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The Burgess Bird Book for Children
The Burgess Bird Book for Children

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Burgess Bird Book for Children
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.
It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.
He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.
Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.
Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Burgess Bird Book for Children

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.
/ˈdʒɑːli raʊnd red ˈmɪstər sʌn wɑːz dʒʌst ˈɡoʊɪŋ tuː bed bɪˈhaɪnd ðə ˈpɜːrpəl hɪlz ənd ðə blæk ˈʃædoʊz hæd bɪˈɡʌn tuː kriːp ɔːl θruː ðə ɡriːn ˈfɔːrəst ənd aʊt əˈkrɔːs ðə ɡriːn ˈmedoʊz/
Line 2
It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.
/ɪt wɑːz ðə ˈaʊər ʌv ðə deɪ ˈpiːtər ˈræbət lʌvz best/
Line 3
He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.
/hiː sæt ɑːn ðə edʒ ʌv ðə ɡriːn ˈfɔːrəst ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ fɔːr ðə fɜːrst ˈlɪtəl stɑːr tuː ˈtwɪŋkəl haɪ ʌp ɪn ðə skaɪ/
Line 4
Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.
/ˈpiːtər felt æt piːs wɪð ɔːl ðə ɡreɪt wɜːrld fɔːr ɪt wɑːz ðə ˈaʊər ʌv piːs ðə ˈaʊər ʌv rest fɔːr ðoʊz huː hæd bɪn ˈbɪzi ɔːl θruː ðə ˈʃaɪnɪŋ deɪ/
Line 5
Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.
/moʊst ʌv ˈpiːtərz ˈfeðərd frendz hæd ˈsetəld ðemˈselvz fɔːr ðə ˈkʌmɪŋ naɪt ðə ˈwɜːriz ənd kerz ʌv ðə deɪ ˈoʊvər ənd fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

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.

cares noun US /kerz/

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading “Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.”

creep verb US /kriːp/

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading “Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.”

feathered adjective US /ˈfeðərd/

adorned with feathers or plumes

From this reading “Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.”

Meadows noun US /ˈmedoʊz/

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading “Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.”

Peter's noun US /ˈpiːtərz/

possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading “Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.”

Rabbit noun US /ˈræbət/

any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading “It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.”

twinkle verb US /ˈtwɪŋkəl/

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading “He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.”

worries noun US /ˈwɜːriz/

plural of “worry” — something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness

From this reading “Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.”

All words in this reading · 73

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.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

begunverbUS /bɪˈɡʌn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

BlackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

caresnounUS /kerz/

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

creepverbUS /kriːp/

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

edgenounUS /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

featheredadjectiveUS /ˈfeðərd/

adorned with feathers or plumes

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

ForestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

GreennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

HillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

JollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

lovesnounUS /lʌvz/

plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

MeadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

MostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

PeternounUS /ˈpiːtər/

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

Peter'snounUS /ˈpiːtərz/

possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

PurplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/

a purple color or pigment

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

RabbitnounUS /ˈræbət/

any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading It was the hour of the day Peter Rabbit loves best.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

ShadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

shiningadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

starnounUS /stɑːr/

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

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

SunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

twinkleverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəl/

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was just going to bed behind the Purple Hills and the Black Shadows had begun to creep all through the Green Forest and out across the Green Meadows.

watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading He sat on the edge of the Green Forest watching for the first little star to twinkle high up in the sky.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

WorldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Peter felt at peace with all the Great World, for it was the hour of peace, the hour of rest for those who had been busy all through the shining day.

worriesnounUS /ˈwɜːriz/

plural of “worry” — something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness

From this reading Most of Peter's feathered friends had settled themselves for the coming night, the worries and cares of the day over and forgotten.

Chapter 28 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess holds 107 sentences, grouped into 22 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 28 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children contain?

Chapter 28 holds 107 sentences of The Burgess Bird Book for Children, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 28 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 107 sentences, grouped into 22 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 28 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 28 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 28 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 The Burgess Bird Book for Children

Common questions about reading The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Burgess Bird Book for Children?

Yes. All 5090 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3074 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Burgess Bird Book for Children is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3074, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Burgess Bird Book for Children take to read?

About 424 minutes of reading across 1018 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Burgess Bird Book for Children section by section

How to work through The Burgess Bird Book for Children section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Burgess Bird Book for Children 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 The Burgess Bird Book for Children

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Burgess Bird Book for Children, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lipperty-lipperty-lip
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Scampered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Peter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rabbit
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.