On Monday Diane Price stood at the door of Hamid's shop with a pile of letters. Every child got one at the end of the rehearsal. "For your parents," she said. She gave me one too.
How it begins
On Monday Diane Price stood at the door of Hamid's shop with a pile of letters. Every child got one at the end of the rehearsal. "For your parents," she said. She gave me one too.
Am Montag hat Diane Price an der Tür von Hamids Laden gestanden, mit einem Stapel Briefe. Jedes Kind hat am Ende der Probe einen bekommen. „Für eure Eltern", hat sie gesagt. Mir hat sie auch einen gegeben.
Dear parents, I am sorry to tell you this. The person who took the things from the church crib is the carpenter, Mr Marco Russo. He has not said no. The police will visit his workshop tomorrow morning. Diane Price, Parish Council
Liebe Eltern, es tut mir leid, dass ich Ihnen das sagen muss. Die Person, die die Sachen aus der Krippe in der Kirche genommen hat, ist der Tischler, Herr Marco Russo. Er hat nicht nein gesagt. Die Polizei besucht morgen früh seine Werkstatt. Diane Price, Pfarrgemeinderat
I read it twice. Then I looked up. Inês stood by the rice with the letter open in her hands. I saw the moment when she understood. Her face didn't move. Only her hands did.
Ich habe den Brief zweimal gelesen. Dann habe ich aufgeschaut. Inês hat beim Reis gestanden, den Brief offen in den Händen. Ich habe den Moment gesehen, in dem sie es verstanden hat. Ihr Gesicht hat sich nicht bewegt. Nur ihre Hände.
Languages
- The Shoebox · English (original)A2 Easy · 972 words · ~10 min · Audio
- Der Schuhkarton · GermanA2 Easy · 1,040 words · ~10 min · Audio
- La caja de zapatos · SpanishA2 Easy · 937 words · ~10 min · Audio
- La boîte à chaussures · FrenchA2 Easy · 1,122 words · ~10 min · Audio
German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · English with German · English with Spanish · English with French · German with Spanish · German with French · Spanish with German · Spanish with French · French with German · French with Spanish
Questions
Which languages can I read The Shoebox in?
English, German, Spanish and French. 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?
The original English is A2 Easy. In translation, German, Spanish and French are A2 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 972 words: around 10 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 downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
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.