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Famous Stories Every Child Should Know
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know is here in full — 393 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Famous Stories Every Child Should Know
Context Illustration Reading 1/78 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.
The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.
Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.
The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.
They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Famous Stories Every Child Should Know

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know is here in full — 393 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.
/ðə ˈperənts ˈɪnstətuːt ɪŋk/
Line 2
The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.
Line 3
Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.
Line 4
The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.
/ðə ɡruːp ʌv ˈstɔːriz brɔːt təˈɡeðər ɪn ðɪs ˈvɑːljuːm ˈdɪfər frʌm ˈledʒəndz bɪˈkɔːz ðeɪ hæv wɪð wʌn ɪkˈsepʃən noʊ kɔːr ʌv fækt æt ðə ˈsentər frʌm mɪθs bɪˈkɔːz ðeɪ meɪk noʊ əˈtempt tuː pərˈsɑːnəfaɪ ɔːr ɪkˈspleɪn ðə ˈfɔːrsɪz ɔːr ˈprɑːsesəz ʌv ˈneɪtʃər frʌm ˈferi ˈstɔːriz bɪˈkɔːz ðeɪ duː nɑːt ˈɔːfən brɪŋ ɑːn tuː ðə steɪdʒ ˈæktərz ʌv ə ˈdɪfərənt ˈneɪtʃər frʌm ˈaʊərz/
Line 5
They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."
/ðeɪ ɡɪv fʊl pleɪ tuː ðə ˈfænsi æz ɪn ə tʃaɪldz driːm ʌv ə stɑːr ðə kɪŋ ʌv ðə ˈɡoʊldən ˈrɪvər ˈʌndiːn ənd ðə snoʊ ˈɪmədʒ bʌt ðeɪ ɑːr nɑːt poʊˈetɪk rəˈkɔːrdz ʌv ðə fækts ʌv laɪf əˈtempts tuː ʃeɪp ðoʊz fækts tuː miːt ðə niːdz ʌv ðə ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən ðə ˈkreɪvɪŋz ʌv ðə hɑːrt/

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.

cravings noun US /ˈkreɪvɪŋz/

plural of “craving” — an intense desire for some particular thing

From this reading “They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."”

Hawthorne noun US /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

United States writer of novels and short stories mostly on moral themes (1804-1864)

From this reading “The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.”

Houghton noun US /ˈhɔːtən/

United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)

From this reading “The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.”

inc noun US /ɪŋk/

a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to Saddam Hussein's government of Iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of Sunni and Shiite Arabs and Kurds who hope to build a new government

From this reading “THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.”

myths noun US /mɪθs/

plural of “myth” — a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading “The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.”

personify verb US /pərˈsɑːnəfaɪ/

invest with or as with a body; give body to

From this reading “The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.”

processes noun US /ˈprɑːsesəz/

plural of “process” — a particular course of action intended to achieve a result

From this reading “The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.”

Undine noun US /ˈʌndiːn/

any of various female water spirits

From this reading “They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."”

All words in this reading · 99

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 Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

actorsnounUS /ˈæktərz/

plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

attemptnounUS /əˈtempt/

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/

plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

BrownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

centrenounUS /ˈsentər/

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

Child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/

possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

CompanynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

corenounUS /kɔːr/

a small group of indispensable persons or things

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

CountrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

cravingsnounUS /ˈkreɪvɪŋz/

plural of “craving” — an intense desire for some particular thing

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

differverbUS /ˈdɪfər/

be different

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

DreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

EdwardnounUS /ˈedwərd/

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

Everett

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

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/

a deliberate act of omission

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

FacenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

factsnounUS /fækts/

plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

fairynounUS /ˈferi/

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

forcesnounUS /ˈfɔːrsɪz/

plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

GoldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

grantedadjectiveUS /ˈɡræntəd/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

groupnounUS /ɡruːp/

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

HalenounUS /heɪl/

a soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British; his last words were supposed to have been `I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country' (1755-1776)

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

HawthornenounUS /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

United States writer of novels and short stories mostly on moral themes (1804-1864)

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

HoughtonnounUS /ˈhɔːtən/

United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

ImagenounUS /ˈɪmədʒ/

an iconic mental representation

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

imaginationnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

INCnounUS /ɪŋk/

a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to Saddam Hussein's government of Iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of Sunni and Shiite Arabs and Kurds who hope to build a new government

From this reading THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.

INSTITUTEverbUS /ˈɪnstətuːt/

set up or lay the groundwork for

From this reading THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.

KingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

legendsnounUS /ˈledʒəndz/

plural of “legend” — a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

LittleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

MannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

Messrs

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

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

Mifflin

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

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

mythsnounUS /mɪθs/

plural of “myth” — a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

Nathaniel

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

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

needsadverbUS /niːdz/

in such a manner as could not be otherwise

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

PARENTSnounUS /ˈperənts/

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.

permissionnounUS /pərˈmɪʃən/

approval to do something

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

personifyverbUS /pərˈsɑːnəfaɪ/

invest with or as with a body; give body to

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

playverbUS /pleɪ/

participate in games or sport

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

poeticadjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪk/

of or relating to poetry

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

processesnounUS /ˈprɑːsesəz/

plural of “process” — a particular course of action intended to achieve a result

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

recordsnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdz/

plural of “record” — anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

republicationnoun

something that has been published again; a fresh publication (as of a literary work)

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

SnownounUS /snoʊ/

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

StarnounUS /stɑːr/

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

StonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

UndinenounUS /ˈʌndiːn/

any of various female water spirits

From this reading They give full play to the fancy as in "A Child's Dream of a Star," "The King of the Golden River," "Undine," and "The Snow Image"; but they are not poetic records of the facts of life, attempts to shape those facts "to meet the needs of the imagination, the cravings of the heart."

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

volumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading The stories of "The Great Stone Face" and "The Snow Image" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are used in this volume by permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Company.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the centre, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours.

WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Messrs. Little, Brown & Company have granted permission for the republication of "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

Chapter 1 of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know by Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie holds 393 sentences, grouped into 79 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 1 of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know contain?

Chapter 1 holds 393 sentences of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know, unabridged, divided into 79 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know by Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 393 sentences, grouped into 79 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 1 of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know?

Work through the 79 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 79 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Famous Stories Every Child Should Know

Common questions about reading Famous Stories Every Child Should Know by Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know?

Yes. All 3963 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #16247 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #16247, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Famous Stories Every Child Should Know take to read?

About 330 minutes of reading across 793 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Famous Stories Every Child Should Know section by section

How to work through Famous Stories Every Child Should Know section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know 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 Famous Stories Every Child Should Know

Words and structures a reader meets early in Famous Stories Every Child Should Know, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Parents'
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Institute
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Great
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Famous Stories Every Child Should Know; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.