Which languages can I read Johnny-Cake in?

English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 829 words: around 5 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Yes. Read it online with no account. The e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.

Johnny-Cake by Joseph Jacobs: read it in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian, side by side

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How it begins

GermanEnglish

Es war einmal ein alter Mann, eine alte Frau und ein kleiner Junge. Eines Morgens backte die alte Frau einen Johnny-Cake und schob ihn zum Backen in den Ofen. „Pass du auf den Johnny-Cake auf, während dein Vater und ich draußen im Garten arbeiten.“

Once upon a time there was an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy. One morning the old woman made a Johnny-cake, and put it in the oven to bake. “You watch the Johnny-cake while your father and I go out to work in the garden.”

Also gingen der alte Mann und die alte Frau hinaus, begannen Kartoffeln zu hacken und ließen den kleinen Jungen beim Ofen zurück.

So the old man and the old woman went out and began to hoe potatoes, and left the little boy to tend the oven.

Doch er passte nicht die ganze Zeit auf, und plötzlich hörte er ein Geräusch, schaute auf, und die Ofentür sprang auf, und heraus sprang der Johnny-Cake, der sich immer weiter überschlagend auf die offene Tür des Hauses zurollte.

But he didn't watch it all the time, and all of a sudden he heard a noise, and he looked up and the oven door popped open, and out of the oven jumped Johnny-cake, and went rolling along end over end, towards the open door of the house.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

Johnny-Cake · English (original)829 words · ~5 min
Johnny-Cake · GermanB1 Intermediate · 806 words · ~5 min
Johnny-Cake · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 809 words · ~5 min
Johnny-Cake · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 873 words · ~5 min
Johnny-Cake · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 734 words · ~5 min

Open in the reader: German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English

Reading it as a parallel text

A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.

Questions

Which languages can I read Johnny-Cake in?: English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?: In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?: About 829 words: around 5 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?: Yes. Read it online with no account. The e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?: Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.