Welcome to August’s monthly round-up of everything on the web related to translated kid lit. With #WorldKidLitMonth starting tomorrow, take a moment today to catch up on what you may have missed in August…
News
If you missed our #WorldKidLitLIVE panel discussion on African Children’s Literature and Africa’s Many Languages, you can catch up with this fascinating discussion now on YouTube
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This month has seen worldwide celebrations of Women in Translation Month. Do explore the new women in translation website, follow @Read_WIT on Twitter and delve into our archive to discover more translated books for young readers written by women. Over at Global Literature in Libraries Initiative, #WITMonth guest editor, Jess Andoh-Thayre, has featured lots of children’s titles in her daily book reviews, including comics set in Côte d’Ivoire, a picture book from Ghana and poetry from Chile.
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Tales from Uganda has launched some new learning resources on their website to accompany their English and Luganda folktales. The videos and resources are all free and publicly available.
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Lawrence Schimel and Elīna Brasliņa’s rainbow families board books continue to hit the headlines, with publication causing a stir in Russia where any literature “promoting homosexuality” has to carry a 18+ label, even when it’s a picture book for young children. Lawrence was on Spanish TV channel TVE 1 on 29 August talking about how these stories are being used to challenge the homophobic “LGBT Propaganda Laws” in Russia & Hungary.
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Get ready because #WorldKidLitMonth is just around the corner….
Articles
Muna Kalati – The Need Of Writing And Publishing Children Books In Indigenous African Languages, by Christian Elongue
Publishers Weekly – Censorship on the Rise Worldwide, discussion including Lawrence Schimel’s LGBTQ-themed works for children and adults
Hungarian Cultural Studies – The Fortunes of Hungarian Children’s Literature at Home and in the English-Speaking World by Anna Bentley
Norwegian Arts – Norwegian Children’s Literature: Fun and Breaking Taboos, by Lee Randall
Chinese Books for Young Readers – Interview with Tim Thurston about Tibetan children’s books
Forward – How classic Yiddish tales are being brought back to life — and in English too! by PJ Grisar
The Guardian – The picture book fighting back against Russia’s LGBT+ propaganda law by Alison Flood
New Books in German – World Kit Lit! An interview with Ruth Ahmedzai-Kemp and Claire Storey
New Books in German – Great children’s books in German – as recommended by World Kid Lit’s Claire and Ruth
Preply – Most Translated Books by Country – fascinating article by Nicolette Filson, with amazing maps! Not specifically about children’s books, but in Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Sweden, the most translated book is a children’s book. Can you guess which ones before you read?
Reviews
Edelweiss Pirates by Dirk Reinhardt, translated by Rachel Ward is new out this August from Pushkin Press. Find out more below:
- Exploring Children’s Literature – Audio interview with author Dirk Reinhardt and translator Rachel Ward talking to Nikki Gamble
- Review by Scope for Imagination
SCBWI Japan Translation Group – 1945←2015: Reflections on Stolen Youth, compiled by Naomi Kitagawa and Motomi Murota, with photographs by Yuriko Ochiai (Korocolor). Review by Avery Fischer Udagawa
Kirkus – 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books featuring 12 translated titles:
- The Corpse Flower, by Anne Mette Hancock; translated by Tara Chace (Norwegian / Norway) Crooked Lane ~ YA novel
- WOUNDED FALCONS by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng; translated by Elisa Amado Spanish / Mexico ~ Groundwood ~ starred review ~ picture book
- ALMOST NOTHING, YET EVERYTHING by Hiroshi Osada, illustrated by Ryōji Arai, translated by David Boyd (Japanese / Japan) ~ picture book
- IT’S OK, SLOW LIZARD by Yeorim Yoon ; illustrated by Jian Kim ; translated by Chi-Young Kim ~ picture book
- NEVERFORGOTTEN by Alejandra Algorta ; translated by Aida Salazar ; illustrated by Iván Rickenmann ~ Levine Querido ~ Spanish/Colombia ~ middle grade fiction
- THE MAILBOX IN THE FOREST by Kyoko Hara ; illustrated by Kazue Takahashi ; translated by Alexandrea Mallia ~ Japanese / Japan ~ published by Museyon ~ junior fiction ~ starred review
- EINSTEIN by Torben Kuhlmann ; illustrated by Torben Kuhlmann ; translated by David Henry Wilson ~ NorthSouth ~ Junior fiction ~ starred review
- CIEL IN ALL DIRECTIONS by Sophie Labelle ; translated by Andrea Zanin ~ French / Canada ~ middle grade fiction ~ Second Story Press
- THE SECRET OF THE MAGIC PEARL by Elisa Sabatinelli ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno ; translated by Christopher Turner ~ Italian / Italy ~ Red Comet Press ~ junior fiction ~ starred review
- I SAW A BEAUTIFUL WOODPECKER by Michal Skibinski ; illustrated by Ala Bankroft ; translated by Eliza Marciniak ~ Polish / Poland ~ memoir, junior ~ Prestel
- I’LL KEEP YOU CLOSE by Jeska Verstegen ; translated by Bill Nagelkerke ~ middle grade historical fiction ~ Levine Querido ~ Dutch / Netherlands ~ starred review
- OKSI by Mari Ahokoivu ; translated by Silja-Maaria Aronpuro ; illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu ~ YA graphic novel ~ Levine Querido ~ Finnish / Finland
Kirkus Reviews – Meet Some Middle-Grade Authors of Fall 2021 – three author profiles include one of Sophie Labelle, whose Ciel in All Directions is out Sept. 28 from Second Story Press, the latest installment in her series of middle-grade novels about the life of a nonbinary teen, translated from French by Andrea Zanin. Also includes a conversation with an author/illustrator who talks about cross-cultural approaches to art for kids and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative – three translated children’s books reviewed as part of Women in Translation Month special, curated by Jess Andoh-Thayre:
- Niños: Poems for the Lost Children of Chile, written by Maria José Ferrada, illustrated by Maria Elena Valdez, translated from Spanish (Chile) by Lawrence Schimel; Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
- The Magic Doll written by Adrienne Yabouza, illustrated by Elodie Nouhen, translated from French by Paul Kelly; Prestel
- Akissi: Tales of Mischief, written by Marguerite Abouet, illustrated by Mathieu Sapin, translated from French (France) by Judith Taboy and Marie Bédrune; Flying Eye Books
Kids Read the World – intrepid global readers, Lori and her kids have been prolific readers and book reviewers this month, and have written up about their explorations of 5 countries through picture books:
Online discussions
Edinburgh Book Festival – Sarah Ardizzone, Marianne Dubuc & Greet Pauwelijn: Translation Adventures. What happens when a book gets translated? How do words and pictures travel from one language into another and who’s involved? This event is your chance to follow the journey every step of the way, from the very beginning when the idea was born in the artist’s imagination in Québec, right through to the translated book hitting the shelves of a UK children’s bookshop. Pay what you can to watch online. Available on-demand until 23:59 on Thursday 30 September.
