The Trumpet of the Swan

Here are 20 words from The Trumpet of the Swan.  Become familiar with them before you read the book.
(Note: These and many other words are in the Kid Crosswords Illustrated Online Dictionary)

buoyant (adjective) -- able to float easily ch. 5

  pronounced: BOY int

Example: It's fun to float in a swimming
pool on buoyant things,
like rafts or tire tubes.

buoyant life saver

commotion (noun) -- disturbance ch. 6

  pronounced: kuh MO shun

Example: Warren heard a loud crash
in front of his house and went outside
to see what the commotion was.

commotion on the streets

coy (adjective) -- pretending shyness
ch. 8

  pronounced: KOY

Example: Vicki liked to be coy to attract
boys, so she would smile at them but not
say hello unless they did it first.

coy teenagers

defective (adjective) -- faulty; broken
ch. 7

  pronounced: de FECK tiv

Example: Sometimes on Christmas
day, kids open up a toy only to find
out that it is defective and
has to be returned to the
store for one that works.

doleful (adjective) -- sad ch. 8

  pronounced: DOHL full

Example: Mandy's dog always
looked so doleful when she
went to school in the morning.

doleful tomato

elegant (adjective) -- refined and graceful ch. 4

  pronounced: ELLA gent

Example: Margaret was known for
throwing elegant dinner parties, with
cloth napkins and fresh flowers.

elegant ring

embrace (verb) -- to hold lovingly in the arms ch. 8

  pronounced: em BRAYSS

Example: When soldiers come back
from wars, their mothers
embrace them for hours,
happy to find them still alive.

a couple embracing

frolic (verb) -- to jump around playfully
ch. 6

Example: School kids need playground
time each day to frolic and play,
and lose some of their energy.

kitten frolicking with string

  pronounced: GRAYSS full

Example: Figure skating is one of
the most graceful and beautiful
sports at the Winter Olympics.

graceful swan

haul (verb) -- to pull or carry, usually something heavy ch. 13

  pronounced: HAWL

Example: A pickup truck is good for
hauling things, like taking
garbage to the dump.

truck hauling dirt

idyllic (adjective) -- romantic and country-like ch. 3

  pronounced: I DILL ick

Example: Tyrone found an idyllic place,
next to a lake, to ask his girlfriend
to marry him.

idyllic sunset

implore (verb) -- to beg strongly ch. 11

  pronounced: im PLOR

Example: "I implore you," Alice
said to her husband,
"don't drive in the snow today!"

crook imploring a policeman for mercy

investigate (verb) -- to study closely, usually to figure something out ch. 2

  pronounced: in VESS ti gate

Example: After a giant food fight in the
cafeteria, the principal came in to
investigate just who had caused it.

detective investigating clues

odious (adjective) -- disagreeable and causing dislike in others ch. 6

  pronounced: O dee us

Example: Roger was a mean and nasty
person, so most people
found him to be odious.

odious sight on a city street!

plumage (noun) -- the feathers of a bird
ch. 13

  pronounced: PLOO midge

Example: Male peacocks are known for
their beautiful and impressive plumage,
which is far wider than their entire body.

parrot with bright yellow plumage

serene (adjective) -- quiet and calm
ch. 11

  pronounced: suh REEN

Example: Many people find that a day at
the beach, listening to the waves,
makes them feel serene and relaxed.

serene winter cabin

spellbound (adjective) -- fascinated, as if by a spell ch. 3

  pronounced: SPELL bownd

Example: The teacher was so good
that he kept the children
spellbound with his lessons.

spellbound snake

stern (adjective) -- serious and strict ch. 7

  pronounced: STERN

Example: William's grandparents were
very stern and did not allow any
horseplay in the house whatsoever.

stern teacher

timid (adjective) -- lacking courage; fearful ch. 7

  pronounced: TIM id

Example: Cats are known to be timid,
usually running away from strangers.

timid boy

troublesome (adjective) -- causing problems, usually for others ch. 9

  pronounced: TRUB ull sum

Example: Even as small children, some
bullies are troublesome and give
their parents a hard time.

troublesome student

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