三只小鸟
导读
别看格林这一篇短，它背后其实是全世界流传最广的故事之一，民俗学家编号为 ATU 707。你也许在《一千零一夜》里读过它更华丽的版本——《会说话的鸟、会唱歌的树和金色的水》：嫉妒的姐妹用小动物调包了王后的孩子，孩子被别处养大，长大后去寻找会说话的神鸟，最后由鸟儿道出真相。这个骨架还长成了普希金的长诗《萨尔坦沙皇的故事》和里姆斯基-科萨科夫的歌剧（那首著名的《野蜂飞舞》就出自其中）。格林版的特别之处，是它非常'德国本地化'：故事发生在真实的科伊特山，孩子被扔进真实的威悉河，连歌谣都带着民间小调的味道。最值得和孩子留意的一处是：两个哥哥都没能完成寻找，唯独最小的妹妹成功了——原因不在力气，而在她对钓鱼的老妇人说了一句善意的祝福。在格林童话里，'有礼貌、有善心'往往才是真正的魔法钥匙。
《三只小鸟》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。
Men who hunt, especially those who manage a hunt.
猎人；（尤指）负责狩猎的随从。
Once on a time when he was riding forth from his castle with his huntsmen, three girls were watching their cows.
有一次，当他和猎手们骑马从城堡出来时，三个姑娘正在山上放牛。
The act of hunting; a hunt.
狩猎；追猎（此处指打猎）。
When he had come back from the chase, he caused the three girls to be brought to him.
当他打猎回来后，让人把那三个姑娘带到他面前。
A plant whose pale, silky fibres are spun into linen; used here to describe fair, pale-golden hair.
亚麻（其浅色纤维可织成亚麻布；此处形容浅金色头发）。
They were all three fair and beautiful of face, especially the Queen, who had hair like flax.
她们三人都长得面容姣好，尤其是王后，有着亚麻色的头发。
Brought up and cared for a child or young animal until it was grown.
抚养；养育（孩子或幼小动物）长大。
As his wife had no children, they reared him.
因为他的妻子没有孩子，他们就抚养了他。
A baby or child abandoned by its parents and found and raised by others.
弃儿；被人拾养的孩子。
The other boys would not have him with them, and said, "Go thy way, foundling."
其他男孩不愿和他在一起，说：'走你的路吧，弃儿。'
Begged or asked someone earnestly to do something.
恳求；央求。
The fisherman, however, entreated him to stay, but he would not let himself be hindered.
渔夫恳求他留下，但他不肯受阻拦。
The strip of floor or stone at the bottom of a doorway; the entrance.
门槛；门口。
You will come to a great high castle, on the threshold of which you must let the wand fall.
你会来到一座宏伟的高大城堡，你必须把魔杖扔在门槛上。
In a brave, confident way, without fear.
大胆地；勇敢地。
When you come to a great black dog, you must pass it silently and boldly.
当你遇到一只大黑狗时，必须静静地、大胆地走过去。
A thin stick used for doing magic.
魔杖；魔棒。
She carried her over the water, gave her a wand, and said to her, "Go, my daughter."
她把她背过了河，给了她一根魔杖，对她说：'去吧，我的女儿。'
Felt or showed deep sadness, especially over a loss.
哀悼；为…悲伤思念。
There was no one at home but the daughter, and she mourned for her brothers so much.
现在家里只剩下女儿了，她非常思念哥哥们。
Brought about or caused (an old past form of 'work').
（work 的古体过去式）造成；导致。
The sisters twain so false, they wrought the children woe.
那两个妹妹如此虚伪，她们给孩子们带来灾祸。
A grave or place where a dead person is buried.
坟墓；冢。
In the white lily bloom, brave boy, is thy tomb.
在那白色的百合花丛，勇敢的孩子，是你的坟墓。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
善意和礼貌能打开蛮力打不开的门；就算真相被埋藏很多年，只要有人肯勇敢地去寻找，它终究会被说出来。
教育价值
引导孩子体会：为什么两个哥哥失败、最小的妹妹却成功了？——差别正在于她对老妇人的一句善意祝福。故事也讲勇气、坚持，以及'真相终会大白'的信念。
家长共读提示
可以和孩子比一比三兄妹的做法：哥哥们对老妇人说的是丧气话，妹妹却真诚祝她钓到鱼——结果只有妹妹得到了魔杖和指引。聊聊：嫉妒让两个姨妈做了什么？为什么国王一次次相信谎言？（注：结尾坏人被烧死，可简单带过。）
和孩子聊一聊
- 两个哥哥对钓鱼的老妇人说的是泄气话，妹妹却真心祝她钓到鱼。你觉得就是这句话，让妹妹得到了帮助吗？礼貌真的这么重要？
- 老妇人叮嘱她走过大黑狗时'不许笑、也不许看它'。你能做到在害怕或好奇的时候管住自己吗？
- 两个姨妈因为嫉妒，一次次把刚出生的婴儿扔进河里。嫉妒为什么会让人做出这么可怕的事？
- 王后被冤枉关了很多年，却始终没能为自己辩白，直到小鸟唱出真相。你觉得让真相被听见，为什么有时候那么难？
- 国王每次听说妻子'生了动物'都说'上帝所做的都是好的'，却没有去查明真相。如果是你，你会怎么做？
