《中国著名神话故事绘本系列》是五洲传播出版社出版的儿童英语读物。图书为四色印刷，图画优美，文字简明流畅，寓教于乐，适合7-14岁的中外少年儿童阅读，培养阅读兴趣。让孩子可以学习英语、提高词汇量和增强语感，同时也能够了解中国传统文化，丰富阅历，学习传统美德。
今天，我们给大家分享的是《牛郎织女》（The Cowherd and the Weaver Maid）节选。七夕节是以“牛郎织女”民间传说为载体的中国传统节日，被认为是中国最具浪漫色彩的传统节日，是世界上最早的爱情节日。七夕节发源于中国，在部分受中华文化影响的亚洲国家如日本、朝鲜半岛、越南等也有庆祝七夕的传统。
According to legend, the Emperor of Heaven and the Queen Mother of the West had seven beautiful granddaughters. The most adorable of them all was the youngest one, the "Weaver Girl"or Zhinu in Chinese. She was pretty and kindhearted. She was a very talented weaver and could weave the most colorful and gorgeous cloud patterns. Each of the different, colourful layersof cloud changed according to the seasons. The changes of the colors and patterns were the clouds that people could see from earth.
相传，天帝和王母娘娘有七个漂亮的孙女，其中最惹人喜爱的，要数最小的织女了。织女美丽善良，心灵手巧，能织出最漂亮的“云锦”。那些层层叠叠的“云锦”会随着时间和季节的不同，变换颜色和样子，也就是凡人们看到的云朵。
On earth, there lived a poor young cowherd called Niulang. His parents passed away when he was very young and he lived with his brothers family. His brother's wife was a stingy person and didn't want Niulang to share the family's properties. She forced Niulang to leave home and only gave him an old, sick OX.
人间有一个穷苦的年轻人，名叫牛郎。牛郎的父母去世得早，他跟着哥哥嫂嫂过日子。可是哥嫂心肠不好，他们独占了全部家当，只给了牛郎一头病恹恹的老牛，就把他赶出了家门。
Niulang left home and arrived at the foot of a small mountain. He decided that it was a good area that he could turn into a farmland. He built a small hut and moved in with the old ox.
牛郎牵着老牛离开了家，来到了一座山脚下。他见这里有荒地可以开垦，便建起了一座小木屋，和老牛住了进去。
From then on, the old ox became Niulang's only friend. The kindhearted Niulang collected the best green grass and fresh water to feed the ox. Under Niulang's great care, the ox grew stronger by the day. They lived together and farmed the land. Gradually life became better.
从那以后，老牛就成了牛郎唯一的朋友。善良的牛郎为老牛找来了最新鲜的嫩草和清水，在他的精心照顾下，老牛终于变得强壮起来了。他们相依为命，开荒种地，生活渐渐好起来了。
However, Niulang felt lonely all by himself in the house. He was looking up in the sky with all the sparkling little stars. He said to himself, "It would be great if there was someone who could cook for me and also talk to me."
可是，家里只有牛郎一个人，日子过得很寂寞冷清。牛郎总是在夜晚独自看着天上的星星，暗暗地想：“要是能有个人帮我烧火做饭，陪我说话就好了。”
One day, the ox suddenly spoke and said to Niulang, "Thank you for taking good care of me. Please go quickly to the lotus pond. There are many fairy maidens swimming there. Maybe you can find your wife there."
一天，牛郎身边的老牛突然开口说：“牛郎，谢谢你照顾我。你快去碧莲池吧，那儿会有很多仙女下凡洗澡，你可以留住一个做你的妻子。”
Niulang was shocked to discover that the ox could speak. He quickly went to the pond and hid behind the bushes beside the pond to await the arrival of the fairy maidens. It was a long time before all seven fairy maidens ascended to the side of the pond. They were the granddaughters of the Lady Queen Mother. The seven of them happily jumped into the water and swam.
牛郎听到老牛说人话，真是又惊又喜。他连忙按照老牛说的，赶到碧莲池，躲在了池边的芦苇丛里，等候仙女们降临。不ー会儿，果然看到七位仙女翩翩飞 落到了池塘边！她们正是王母娘娘的孙女们。七位仙女嬉笑打闹着走进池塘里，洗起澡来。
Niulang thougnt about how to choose his future wife.
怎么才能把仙女留下来做妻子呢？
勤劳善良的牛郎和老牛相依为命，老牛指点他找到了下凡的织女，两个人互相爱慕，结为夫妻，过上了幸福的生活。织女的私自下凡触怒了王母娘娘，她带走了织女，划下一道天河分开了牛郎一家人。只有每年的七夕，他们才能在鹊桥上相会。
想要阅读完整的故事，可以购买这本由五洲传播出版社发行的双语绘本《牛郎织女》。《中国著名神话故事绘本系列》也包括了其他中国古代的神话故事，凝聚了华夏儿女的智慧和丰富的想象力。包括《精卫填海》、《嫦娥奔月》、《百鸟朝凤》等。
点击此处即可选购绘本套装（5册装/10册装）。
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