High up, on a tall, snowy mountain, there is a witch who lives alone, except for her two talking animals. The townspeople who live below the winter witch are scared of her, but they leave gifts to thank her for keeping snow on the mountain.
One day, a strange little girl leaves the winter witch a basket, and she leaves a new basket every day-until one day when she just doesn't show up. Worried, and feeling guilty for never speaking with the girl, the winter witch sends her animals out to find her.
What she discovers changes all of their lives forever.