作者：美国迪士尼公司
出版社：华东理工大学出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
迪士尼英文原版·恐龙当家试读：
Chapter 1
Sixty-five million years ago—on a day very much like many before it—all was quiet on Earth as a group of dinosaurs peacefully ate in a lush, green field. A big moon cast a gentle glow from above as they lazily chewed on fern fronds, twigs, and leaves.
But in the deepest, darkest depths of outer space—way beyond the dinosaurs—things were not so calm. A giant space rock was hovering millions of miles above the earth, moving more quickly than the others in the asteroid belt. It nudged into a larger rock, sending an even bigger rock on its path. The asteroid began descending toward Earth. It burned as it entered the atmosphere, gaining momentum and on track to smack right into the blue planet. It raced faster and faster, getting closer and closer and closer, until . . .
Whooooosh!
The raging fireball darted right past Earth—just missing it.
Down below, the dinosaurs stopped chewing for a brief moment as they watched the bright, silver streak of light shoot across the night sky.
Then they went back to chomping on their leafy greens.
———————————————
Millions of years later, the world had changed. The Earth and the dinosaurs that roamed it had become very different. Two Apatosauruses were busy cultivating a farm alongside a river at the base of a three-point mountain range called Clawtooth Mountain. Henry and Ida worked hard tending to their fields and produced enough food to get them through every winter. Their farm was flourishing and soon, they’d have a family.
Early one morning, Henry was outside doing his chores, using his mouth and long neck to spray streams of water across the cornfields, when he heard Ida’s voice ring out: “Henry!” called Ida. “It’s time!”
Ida and Henry gazed at the eggs cozilysitting together in their large nest. All three were smooth and white, but one of them was quite a bit larger than the other two. Naturally, they assumed that would be their biggest and strongest. Ida and Henry had been dreaming about the little dinosaurs growing inside those beautiful eggs for so long. It was hard to believe the waiting was about to be over. They watched with hopeful eyes as one of the smaller ones wobbled just a bit. Then it wobbled a bit more. And finally… a tiny crack formed.
Crack!
The shell cracked open and, like a little ray of sunshine, a girl dinosaur cheerfully bounced out. “Our first girl,” said Poppa with a smile. “Let’s call her Libby, after your momma.”
Momma’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as she and Poppa watched Libby smile and then vanish. In a flash, she reappeared, popping out of her hiding place, her long, thin tail whipping behind her. The silly little trickster made Momma and Poppa laugh, disappearing and reemerging from unexpected places.
Then the other small egg began to wobble.
Crack!
A tiny crack appeared at the top of its shell. It wobbled and pushed a bit more until… Pop! A foot came out!
Pop! Pop! Pop!
One by one, three more feet pierced through, sticking straight out. The egg rolled over and its four thick legs stomped around until it bashed into a tree trunk. The shell crumbled away and a tough little male dinosaur—built like a tank—stood and looked at them. Even his head was big for a baby apatosaurus and looked as if it were balancing on top of his long neck.
“Hello, Buck,” Poppa said proudly. The little dinosaur picked up a stick and started beating his father’s leg with it. “He’s got your eyes.”
Finally, the largest egg began to wobble and quiver. Momma and Poppa leaned in, excitedly, waiting to see their third child. “Looks like it’s going to be a big one!” Poppa exclaimed anxiously. The egg wiggled… and wobbled some more. Henry and Ida continued to sit and stare.
Crack!
The egg cracked open and the top popped off. The parents gasped in excitement, but nothing happened. No little dinosaur emerged. They leaned forward, peering in, and curled up inside the bottom of the egg, was the tiniest dinosaur either of them had ever seen!
Poppa pulled off the top half of the shell and the tiny dinosaur peeked out at them timidly.
“Hello, Arlo,” Poppa said, trying to coax the little apatosaurus out of the egg. But Arlo didn’t move. His arms and legs were splayed, gripping the inside of the shell tightly. He was not interested in leaving.
“It’s alright. Come on out,” Poppa encouraged.
Arlo nervously inched forward, and seemed to quiver with fear.
“Look at you,” said Poppa, smiling adoringly.
Then Arlo tipped over and fell flat on his face with his backside sticking straight up in the air. Seeing a golden opportunity, Buck lumbered over and smacked Arlo on the butt with his stick.
“Get out of there! You little prickle bush!” scolded Poppa.
Buck scurried off and ran around with Libby, bouncing and romping about. Arlo watched them for a moment and then tried to join the fun. He was nervous at first; but as he picked up speed, he began to enjoy running with his brother and sister.
Eventually, the three little dinosaurs ran all the way to the door, where the view stopped them in their tracks. Their eyes opened wide as they gazed out at the bright, big world outside.
“That’s our farm,” said Poppa contendedly. “And you’re all gonna help take care of it.”
