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The Child's Book of the Seasons
The Child's Book of the Seasons

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Child's Book of the Seasons is here in full — 529 sentences across 106 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Arthur Ransome • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Child's Book of the Seasons
Context Illustration Reading 1/105 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Author of "The Stone Lady."
NATURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.
ANTHONY TREHERNE & COMPANY, LTD.
II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.
Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.
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.

The Child's Book of the Seasons

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Child's Book of the Seasons is here in full — 529 sentences across 106 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/105 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Author of "The Stone Lady."
/ˈɔːθər ʌv ðə stoʊn ˈleɪdi/
Line 2
NATURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.
/ˈneɪtʃər bʊks fɔːr ˈtʃɪldrən/
Line 3
ANTHONY TREHERNE & COMPANY, LTD.
Line 4
II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.
Line 5
Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

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.

almond noun US /ˈɑːmənd/

small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in southern Australia and California

From this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
anthony noun US /ˈænθəni/

Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)

From this reading “ANTHONY TREHERNE & COMPANY, LTD.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
blossom verb US /ˈblɑːsəm/

produce or yield flowers

From this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
buildings noun US /ˈbɪldɪŋz/

plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading “II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Imp noun US /ɪmp/

(folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous

From this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
knocking noun US /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/

the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

From this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rushing noun US /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/

(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line

From this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
throws noun US /θroʊz/

plural of “throw” — the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)

From this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

without knocking preposition + noun

In this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

624 times in 426,211 chapters
comes rushing verb + noun counted as “come rushing”

In this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

2,669 times in 426,211 chapters
bright pink adjective + noun

In this reading “Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.”

175 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 52

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 Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ADELPHI

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

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

Pending verification
almondnounUS /ˈɑːmənd/

small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in southern Australia and California

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANTHONYnounUS /ˈænθəni/

Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)

From this reading ANTHONY TREHERNE & COMPANY, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AuthornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of "The Stone Lady."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
blossomverbUS /ˈblɑːsəm/

produce or yield flowers

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOOKSnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading NATURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.

Velmora curated lexicon
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BUILDINGSnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/

plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CHILDRENnounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading NATURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
COMPANYnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading ANTHONY TREHERNE & COMPANY, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading NATURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IInoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ImpnounUS /ɪmp/

(folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/

the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Author of "The Stone Lady."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LTD

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

From this reading ANTHONY TREHERNE & COMPANY, LTD.

Pending verification
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NATUREnounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading NATURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nightgownnoun

lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of "The Stone Lady."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PHYLLIS

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

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

Pending verification
pinknounUS /pɪŋk/

a light shade of red

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ROBERTnounUS /ˈrɑːbərt/

United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rushingnounUS /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/

(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sprignoun

a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Author of "The Stone Lady."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Author of "The Stone Lady."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
throwsnounUS /θroʊz/

plural of “throw” — the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TREHERNE

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

From this reading ANTHONY TREHERNE & COMPANY, LTD.

Pending verification
WnounUS /ˈdʌbəljuː/

a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Spring always seems to begin on the morning that the Imp, in a bright pink nightgown, comes rushing into my room without knocking, and throws himself on my bed, with a sprig of almond blossom in his hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YORKnounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading II, YORK BUILDINGS, ADELPHI, W.C. FOR ROBERT AND PHYLLIS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of The Child's Book of the Seasons by Arthur Ransome holds 529 sentences, grouped into 106 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 The Child's Book of the Seasons contain?

Chapter 1 holds 529 sentences of The Child's Book of the Seasons, unabridged, divided into 106 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Child's Book of the Seasons by Arthur Ransome exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 529 sentences, grouped into 106 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 The Child's Book of the Seasons?

Work through the 106 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 106 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 The Child's Book of the Seasons

Common questions about reading The Child's Book of the Seasons by Arthur Ransome on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Child's Book of the Seasons?

Yes. All 529 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40448 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Child's Book of the Seasons is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #40448, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Child's Book of the Seasons take to read?

About 44 minutes of reading across 106 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Child's Book of the Seasons section by section

How to work through The Child's Book of the Seasons section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Child's Book of the Seasons

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Child's Book of the Seasons, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Child's Book of the Seasons; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stone
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Child's Book of the Seasons; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nature
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Child's Book of the Seasons; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Books
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Child's Book of the Seasons; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.