by A girl in Omaha asks if Santa can bring a pet, what sand dunes are, and what the Transcontinental Railroad was
A Letter to Santa from Omaha, Nebraska
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Ruby and I am 7 years old. I live in Omaha, Nebraska, on the wide-open prairie where the trains roll by all day. I love drawing animals and visiting the zoo. My question is: can Santa Claus bring pets? I would love a puppy! My geography question is: what are sand dunes? And my social studies question is: what was the Transcontinental Railroad? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Ruby (age 7)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Ruby! What a sweet and thoughtful wish. Here is my honest answer. I can bring all sorts of wonderful toys, but a real, living pet is a very big and special decision. A puppy needs a loving home that is truly ready to feed it, walk it, and care for it every single day, so I always leave that choice to your parents, who know best. I would never surprise a family with a living animal. But I can certainly bring a cuddly stuffed puppy! And if your family is ready for a real one, the best gift of all is talking it over together.
Your geography question: sand dunes
Sand dunes are hills of sand piled up by the wind. Your own Nebraska has the famous Sandhills, a huge region of rolling dunes that are covered in grass, which holds the sand in place. From above, they look like giant green waves frozen across the prairie. They are a special and surprising landscape. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: the Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad was a great railroad built long ago that connected the eastern and western halves of your own United States for the very first time. Your own Omaha was an important starting point for it. Before the railroad, crossing the country took many months, but afterward it took only days, which changed America forever. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Draw a happy puppy for me, Ruby. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