Libby and Buck already seemed excited by the farm and the possibilities ahead of them. But Arlo was overwhelmed and unsettled by all of its newness and unfamiliarity.
Chapter 2
By the time they were five years old, Buck, Libby, and Arlo were expected to help around the farm. The hard work seemed to come naturally to Libby and Buck. They always did their chores—and they even knew how to have fun while doing it. Libby loved tricking Buck and getting him to do her work for her.
One time, when she didn’t particularly feel like watering the crops, she hid in the high stalks of corn with a mouthful of water. When Buck was within range, she aimed and took her shot . . . spraying him right in the face! Libby quickly retreated into the fields—laughing hysterically at her shocked brother.
Determined to get revenge, Buck ran to the trough and filled his giant mouth with water. Libby peeked out from behind the corn and stuck her tongue out at him, then darted out of sight again.
In his attempt to hit her, Buck sprayed the entire field. When Libby saw that each stalk had been watered, she raced out. Buck chased her through the rows of corn but when he finally caught up, he hardly had any water left. He wound up only spraying her with a light drizzle.
With a big smile on her face, Libby called, “Momma! I finished my watering!”
“Good job, Libby!” Momma answered back. “Buck, get back to your chores!”
Libby grinned as she watched Buck begrudgingly begin his work.
But things were very different for Arlo. He struggled to find his place. Being smaller than his siblings didn’t help matters, but Arlo’s biggest problem was his fear. He was afraid almost all the time and of almost everything. And it held him back—making it difficult for him to accomplish even the simplest of chores.
One morning, Momma helped Arlo get ready to do one of his dreaded daily chores: feeding the claw-footed squawkers. He hated those birds. They made terrible noises and he was sure they could pierce right through his foot with their sharp, hooked beaks. The way they looked at him with their empty, dead eyes . . . it was like they were thinking up different ways to peck him to pieces. Just the thought of them sent a ripple of shivers down his spine.
Momma smiled as she hung the basket of corn kernels around his neck and gently nudged him with her big tail. Reluctantly, Arlo headed off alone.
He slowed as he approached the fenced-in coop. As much as he hated all the noises those feathered fiends made, what was even more eerie was the present silence. Carefully and quietly, he peeked inside, wondering where they were.
Just then a rustling in the grass startled him and he jumped, scattering some feed onto the ground.
“Who is that?” Arlo asked, looking toward the sound. He craned his neck through the grass and saw Eustice, a fuzzy, little, baby squawker, tangled up in some weeds. Relieved, Arlo bent down to help her. He peeled off the weeds, one by one. And even gave her a kiss on the side of her soft head.
As he freed Eustice, a pair of big, old, ugly clawed feet scratched into the ground beside him.
Squawk!
It was Henrietta, Eustice’s scary momma!
Arlo screamed as Henrietta chased him away. She screeched and squawked, horrifying Arlo with each awful noise.
“Aaahhhhhhh!” Arlo screamed as he ran for cover.
In his panic, Arlo ran to the silo—where Poppa, Momma, Libby, and Buck were working. He curled himself up in Poppa’s tail and closed his eyes. It was his favorite hiding spot.
Poppa unwound his tail and looked down at Arlo. “Everything alright?” he asked calmly.
“Oh, that?” Arlo said, trying his best to hide his fear. “That was nothing—you know that Henrietta.”
Poppa chuckled. “You’re okay.”
Arlo watched as Poppa went back to work. He filled the silo with corn through the opening, and closed up the hole with a boulder. Then he turned and faced the family.
“That should do it. Today we are forever through with the critters. Why? Because I have made this silo 100% Critter free,” he said proudly.
Momma gazed lovingly her husband. “Put your mark on there, Henry,” she said. “You worked hard.”
Then Poppa pushed his foot into a thick puddle of mud, making a footprint, and stamped his foot onto a rock. He lifted the printed rock and slid it into place—at the top of the silo. “There,” he said smiling. He turned to his wife and said, “You make your mark, Ida.”
“What for?” she asked.
“I couldn’t have built this farm without you,” he explained.
Then Momma made a mark, too, on the big boulder next to Poppa’s.
All three kids excitedly charged toward the silo, shouting, “Me, too! I’m doin’ it! Mine’s going to be the highest!”
Arlo moved toward the mud puddle first. He wanted to put his print up on the silo right away. But Poppa stopped him. “Well, you gotta do something big to earn it. Then one day you’ll put your mark on the silo. And I can’t wait to see it.”
Arlo was inspired by Poppa’s words. He gazed up at Poppa and Momma’s footprints, imagining his up there, right next to theirs. He was determined to make his mark.
