七只乌鸦
导读
《七只乌鸦》是格林童话中「妹妹救哥哥」这一类型（民间故事学者称之为 ATU 451 型）的名篇。这次，我们把它的文字重讲成中国寓言体：开篇说「从前」，推进用「有一天」，收尾点一句道理——不是把故事搬到中国，而是换上寓言讲古人的口吻。欧洲的森林、玻璃山、小矮人一概不动，变的只是说故事的口气。为什么值得这样讲？因为寓言最擅长把情与理揉在一起：父亲那句气话，像不像「说出去的话，泼出去的水」？妹妹断指开山、走遍天涯，又应了「精诚所至，金石为开」的老话。读的时候，不妨让孩子先猜：哥哥们为什么不敢回家？气头上的话，真能收得回吗？这一问，胜过讲一百句大道理。
《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。
To name a baby in a special ceremony with water.
受洗；为孩子举行洗礼。
The baby was small and weak, so her parents wanted to baptise her right away.
孩子落地，又小又弱，父母急着要给她受洗。
A container with a handle, used for carrying water or milk.
罐子；带把的水壶。
The other six ran after him, and every boy wanted to fill the jug first.
六个弟弟也要跟去，都想头一个灌满罐子。
A short trip to do a small task for someone, like fetching water.
差事；跑腿办的小事。
"They are only playing and have forgotten their errand!" he shouted.
「准是贪玩把正事忘了，这群不成器的！」他喊道。
Magic words spoken in anger that bring bad luck.
诅咒；咒语。
The parents could not take the curse back.
父母收不回这句咒语，心里日夜懊悔。
Very bad luck; something sad and harmful that happens.
不幸；灾祸。
"The girl is pretty," they said, "but her seven brothers met with misfortune because of her."
「姑娘生得俊，可她七个哥哥遭的难，说到底是为她惹下的。」
Felt a dull, steady pain; here, ached with sadness.
（心）痛；（身体）隐隐作痛。
Their hearts ached for their sons, but the little daughter grew strong and lovely.
父母心里日夜懊悔，可好歹还有这个闺女宽心，她一天天长大，出落得又结实又好看。
Very strong and wild; dangerous.
凶猛的；猛烈的。
First she met the sun, but the sun was burning hot and fierce and ate little children, so she ran away.
先遇见太阳，太阳又烫又凶，专吃小孩，她拔腿就跑。
Wanting to hurt others; unkind on purpose.
残忍的；冷酷的。
Then she met the moon, and the moon was cold and cruel.
又遇见月亮，月亮又冷又狠。
Covered something all around with cloth or paper.
包裹；包起来。
The girl wrapped the bone in a cloth and hurried on to the Glass Mountain.
妹妹把骨头小心包进布里，一路赶到玻璃山下。
A very small magical person in fairy tales.
小矮人。
Inside, a little dwarf came to meet her.
进了山，一个小矮人迎上来问：「孩子，你找什么？」
A very small drink taken at one time.
一小口；小口地喝。
The sister ate a bite from every plate and drank a sip from every glass, and into the last glass she dropped her ring.
妹妹每盘吃一小口，每杯抿一小口，把那枚戒指丢进了最后一只杯里。
The soft part of a body, under the skin.
肉；肉体。
"I smell human flesh!" it cried, so she ran on.
「我闻到了人肉味！」她吓得继续赶路。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
气头上的话收不回，可血浓于水的亲情丢不掉；只要心里有爱、脚下不停，失散的亲人终会团圆。
教育价值
让孩子懂得说话前先想一想、生气时缓一缓，学会为家人坚持到底，也学会不把过错推给无辜的人。
家长共读提示
读到父亲那句气话时停一停，问问孩子：气话为什么可怕？再联系生活，聊聊生气时除了喊出来，还能怎么办；也可以一起数数妹妹带了几样东西，感受她为救哥哥做好的准备。
和孩子聊一聊
- 父亲那句气话，一半是生气，一半是担心。如果你是父亲，当时会怎么做？
- 妹妹弄丢了星星给的骨头，宁可切下自己的手指也要开门。她为什么愿意付出这么大的代价？
- 有人说，妹妹要为哥哥们的不幸负责。你觉得这话公平吗？被冤枉的人该怎么想、怎么做？
- 妹妹上路只带了一枚戒指、一块面包、一罐水、一把小椅子。要是换了你，你会带什么去救家人？
- 哥哥们靠一枚戒指认出了妹妹。想一想：失散多年的亲人，还能靠什么认出彼此？
