To Leon Werth

I ask the indulgence of the children who may read this book for dedicating it to a grown-up. I have a serious reason: he is the best friend I have in the world. I have another reason: this grown-up understands everything, even books about children. I have a third reason: he lives in France where he is hungry and cold. He needs cheering up. If all these reasons are not enough, I will dedicate the book to the child from whom this grown-up grew. All grown-ups were oncechildren—although few of them remember it. And so I correct my dedication:

To Leon Werth

When he was a little boy

〖 精读笔记 〗

indulgence /ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/ n.允许；迁就；纵容

dedicate /ˈdedɪkeɪt/ v.（把书籍、戏剧、演出等）献给；奉献，献出（全部精力、时间等）

　　e.g.

　　The book is dedicated to the author's husband.

　　作者将此书献给自己的丈夫。

　　He has dedicated his life to scientific research.

　　他把自己的一生都献给了科学研究工作。

(whom/that) I have in the world是定语从句修饰先行词the best friend，省略了在从句中做宾语的关系代词whom/that

grown-up  n. 成年人

serious /ˈsɪə.ri.əs/ adj.严重的；严肃的，认真的

reason /ˈriː.zən/ n.原因；理由

understand v. 懂; 理解

where he is hungry and cold 定语从句修饰France

need doing 需要被……（表被动），此处为需要被安慰

cheer 'up |cheer sb / sth up (使)变得更高兴,振奋起来

　　tips“动词+副词”短语

　　此时若宾语是名词，该名词既可放在动词与副词之间，也可放在副词之后；

　　若宾语是代词，则该代词只可放在动词与副词之间，不可放在副词之后。

　　e.g.

　　They beat drums to cheer up the players.

　　他们擂鼓给运动员加油。

　　I cheered her up with memories of our holidays together.

　　我用我们在一起度假的回忆使她高兴起来。

once adv.曾经，一度

few of 很少,几乎没有