Chapter 3
By the time they were ten years old, Libby and Buck both had their marks on the silo. Libby could plow nice, straight lines and made her mark when she plowed an entire field. Buck was super strong and was able to lift heavy things. He made his mark when he chopped down dozens of trees, making space for a new field of crops.
Arlo had yet to make his mark and the gaping hole where his print was supposed to be was a constant reminder. As he grew, instead of having less fear, he seemed to be weighed down by it more and more.
Everyone expected him to make his mark by successfully tackling his squawker-feeding chore. But he always ended up running scared. It seemed that where Libby and Buck were determined to succeed, Arlo was destined to fail. He felt terrible about it, and the knot in his stomach produced more anxiety and fear with each passing day.
Though hopeful and supportive, even Momma and Poppa started to grow a little concerned. “Don’t worry,” Poppa said one evening to Momma. “He’ll get there. He’s just not quite ready yet.”
One day, Arlo decided it was finally time for things to change. He was sick and tired of being the only family member without a mark. Arlo was determined to take on the squawkers and made a secret promise to himself that he would finish the job—by any means necessary.
I’m bigger than them,I’m bigger than them, he thought over and over, trying to fight off his fears with positive thinking. He took a deep breath and went into the coop, armed with corn kernels and ready to do something big!
Once inside, Arlo tried to intimidate the squawkers: “I hope you guys are ready to get fed! Because I’m going to scatter these kernels and you’re going to eat them and love them and be nourished! Nothing’s going to stop me!”
But just as Arlo started to scatter the feed, Buck jumped out and frightened Arlo! He nearly fainted and Buck howled with laughter. Once he could breath again, Arlo’s whole body burned with an intense anger. He furiously launched toward Buck, attacking him. “Why you gotta always mess me up?” Arlo screamed.
“Me?” Buck asked. Then he effortlessly threw Arlo to the ground. “You mess up your jobs and make more work for everyone else! And you’re a coward.”
As they wrestled, Libby, Momma, and Poppa ran outside.
“Buck!” Momma yelled, causing Buck to back off.
Arlo sat up. “I ain’t a coward!” he yelled, holding back tears. “And I’m gonna make my mark, just like him and you and everybody!”
Poppa approached Arlo. “Makin’ your mark means you’ve done somethin’ big for somethin’ bigger than yourself,” he said.
“You need a little more time, Arlo,” said Momma, soothingly.
Arlo stared down at the ground, feeling low. “Forget it,” he said, walking off. “I didn’t even want that dumb mark anyway.”
Momma and Poppa shared a concerned look. “I have an idea,” Poppa said.
That night, while everyone was sleeping, Poppa gently woke Arlo. “Come on,” he whispered.
Arlo rubbed his eyes and groggily followed Poppa outside, where they stood in a field surrounded by darkness.
Even though he was with Poppa, he didn’t like being out there at night. He heard wild animals in the distance. And the dark, jagged edges of Clawtooth Mountain looked like they could chomp down on the whole farm at any moment. Arlo wanted to go back inside, but Poppa insisted he stay. “Take a walk out there,” he said.
Arlo went and stood in the middle of the big, open field. An ugly bug landed on his nose and he whimpered with fear. “Poppa!” he whispered urgently.
Suddenly Poppa was at Arlo’s side. He calmly and gently blew on the bug. It pulsed with light—it was a firefly! Relieved, Arlo smiled and stared at the glowing bug on his nose with wonder. Then it spread its wings and took flight, flashing into the night.
Poppa faced Arlo. “Sometimes you have to work through your fear to see the beauty on the other side,” he said earnestly.
Then Poppa slowly brushed his tail across the grass, sweeping it this way and that. Like magic, hundreds of fireflies slowly rose up, out of the grass, flickering their beautiful yellow lights. It was incredible!
Arlo listened carefully, trying to set Poppa’s words permanently into his mind. He wanted to remember them, but more than that, he wanted to be able to do it. He wished that he could be less fearful; he wished he could be more like Poppa.
Then, wanting to try Poppa’s trick, Arlo ran through the field, forcing more fireflies to float up, flickering and flashing.
Arlo and Poppa continued and the two painted beautiful arcs and spirals of light against the big, dark sky. Arlo looked up at his big, strong Poppa and smiled.
In the stillness, Poppa turned to his son: “Arlo, I’ve got a job for you tomorrow. That is if you still want that mark.”
Arlo smiled with anticipation.
Chapter 4
The next day, when Poppa and Arlo went out to the silo, they found corn scattered all over the ground. “I’ve had it up to my snout with these critters,” Poppa said angrily. He knew that if the family didn’t have enough corn for the winter, they would struggle to survive. Poppa turned to Arlo. “That’s why you’re gonna catch it.” Arlo smiled as he imagined his print up on top of the silo. He was ready!
Poppa collected some supplies and showed Arlo how to build a trap. He tied a rock to one end of a long rope, set up a net, and had Arlo place a pile of corn on the ground for bait.
