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Laura and Kana go over to Maria's house to listen to her music. When playing, it starts to snow outside and Maria stops as it reminds her of her grandmother Satomi from when she was younger. Satomi used to take care of Maria during the winter, as the latter's parents would fly to Paris every winter. One night, Satomi wrote a picture book for Maria, gifting it to her after she wanted to play the piano more.
In the picture book, a fictionalized version of Maria meets a snow fairy hamster who helps her improve her piano playing, eventually using magic to have the fictional Maria perform a 'snow concert', and then fly through the sky into a town, and eventually to a church tower.
The real Maria thought it was a wonderful picture book, and asked what the snow fairy hamster's name was. After looking at Maria's ribbons, Satomi and Maria agree that the snow fairy hamster's name would be "Ribbon-chan" (or as she is known in English, Bijou). Maria promised Satomi that if she gets a hamster, she would name it Ribbon-chan.
In the spring, however, Maria had to go to Hariyama Airport to catch a flight headed to Paris, in order to attend piano classes there. Satomi told Maria that she would never forget her, and shared one last hug before Maria boarded the plane that was headed for Paris.
In the present day, Maria says how she misses her and they would like to meet, but all her letters are returned as her address has changed.
Bijou then states that she will go and find her so that Maria can be happy again. Hamtaro agrees to follow.
Not knowing where to go, the Ham-Hams see Jingle who says that he knows where she is, to which like usual, he doesn't. Instead, he says that they should find Sabu who would know.
When asking Sabu, he says that he doesn't know, but Françoise does, so Hamtaro and Bijou ride her to the town. She however, is blown off course and has to land due to the blizzard. Hamtaro and Bijou take a truck the rest of the way.
At the town, they see the church tower and then find Satomi. They leave the letter outside her house and the next day she heads off to their mansion. They both are reunited.
The official English episode title is "Maria's Memorable Book". The original Japanese title does not mention Maria, instead referring to "Ribbon" (in reference to Bijou and the story book plot); as such, a more accurate (albeit still loose) translation would be "Bijou's Memorable Picture Book".
The airport is named Hariyama Airport, which does not exist in reality.
