Birthday Blues

Birthday Blues written by Jessica Malordi illustrated by Taiz Damiow. Focus Question What does Alaina learn in the story?

《生日小烦恼》 作者：杰西卡·马罗迪 绘者：泰兹·达米奥 思考问题：埃琳娜在这个故事中学到了什么？

Elena had been counting down to her birthday all month. Every morning, she crossed another day off the calendar. Guess what, Mom? She exclaimed. Just two more days until I turn eight.

埃琳娜整整一个月都在倒数自己的生日。 每天早上，她都会划掉日历上的又一天。 妈妈，你猜怎么着？ 她大声说。 再过两天我就满八岁啦。

That's wonderful, her mother replied, but she sounded distracted. Elena, honey, can you hand me that dish towel? Isabella just spit up, she said. Elena sighed. Her new sister was just one week old, and she was already a pest. It seemed to Elena as though she was always in need of attention.

太棒啦，妈妈回答道，但她的声音听起来心不在焉的。 埃琳娜，宝贝，能把那块擦碗布递给我吗？ 伊莎贝拉刚吐奶了。妈妈说。 埃琳娜叹了口气。 她刚出生的妹妹才一周大，就已经是个小麻烦精了。 埃琳娜觉得，妹妹好像永远都需要别人的关注。

Why the long face, squirt? Asked Nina, Elena's big sister. No reason, Elena replied. She didn't know how to explain how forgotten she felt. All week, friends and family had stopped by to meet Isabella. Everybody seemed to think she was adorable. They wanted to hold her and coo over her and kiss her. Nobody seemed to notice that Elena was even in the room.

怎么拉长个脸呀，小不点？ 埃琳娜的姐姐尼娜问道。 没什么。埃琳娜回答。 她不知道该怎么说自己有种被大家遗忘的感觉。 整整一周，亲朋好友都顺路来探望伊莎贝拉。 大家都觉得她特别可爱。 大家都想抱着她，轻声逗她，亲她。 好像根本没人注意到埃琳娜也在房间里。

The next day, as soon as the mail arrived, Elena ran to get it. There were three colorful cards inside the mailbox. Birthday cards, Elena cheered. Then she took a second look and frowned. None of the cards were addressed to her.

第二天，邮件刚送到，埃琳娜就跑过去拿。 邮箱里有三张色彩鲜艳的卡片。 是生日贺卡！埃琳娜欢呼起来。 可她再仔细一看，皱起了眉头。 这些贺卡没有一张是寄给她的。

their congratulations cards in honor of the new baby, her dad explained. Elena rolled her eyes. What about my birthday? She asked. Are we going to have a party this weekend? Mom promised we could. Elena's father didn't have a chance to answer. He heard Isabella crying and he rushed off to help.

这些是祝贺咱们家添了新宝宝的贺卡呀。爸爸解释道。 埃琳娜翻了个白眼。 那我的生日呢？ 她问道。 这周末我们会办生日派对吗？ 妈妈答应过我们的。 埃琳娜的爸爸还没来得及回答。 他听见伊莎贝拉在哭，就赶紧跑过去照看了。