When they were finished, he rolled a pumpkin onto the pile to show Arlo how the trap worked. The pumpkin snapped up the rope, and the net fell to the ground as a jingling sound rang out. Then Poppa picked up a huge mallet. “This is how you’re gonna finish the job.” He brought the mallet down fast, smashing the pumpkin to a pulp.“When that critter’s takin’ care of, you’ll put your mark on the silo, right next to mine.”
Arlo’s eyes lit up. “I’ll take care of that critter, Poppa. It won’t stand a chance.”
Arlo then stood guard, pacing back and forth in front of the silo, waiting for the critter to fall into the trap. He tried to mentally prepare for his big moment, taking lots of deep breathes and telling himself over and over again that he could catch the critter . . . and finish it off.
A bug flew by his face and he scowled at it. “What are you doing, you bug?” Arlo said, practicing his tough voice. “Get out of here!”
He continued pacing, preparing, and trying not to let fear into his thoughts. But in reality, the excitement and determination he so wanted to feel was a lot more like . . . complete terror.
Jut then, Arlo heard the jingling sound of the trap. His heart leapt. He felt a rush of anxiety and a fluttering of fear. He had caught something! He had caught the critter!
What looked like a critter to Arlo was actually a human boy. His two big brown eyes stared out through the net, and Arlo quickly jumped aside, hiding behind a bush.
Arlo peeked out from the safety of his hiding place. The critter was growling and thrashing about in the net. Then he tried to jump at Arlo!
Holding the mallet high above his head, Arlo approached, preparing to whack the trapped pest. “Y-y-you’re dead, critter,” he stuttered.
But Arlo couldn’t help but pause at the sight. The critter was choking from the net around his neck and struggling to breathe. And even though Arlo knew it was his job to catch the critter, he felt sorry for it. It was a living thing; and it just wasn’t in Arlo’s heart to bring the mallet down. Arlo sighed and pulled the trap, freeing his caught critter.
“Okay . . . you’re free,” said Arlo, hoping it would just run off. But the boy stared at him and then started walking toward him!
“Wh-wh-what are you doing?” Arlo asked, trying to back away. “Just—just leave! Flee!”
But the boy continued to investigate, sniffing and sniffing. Arlo was afraid. He felt like he was about to be attacked! Finally, he tripped and screamed.
Hearing Arlo’s cries, Poppa rushed over—just in time to see the wild pest escaping into the wilderness. “ARLO!” Poppa scolded. “What are you doing?”
“It was was bitin’, comin’ at me and screechin’ . . . and I,” Arlo stammered.
“You had a job to do!” Poppa yelled. He looked around and saw the critter’s tracks leading into the wilderness. “You’re gonna finish your job. Right now,” he said, firmly.
Poppa pushed Arlo along and they walked up to the fence. Then Poppa climbed over.To Arlo, it was as if Poppa was climbing right into the mouth of that terrible beast. The towering trees, the darkness, the rushing river, the wild animals . . . all just waiting to swallow them up.
“Out there?” Arlo asked nervously, his mouth going dry.
Poppa turned to Arlo. “Do you want to be afraid for the rest of your life, Arlo?”
“No.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
Determined, Poppa pushed Arlo over the fence with his tail and the two went in search of the critter.
Chapter 5
As they started toward the mountain pass, Arlo felt a giant lump growing in his throat. Fear seemed to take over his entire body. Even though he was with Poppa, he had never been so scared.
The wind moved noisily through the trees and caused branches to bend and sway. Arlo looked at the sky. Dark storm clouds seemed to be swirling in and he started to feel even worse. “Poppa, what if we get lost?” he asked, glancing around at his strange surroundings.
But Poppa wasn’t stopping for anything. “We’ll follow the river home,” he said plainly.
BOOM!
Thunder rumbled and popped in the distance as Poppa continued to push Arlo along. “Come on,” he said.
Soon rain started to fall, and water began to fill the critter’s tracks in the mud—making them disappear.
“We’re losing it!” cried Poppa, picking up speed.
Arlo tried to keep up with him.
CRACK!
Lightning flashed, causing Arlo to whimper. The thunder was louder now and the storm was absolutely terrifying!
Trying to keep up, Arlo slipped in the mud and tumbled to the ground. “Poppa!” Arlo called. “Wait!”
Poppa turned and saw his son struggling, trembling with fear. Poppa softened. “It’s okay, Arlo. It’s okay,” he said kindly. “I’m sorry. I’ll help you through it.”
“Wh-wh-what if I just can’t—?” Arlo stammered.
“I know you can. You got it in you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re me, and more,” Poppa said, smiling.
Crack!
BOOM!
试读结束[说明：试读内容隐藏了图片]