Story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Al-ya-ra-qaw aj-joo-’an-eh: (using “The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle)
Bi-layl, wa taHt al ummar, kan fee bay-da Saw-ghee-ra ‘a-la wa-ra’-it shaj-ja-rah
In the light of the moon, there was a small egg on a leaf
—
Fi Su-baH yome uhss-sub-bit, Tull-’a-it ash-shams al-da-fee-yeh wa . . .. POP!…
One Saturday morning, the warm sun came up and . . . POP!
Min al bay-da Tul-’a-’it ya-ra-qawt iz-ghee-reh. Kaa-nat ik-teer ik-teer jo-’a’-neh
From the egg came a small caterpillar. She was very very hungry.
—
Ra-Hut t’fet-tish ‘a-la ak-kill.
She went to look for some food.
—
Yome al aH-Had, ak-laat too-faa-Ha waH-deh
On Sunday, she ate one apple.
Laa-kin-ha dull-lit joo-’aa-neh
But she was still very hungry.
—
Yome al-ith-nayn, ak-laat ih-jahss-tain
On Monday, she ate through two pears.
Laa-kin-ha dull-lit joo-’aa-neh
But she was still very hungry.
—
Yome, ath-tha-la-tha, ak-laat tha-lath khow-khat
On Tuesday, she ate through three plums.
Laa-kin-ha dull-lit joo-’aa-neh
But she was still very hungry.
—
Yome, al arr-ba-’a ak-laat arr-ba-’a frow-laat
On Wednesday she ate through four strawberries.
Laa-kin-ha dull-lit joo-’aa-neh
But she was still hungry.
—
Yome, al kham-meess ak-laat khams bur-too-qaw-laat
On Thursday, she ate 5 oranges.
Laa-kin-ha dull-lit joo-’aa-neh
But she was still very hungry.
—
Yome al joom-oo-’a, ak-laat . . .
On Friday, she ate . . .
Sha’-fit Ka’a-keh sho-ko-laht – one piece of chocolate cake
Boo-za – one icecream
mi-Khal-lal – one pickled thing
Sha’-fit jib-neh – one piece of cheese
Nuq-neeq – one piece of mortadella
Ma-Saw-Saw – one lollipop
Fa-tee-reh – one fatyir
Su-ju’ – one sausage/sjouk
Ka’a-keh izh-ghee-reh – one cupcake
Wa Sha’-fit bu-Teekh – one piece of watermelon.
Ha-deek al-lay-leh, buh-Ton-ha wa-jaa’-ha
That night her stomach hurt her.
—
B’aad-ha bi-yome, kan yom uhss-sub-bit.
The next day, it was Saturday.
Al ya-ra-ka ak-laat wa-ra’-it khu-Dra’ oo ty-beh min shaj-ja-ra.
The caterpillar ate one tasty green leaf.
Wa sa-rut aH-sun
And she was better.
—
Hal-la’, but-a-lut kaa-nat joo-’aa-neh wa ma kaa-nat iz-ghee-reh
Now, she wasn’t hungry and she wasn’t small anymore.
Sa-rut ya-ra-qa ka-beer-reh sa-mee-neh
She was a big fat caterpillar.
A-mell-lat bait Saw-gheer How-la-ha. ha-thal bait iss-moo shar-nah-qaw
She made a small house, called a chrysalis around herself.
Beh-ee-yet bi-shar-nah-qaw lee uss-boo-’ayn
She stayed inside the chrysalis for two weeks
Ba’a-dayn, ‘a’-mell-lit fet-Ha bil shar-nah-qaw, def-shat hal-ha la barra wa . . .
Then she made a small opening in the cocoon, pushed herself out and . . .
—
Sar-rat fa-ra-sha Hell-weh!
She had become a beautiful butterfly.
