Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Book for Kids
A Book for Kids

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of A Book for Kids is here in full — 429 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Book for Kids
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.
For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.
It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.
Oh, try!
Tri- Tri-anti-wonti- Triantiwontigongolope.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Book for Kids

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of A Book for Kids is here in full — 429 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.
Line 2
For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.
Line 3
It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.
Line 4
Oh, try!
/oʊ traɪ/
Line 5
Tri- Tri-anti-wonti- Triantiwontigongolope.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

address verb US /ˈædres/

speak to

From this reading “But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.”

bottle noun US /ˈbɑːtəl/

a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped

From this reading “For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.”

confess verb US /kənˈfes/

confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure

From this reading “But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.”

forgive verb US /fərˈɡɪv/

stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading “It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.”

insect noun US /ˈɪnsekt/

small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading “For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.”

joke noun US /dʒoʊk/

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading “It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.”

purple noun US /ˈpɜːrpəl/

a purple color or pigment

From this reading “For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.”

truthfully adverb US /ˈtruːθfəli/

with truth

From this reading “But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.”

All words in this reading · 53

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

addressverbUS /ˈædres/

speak to

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

bottlenounUS /ˈbɑːtəl/

a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

confessverbUS /kənˈfes/

confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

don't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

forgiveverbUS /fərˈɡɪv/

stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

haven't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/

small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

isn't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

It's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

jokenounUS /dʒoʊk/

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh, try!

purplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/

a purple color or pigment

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

Tri

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tri- Tri-anti-wonti- Triantiwontigongolope.

Tri-anti-wonti

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tri- Tri-anti-wonti- Triantiwontigongolope.

Triantiwontigongolope

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tri- Tri-anti-wonti- Triantiwontigongolope.

truthfullyadverbUS /ˈtruːθfəli/

with truth

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

From this reading Oh, try!

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading For there isn't such an insect, though there really might have been If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading But of course you haven't seen it; and I truthfully confess That I haven't seen it either, and I don't know its address.

you'll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It's just a little joke of mine, which you'll forgive, I hope.

Chapter 2 of A Book for Kids by C. J. (Clarence James) Dennis holds 429 sentences, grouped into 86 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 2 of A Book for Kids contain?

Chapter 2 holds 429 sentences of A Book for Kids, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of A Book for Kids by C. J. (Clarence James) Dennis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 429 sentences, grouped into 86 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of A Book for Kids?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Book for Kids

Common questions about reading A Book for Kids by C. J. (Clarence James) Dennis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Book for Kids?

Yes. All 1247 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16251 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Book for Kids is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #16251, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Book for Kids take to read?

About 103 minutes of reading across 250 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Book for Kids section by section

How to work through A Book for Kids section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of A Book for Kids to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Book for Kids

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Book for Kids, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Dennis
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Book for Kids; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Charming
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Book for Kids; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gentleman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Book for Kids; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stared
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Book for Kids; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.