

Ben and Mia were playing in the snow. They made a big snowman with a hat and a scarf. They gave him a carrot nose and two rocks for eyes.
"Hello, Mr. Snowman!" Ben said. "Do you like our town?"
The snowman did not say anything. He was very still and cold.
"Maybe he is shy," Mia said. "Or maybe he is dead."
Ben and Mia looked at each other. They did not know what dead meant. They had heard it on TV, but they did not understand.
"What is dead?" Ben asked.
Mia shrugged. She did not know either.
"Let's ask Mom," she said.
They ran to their house and knocked on the door. Mom opened it and smiled.
"Hi, kids. Did you have fun in the snow?"
"Yes, Mom. But we have a question," Ben said.
"What is it?"
"What is dead?" Mia asked.
Mom looked surprised. She knelt down and hugged them.
"Dead is when something is not alive anymore. When it does not breathe or move or feel. Like a flower that withers or a toy that breaks."
"Is Mr. Snowman dead?" Ben asked.
Mom shook her head.
"No, honey. Mr. Snowman is not dead. He is just frozen. Frozen is when something is very cold and hard. Like ice or snow. But frozen things can melt and change. Like when the sun comes out and makes the snowman smaller."
"Will Mr. Snowman come alive then?" Mia asked.
Mom smiled.
"No, sweetie. Mr. Snowman is not alive. He is just a fun thing we made with snow. But we can pretend he is alive and talk to him and play with him. And we can make him again next time it snows."
Ben and Mia nodded. They understood a little bit better.
"Can we go back and play with Mr. Snowman?" Ben asked.
"Sure, but wear your coats and gloves. It is very cold outside."
"Okay, Mom. Thank you," Mia said.
They kissed Mom and ran back to the snowman. They said hello to him and gave him a hug. They did not care if he was frozen or dead. They liked him anyway.
