七只乌鸦
导读
如果你读过本站的《六只天鹅》，会发现这个故事和它是'亲戚'——同属民间故事里'妹妹拯救变成鸟的哥哥'类型（ATU 451）。不同的是：那里是六只天鹅、妹妹缝六年衬衫；这里是七只乌鸦、妹妹独自走到世界尽头。这个故事有两个特别打动人的地方。第一，是它的起因：父亲只因一时不耐烦、气头上随口说了句'我希望这些男孩都变成乌鸦'，话音未落，七个儿子就真的飞走了——这是一个关于'气话也可能造成伤害'的古老警示。第二，是妹妹的牺牲：当她把开山的钥匙（一根星星送的鸡腿骨）弄丢时，她二话不说，切下自己的一根小手指当钥匙——为了救哥哥，她愿意付出自己身上的一部分。故事里那趟'拜访太阳、月亮和星星'的奇幻旅程也很迷人。读的时候可以和孩子聊聊：一句气话，真的能像故事里那样收不回来吗？
《七只乌鸦》词汇精讲
本故事精选 12 个重点词汇，附中英释义与原文例句，帮助孩子扩展英语词汇量。
Received into the Christian church with a ceremony using water.
给……施洗礼；受洗。
The child was sickly and small, and had to be privately baptized on account of its weakness.
这个孩子既瘦弱又矮小，因为身体虚弱，必须私下举行洗礼。
A container with a handle for holding and pouring liquids.
水壶；罐；有柄的壶。
As each of them wanted to be first to fill it, the jug fell into the well.
由于他们都争着想第一个接水，水壶掉进了井里。
Not able to wait calmly; easily annoyed by waiting.
不耐烦的；急躁的。
As they still did not return, the father grew impatient.
随着他们迟迟不归，父亲变得不耐烦了。
A low, continuous sound of fast movement, like beating wings.
呼呼声；（翅膀等的）扇动声。
Hardly was the word spoken before he heard a whirring of wings over his head in the air.
话音刚落，他就听到头顶上空传来一阵翅膀扇动的声音。
To call something back; to take back or undo it.
收回；撤回；召回。
The parents could not recall the curse, and however sad they were at the loss of their seven sons.
父母无法收回诅咒，尽管失去了七个儿子让他们悲痛万分。
Happened to someone (especially something bad).
降临到（某人身上）；发生于（尤指不幸）。
She was to blame for the misfortune which had befallen her seven brothers.
她应该为她七个哥哥所遭遇的不幸负责。
A small thing kept to remember a person or event.
纪念品；留念物。
She took nothing with her but a little ring belonging to her parents as a keepsake.
她只带了一个属于父母的戒指作为纪念。
A large jug for holding water or other drinks.
大水罐；带柄大壶。
A little pitcher of water against thirst, and a little chair as a provision against weariness.
一壶水解渴，还有一把小椅子用来消除疲劳。
Wanting to hurt others; full of ill will.
恶意的；狠毒的。
She ran to the moon, but it was far too cold, and also awful and malicious.
她跑向了月亮，但月亮太冷了，而且又阴险又恶毒。
The lower leg of a cooked chicken or other bird.
（鸡、鸭等的）小腿；鸡腿。
The morning star arose, and gave her the drumstick of a chicken.
晨星升起，给了她一根鸡腿骨。
Brought back to a former state or form.
使恢复；复原。
When the maiden heard that wish, she came forth, and on this all the ravens were restored to their human form again.
少女听到这个愿望后走了出来，就在那一刻，所有的乌鸦都恢复了人形。
Held someone closely in the arms to show love.
拥抱；抱住。
And they embraced and kissed each other, and went joyfully home.
他们互相拥抱、亲吻，开心地回到了家。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
气头上的话可能造成难以挽回的伤害；而真正的爱，愿意为家人付出巨大的牺牲。
教育价值
引导孩子学会控制情绪、慎重言语，体会亲情与坚持，也认识到不该把过错怪到无辜者身上。
家长共读提示
借父亲那句气话，和孩子聊聊'生气时说的话'；也可以和本站《六只天鹅》对照读，找找两个故事的相同与不同。
和孩子聊一聊
- 父亲只是一时生气，随口说了句气话，七个儿子就真的变成了乌鸦。你有没有在生气时说过后悔的话？
- 妹妹弄丢了钥匙，就切下自己的手指来开门。为了帮助家人，你愿意付出到什么程度？
- 别人说妹妹'要为哥哥们的不幸负责'，可这真的是她的错吗？把不幸怪到一个无辜的人头上，公平吗？
- 妹妹一路上拜访了太阳、月亮和星星。如果你能去拜访天上的一样东西，你想去找谁、问它什么？
