Need help understanding a japanese book.

[Chabichou]

I'm trying to read a children's japanese book, and unfortunately, I still have a lot to learn. I have a general idea so far, but I would like to check with someone.
The book is called わたしがほしいプレゼント"The Present that I want"

Here are the first few pages:


「ねえ。プレゼント、何がいい？」また、由香里ちゃんが聞いた。
「うーん。何でもいいよ」 私も、また、すぐにそう答えた。
つぎの日曜日は、私の誕生日だ。
「まいちゃんたら。何でもいいって言うのが、一番　困るのよ」
「だって、ほんとに何でもいいもん」 私は、おなじ答えを繰り返した。
朝礼の時間。放送大の所で、先生がいった。
「今日は。子供のえコンクールに、入選した人の表彰式をします。二年生の古谷谷由香里さんが、金賞に選ばれ ました。古谷由香里さん、前へ」
由香里ちゃんが、高校先生から、表彰状を　うけとっている。
私は、拍手をしながら、自分の事のように嬉しかった。
教室に戻ると、だれかが言った。「古谷さんて、え　上手なんだ」
由香里ちゃんは、えへっと笑っただけだった。

[undrentide]

If you wish to check with someone to see if your understanding is correct, I'd suggest you to write down your interpretation, and the words/sentences that you don't understand or you are not sure about.
:-)

[Chabichou]

Well, here is what I think it means:

「ねえ。プレゼント、何がいい？」また、由香里ちゃんが聞いた。

"Well, what would be a good present?" Yukari-chan asked me again.

「うーん。何でもいいよ」 私も、また、すぐにそう答えた。

"Hmm. Anything would be good" I also answered again.

つぎの日曜日は、私の誕生日だ。

Next sunday is my birthday

「まいちゃんたら。何でもいいって言うのが、一番　困 るのよ」

(I really don't know what this sentence means. Specifically, what does "まいちゃんたら" mean? Does the "たら" mean "if"?)

「だって、ほんとに何でもいいもん」 私は、おなじ答えを繰り返した。

"Even so, really, anything would be good" I repeated the same answer.

朝礼の時間。放送大の所で、先生がいった。

It is time for the assembly. In the auditorium, the teacher/principal? said

「今日は、子供のえコンクールに、入選した人の表彰式をします。二年生の古谷由香 里さんが、金賞に選ばれました。古谷由香里さん、前へ 」

"Today, for the children's drawing competition, we will do the commendation ceremony for the person who was selected. 2nd grade Kotoni Yuraki-san wins the gold prize. Kotoni-san, (come up) to the front."

由香里ちゃんが、高校先生から、表彰状を　うけとって いる。

Yukari-chan has recieved a citation? from a highscool teacher.

私は、拍手をしながら、自分の事のように嬉しかった。

While clapping, it was has delightful as though it was my own. (She was as happy for Yukari-chan as though she herself had won).

教室に戻ると、だれかが言った。「古谷さんて、え　上 手なんだ」When we returned to class, someone said "Yukari-chan sure is good at drawing?" (This is just my guess, but I really don't know)

由香里ちゃんは、えへっと笑っただけだった。

Yukari-chan, just laughed at the picture.

[Chabichou]

Hey, sorry to double post, but is anyone going to check my translation for me?

[undrentide]

Sorry, I seem to have missed your second post.
:relief:

Basically I think you got them right. Your translation is really good.
:cool::cool::cool:
I'm just adding some comments or minor corrections.


「ねえ。プレゼント、何がいい？」また、由香里ちゃんが聞いた。
"Well, what would be a good present?" Yukari-chan asked me again.
what would you like for a present?

「うーん。何でもいいよ」 私も、また、すぐにそう答えた。
"Hmm. Anything would be good" I also answered again right away.

つぎの日曜日は、私の誕生日だ。
Next sunday is my birthday

「まいちゃんたら。何でもいいって言うのが、一番　困 るのよ」
(I really don't know what this sentence means. Specifically, what does "まいちゃんたら" mean? Does the "たら" mean "if"?)
Oh, Mai-chan! "Anything will do" is the most difficult.

たら is to emphasise one's feeling. Suprise, exasperation, disgust, annoyance, embarassement, etc.

「だって、ほんとに何でもいいもん」 私は、おなじ答えを繰り返した。
"Even so, really, anything would be good" I repeated the same answer.
Because really anything is OK for me.

朝礼の時間。放送大の所で、先生がいった。
It is time for the assembly. In the auditorium, the teacher/principal? said
At the morning assembly.

Could 放送大 be 放送台? Actually I've never heard of 放送台, but considering the situation (at the assembly), it could mean the platform with a microphone with a stand. There can be some exception, but generally school assembly is done in the school yard/field (outside) in front of the school building at Japanese schools.

「今日は、子供のえコンクールに、入選した人の表彰式をします。二年生の古谷由香 里さんが、金賞に選ばれました。古谷由香里さん、前へ 」
"Today, for the children's drawing competition, we will do the commendation ceremony for the person who was selected. 2nd grade Kotoni Yuraki-san wins the gold prize. Kotoni-san, (come up) to the front."
古谷 is either Kotani or Furutani.
子供のえコンクール must be either 「子供の絵コンクール」 (title of the competition) or 子供の絵のコンクール (which sounds more natural, as a generic words.)

由香里ちゃんが、高校先生から、表彰状を　うけとって いる。
Yukari-chan has recieved a citation? from a highscool teacher.
Yukari-chan was receiving a commendation certificate.
This expression (as if the event is on-going right now) is sometimes employed to show the scene lively. (like a live-broadcasting.)

高校先生 sounds very strange for me. Definitely 高校 should not be highschool, but just a propernoun (could be different kanji??)

私は、拍手をしながら、自分の事のように嬉しかった。
While clapping, it was has delightful as though it was my own. (She was as happy for Yukari-chan as though she herself had won).

Your interpretation in the brackets is closer to the original sentence.

教室に戻ると、だれかが言った。「古谷さんて、え　上 手なんだ」When we returned to class, someone said "Yukari-chan sure is good at drawing?" (This is just my guess, but I really don't know)
Back in the classroom, someone said "Furutani san, you are good at the drawing." (As if the person did not know the fact until now.)
え should be written in kanji, 絵.

由香里ちゃんは、えへっと笑っただけだった。
Yukari-chan, just laughed at the picture.
Yukari can just gave a short laugh. I found it difficult to translate this particular way of laughing えへ.
She did not laugh at the picture, she showed a kind of smile with her mouth a little bit open to her classmate who complimented on her drawing skill.
When complimented, many Japanese feels a bit shy, so it is a mixture of pleasure and shyness at being complimanted.