HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Welcome back!

We have a special announcement: “Joey trifft die Zahnfee” (Dec 13, 2025 – BoD) is now available. Thank you, Eva Maria Dietrich Carreño (editor), from Reedsy.com, and Marzena Markowski (copyeditor), from E-German, for their help.

In my last blog, I told you about how my parents encouraged me to publish my new book, “Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy.” (Nov 13, 2025 – TEOL Publishing) If you missed it, click here to read it. Wow, I published two books in one month! I am starting to feel like a very busy author. (wink)

Let us continue with my “Four Seasons Series.” In November (2025), I told you about the colorful Autumn. Today I will tell you about the cold and snowy Winter! If you remember, scientists have two ways to calculate the beginning of each season. The Astronomical is based on how far or near the Earth is to the sun: Winter: December 21-March 20. The Meteorological is based on the average temperature. Winter: December 1 - February 28 or 29. 

Some interesting facts about Winter: 

The “Nimbostratus” Clouds are more common in Fall and Winter because of the cooler temperatures. They are thick, layered, and dark. Do you know what their name means? "Nimbus" (rain) + "Stratus" (layered) = Rain layered clouds!

Snowflakes have their own shape. No twins’ snowflakes. (ha,ha,ha)

Ice Flowers Formation: a fascinating phenomenon. It happens when water vapor crystallizes and forms a “flower.” This is only possible when it is very cold: -5°C (23°F) or colder. Dad said they melt away as the sun shines on them. Yep, you have to wake up early to see them. 

Furry Animals with Transparent Fur: Bears, Arctic Foxes, and Snowshoe Hares share this rare fur.They also have some other unique characteristics. 

Bears’ skin is black!!! Say what? No way. But why does their fur seem white or black? Let me get my Explorer Notebook! Aha. The sunlight creates its color. Polar Bear: the sunlight makes them look as if they have “white fur.” The Grizzly Bears (brown) or Black Bears absorb more sunlight, and their fur looks darker. This helps the bears to blend better into their surroundings and protects them from predators. 

The Arctic Fox and Snowshoe Hare do not have black skin. Their dark gray skin color helps them to absorb more sunlight and stay warm. Their fur changes color from brown to white in Winter. 

Migration Champions: Many animals and birds migrate during Winter. I chose these three because they travel a very long way. 

Arctic Tern – this seabird travels 71,000 kilometers (44,100 miles) from the Arctic (North Pole) to the Antarctic (South Pole). 

The Sooty Shearwater – this seabird travels 64,374 kilometers (40,000 miles) from New Zealand to the North Pacific Ocean (Japan, Alaska, and California)​

Humpback Whales - travel 25,749 kilometers (16,000 miles) from the polar waters to warmer tropical regions, like Puerto Rico. Mom said you see plenty of them on the West Coast of Puerto Rico. 

Star gazing:  Dad said in Winter, you can see these three constellations: Orion - easy to see. It’s the one with a line of three stars. Taurus – it’s shaped like a “V”. Canis Major – also known as the "Greater Dog."Its brightest star, Sirious, shines with a blue-white color. 

Image Credits: Stellarium

My favorite Winter Activities: 

Nature Scavenger Hunt – go to the forest and look for pinecones, animal tracks, or specific types of tree leaves.

Winter Hiking – there is a forest close to our house. Dad and I go on an adventure on snowy or foggy days. It’s fun to make a snowman somewhere in the forest. On foggy days, we walk around looking for deer or rabbits. One day, we even saw a fox! 

The best part of these adventures is coming back home. Mom always welcomes us with a cup of hot cocoa and homemade cookies!!!

I forgot to mention what I got for Christmas! On St. Nicholas (6 December), I got a new explorer’s journal. For Christmas, I got a telescope and a stargazing book! Now I can see the stars and the Tooth Fairy Castle. On New Year’s Eve, we visited my grandparents. It’s our last family reunion of the year. It’s fun to play with all my cousins. 

Gotta run now. We are getting ready for the coming of the Three Wise Kings on January 6. It is our first family reunion of the year. A lot of work to do. I hope you had a great Christmas season. 

My next blog will be in German. 

Remember to brush your teeth and keep them shiny for the Tooth Fairy. 

Joey Paco