Need help understanding a Japanese book

Chabichou

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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。
 
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.
:-)
 
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 received a citation? from a highschool 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.
 
Hey, sorry to double post, but is anyone going to check my translation for me?
 
Sorry, I seem to have missed your second post.
😅

Basically I think you got them right. Your translation is really good.
👍
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. Surprise, exasperation, disgust, annoyance, embarrassment, 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 received a citation? from a highschool 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 proper noun (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 complimented.
 
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