهُ مَعًا. عِنْدَنا الذِّكْرى. وَفي الشِّتاءِ القادِم، نَبْنِيهِ مِنْ جَدِيد." اِبْتَسَمَ كَرِيم اِبْتِسامَةً صَغِيرَة.
Layla said gently, "But we built him together. We have the memory. And next winter, we'll build him again." Karim gave a small smile.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Close-up of the siblings' faces, side by side, soft and warm. Layla is speaking, her expression kind and steady. Karim's face has begun to lift — a tiny smile starting at the corner of his mouth, his eyes still glistening. Behind them, a window with sunlight, slightly out of focus. The emotional heart of the book. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 11
في المَساء، خَرَجا إِلى الحَدِيقَة. حَمَلا الوِشاحَ وَالحِجارَةَ وَالجَزَرَة. لَوَّحا لِلْبِرْكَةِ الصَّغِيرَةِ وَقالا: "إِلى اللِّقاء يا حَمُّود. إِلى الشِّتاءِ القادِم."
In the evening, they went out to the garden. They picked up the scarf, the stones, and the carrot. They waved to the small puddle and said, "Goodbye, Hammoud. Until next winter."
🎨 Illustration prompt
Layla and Karim standing together at the edge of a small puddle where the snowman used to be. Layla holds the folded scarf in her arms like something precious. Karim holds the carrot and stones in his cupped hands. Both are waving softly with their free hands. The sky is turning pink and orange with sunset, the mountains glowing. The mood is bittersweet and tender. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
كَلِماتٌ جَدِيدَة · New Words
| Arabic | How to say it | English |
|---|---|---|
رَجُلُ الثَّلْج |
ra-jul ath-thalj | snowman |
ثَلْج |
thalj | snow |
جَزَرَة |
ja-za-rah | carrot |
حَجَر |
ḥa-jar | stone |
وِشاح |
wi-shāḥ | scarf |
ذابَ |
dhā-ba | melted |
شَمْس |
shams | sun |
ذِكْرى |
dhik-rā | memory |
شِتاء |
shi-tāʾ | winter |
🗣️ Talk about it
These are not test questions — they're conversation starters. Pick one, ask it, listen.
Karim felt sad when Hammoud melted. Have you ever felt sad when something fun ended — a vacation, a party, a snow day? What helped you feel better?
Layla said, "We have the memory." What does that mean? Can a memory be a kind of keeping?
The siblings said, "Until next winter." Is there something you look forward to every year? Something that only happens in one season?
✏️ Try it
Pick one:
- Build something that won't last. A sandcastle, a tower of cushions, a chalk drawing on the sidewalk. Take a picture or draw it before it disappears. Notice the feeling.
- Draw your own snowman and give him an Arabic name. Maybe Thalji (ثَلْجِي = my snow), or Abyad (أَبْيَض = white), or anything you like.
- Ask a grown-up about a winter from when they were a child. Did they ever build a snowman? Where? Listen for the small details.
A note for grown-ups reading along
This story is a gentle first conversation about impermanence — about loving something that won't last forever. We didn't want to make it heavy. Children already understand this, in their bones. They just need words for it, and a steady hand beside them while they feel it.
Notice that Layla doesn't fix Karim's sadness. She sits with him. She names what they still have — the memory, and the promise of next year. That's the lesson, and it's not really about snowmen.
The Arabic in this story uses full vowel marks (تَشْكِيل). The vocabulary is a little richer than Tier 1 — two or three sentences per page, more verbs, more feeling words. Read slowly. It's okay to repeat a sentence twice before moving on.
In Lebanese mountain villages, real snow does fall every winter — sometimes lightly, sometimes in deep drifts that close the roads. Children there really do build snowmen with carrots and scarves and stones. If your family has a village, ask about its winters.
Read this book again next week. Then again next month. Repetition is how the words land.
— Hayya Beena Naqraa (هَيَّا بِنَا نَقْرَأ)