Knocks in the night
Ein Beitrag von Petra Eimermacher
Aus Copy-right-Gründen können die Bilder zu dieser Geschichte hier nicht veröffentlicht werden. Kinder lieben diese wunderschönen Illustrationen. So kann die Arbeit, diese Geschichte in Szene zu setzen (3./4. Kl. ), belebt werden.
Ich habe die Texte bearbeitet und in Reimform umgeschrieben.
Die Originalausgabe dieses Bilderbuches von T. Michels und R. Michl in deutscher Sprache lautet „Es klopft bei Wanja in der Nacht“, 1985. Die englische Ausgabe erschien 2016, „Knocks in the Night“.
Knocks in the Night (shortened)
In a land of ice and snow,
Where wintry cold winds often blow,
Beside the forest, big trees to the left and right,
Stands Peter’s house, all is white.
A snowstorm breaks in darkest night.
Peter wakes up: ‘Who knocks on my door?’
Knock, knock, once more.
Oh - a little hare out in the snow!
Shivering, quivering, sneezing:
‘Please let me in, I’m f-f-freezing!’
‘Come in. What a wintry storm!
My little house is cosy and warm.’
The house is still. The two retire.
Criclety-cracklety leaps the fire.
The little hare curls up in the chair.
Peter settles down for the night:
‘Pleasant dreams, friend hare, sleep tight.’
They close their eyes and fall asleep.
Knock, knock on the door!
Knock, knock once more.
Peter gets up. Who knocks?
It’s a fox!
Shivering, quivering, sneezing:
‘Please let me in, I’m f-f-freezing!’
‘Oh no!’ the hare cries out in fear.
‘Please don’t let the fox in here!
Foxes have a terrible habit,
They like to eat bunny and rabbit.’
‘ I swear by all that’s good and true
I will not bite, I will not kill you!’
‘ You‘ve promised now, so don’t forget it,’
Peter says, ‘ or you will regret it.’
The house is still. They all retire.
Cricklety-cracklety leaps the fire.
The fox curls up beside the wooden box.
Peter settles down for the night.
‘Pleasant dreams, friend fox, sleep tight.’
They close their eyes and fall asleep.
Knock, knock on the door! Thumpy, bumpy!
Who’s out there? Peter opens the door
And meets a big, brown bear,
Shivering, quivering, sneezing:
‘Please let me in, I’m f-f-freezing!
My fur is full of snow and ice.
Cold are my ears, my nose and eyes.’
‘Oh no!’ the fox cries out in fear.
‘Please don’t let the bear in here!
For sure he will remember
I robbed him a fish last December!’
‘I swear by all that’s good and true,
I will not bite, I will not kill you.
I swear I will be good.
Please do not send me back to the wood.’
‘You’ve promised now, so don’t forget it,’
Peter says, ‘or you will regret it.’
The house is still. They all retire.
Cricklety-cracklety leaps the fire.
The bear curls up on the floor close to the door.
Peter settles down for the night:
‘Pleasant dreams, friend bear, sleep tight.’
The snowflakes keep on swirling and tumbling.
The wind keeps on roaring and rumbling.
The strong trees are bending and breaking.
The little house is shivering and shaking.
But Peter and his friends sleep tight – all night.
But when the morning light shines bright
The little rabbit awakes with fear: ‘The fox is here!
The fox is foxy as can be.
He is too dangerous for me.
The best thing is to go out in the snow.’
The fox awakes. He sniffs the air.
‘I sniff … I sniff a bear.’
And then he sees the big, brown bear!
‘The bear will never be my friend.
I fear a terrible end.
He will soon catch me, grab me and scratch me, and …..
Oh no, I better go out in the snow!’
The bear is still asleep,
Snoring loud and deep.
His fur is nice and dry
And finally he opens an eye.
But what’s thaaaat?
On the wall a hunting rifle above his head!
The morning sun is warm and red.
‘I hurry out before I end up dead.’
As quietly as a mouse,
The big bear tiptoes from the house.
Peter finally opens his eyes.
No hare, no fox, no bear to see?
‘Was it all but a dream to me?’
Outside in the morning sun
Three sets of tracks through the snow do run.
Peter’s face is a sunny beam,
‘It was not a dream!
Thanks to the stormy weather,
We’ve spent a night in peace together.’
