by A girl in Miami asks how tall Santa is, what the Everglades are, and what it means for a city to be bilingual
A Letter to Santa from Miami, Florida
Dear Santa,
Hola Santa! My name is Layla and I am 7 years old. I live in Miami, Florida, a sunny city by the ocean with palm trees and warm breezes all year. I love swimming and dancing. My question sounds funny: how long is Santa Claus? I mean, how tall are you? My geography question is: what are the Everglades? And my social studies question is: what does it mean for a city to be bilingual? Gracias, Santa!
Love, Layla (age 7)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Layla! I had a good laugh at your funny question. I am not the tallest fellow you will ever meet, but I am comfortably and cheerfully round! I stand about as tall as a friendly grandfather, and what I may lack in height I more than make up for in width, thanks to all those cookies and cups of cocoa. But here is the truest measurement of all: the size of my heart, which is absolutely enormous. That is the one part of me that is always growing.
Your geography question: the Everglades
The Everglades are a vast, wet, grassy wilderness in your own Florida, sometimes called a river of grass because the water flows slowly across it. They are home to alligators, wading birds, and the rare Florida panther. The Everglades are a special and protected place, found nowhere else quite like it on Earth. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: a bilingual city
A bilingual city is one where many people speak two languages in daily life. In your own Miami, a great many people speak both English and Spanish, switching easily between them at home, at school, and in shops. Being bilingual connects people to more cultures and makes a city lively, welcoming, and full of different voices. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Dance a happy dance for me, Layla. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