Opportunities
Asymptote Journal is looking for contributors for their educators page. “For every new Asymptote issue, we release an educator’s guide for those wanting to teach pieces from that issue. Each guide offers a thematic breakdown of that issue’s content, relevant information about the context of various pieces, and possible discussion questions and exercises.” They are currently seeking new team members, contributors and educators willing to give feedback on their resources. More info here or email education@asymptotejournal.com
Upcoming Events
We’ll also be adding events throughout the month to our regularly updated Events page
September 8th, 2021 15:00 UTC
Language learning via literature with speakers Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp and Hollie Cottrell.
Literary translator Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp and Hollie Cottrell from bookseller European Schoolbooks will talk about how reading in translation and reading in other languages has helped them in their language learning journeys and in their careers. Register here
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World Kid Lit Translator Social
Tuesday 14 September 18:30 UTC
More details to follow – see tomorrow’s blog post and follow @worldkidlit on social media for more details!
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The Bookseller Children’s Conference 2021
The Bookseller Children’s Conference will be taking place online from 20-23 September, bringing you keynotes, speakers and panels right to your screen.
World Kid Lit co-editor Claire Storey will be presenting a case study about World Kid Lit at the conference on Thursday 23rd September at 13:30 UTC.
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In the Bookshop with Nicky Harman
WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2021 AT 17:30 UTC
Chinese children’s literature in translation coming to a small bookshop near you (if you happen to live near Dorchester, Dorset, England)
Weldmar Hospicecare Trust Charity Book Shop
Prize-winning literary translator – and friend of Weldmar Bookshop – Nicky Harman will be returning to the bookshop to discuss her recent work in translating Chinese children’s books into English. There will be copies of Nicky’s work on sale, including White Horse, by Yan Ge (short-listed for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation, 2020), as well as a selection of novels and picture books by prize-winning children’s fiction translator Helen Wang. This is a free event. No need to book, just turn up for an interesting and informative evening! If you can’t come to Dorchester, you can still donate to Weldmar! weld-hospice.org.uk
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Young Adult Studies Association (YASA) Book Club
30th September 19:30 UTC
Focusing on Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins, translated from Brazilian Portuguese by Larissa Helena
This is a members only event; however if you wish to join YASA, please follow this link. There is currently no fee to join.
New Releases
Picture books
Wounded Falcons by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockten, translated by Elisa Amado (Groundwood Books) ~ Spanish / Mexico
My Dog Banana by Roxane Brouillard, illustrated by Giulia Sagramola, translated by Simon de Jocas and Paula Ayer (Greystone Books) ~ French / Canada
Mister Fairy by Morgane de Cadier, illustrated by Florian Pigé, translated by Angus Yuen-Killick (Red Comet) ~ French / France
Almost Nothing, yet Everything: A Book about Water by Hiroshi Osada, illustrated by Ryōji Arai, translated David Boyd (Enchanted Lion) ~ Japanese / Japan
Fantastic Flying Competition by Tjibbe Veldkamp, illustrated by Sebastiaan Van Doninck, translated by Kristen Gehrman (Tate Publishing) ~ Dutch / Netherlands
Christmas is Coming by Monika Utnik-Strugała, illustrated by Ewa Poklewska-Koziello, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones (NorthSouth) ~ Polish / Poland
Magic Candies by Haeena Baek, translated by Sophie Bowman (Amazon Crossing Kids) ~ Korean / South Korea
It’s OK, Slow Lizard by Yeorim Yoon, illustrated by Jian Kim, translated by Chi-Young Kim (Restless Books) ~ Korean / South Korea
Coffee, Rabbit, Snowdrop, Lost by Betina Birkjær, illustrated by Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard, translated by Sinéad Quirke (Enchanted Lion) ~ Danish / Denmark
Before We Sleep by Giorgio Volpe and Paolo Proietti, translated by Angus Yuen-Killick (Red Comet Press) ~Italy / Italian
This is a Dictatorship by Equipo Plantel, ill. Mikel Casal, tr. Lawrence Schimel (Book Island) ~ Spanish / Spain
Early One Morning by Lawrence Schimel and Elīna Brasliņa, translated by Lawrence Schimel (Orca Books) ~ Spanish / Spain
Bedtime, Not Playtime! by Lawrence Schimel and Elīna Brasliņa, translated by Lawrence Schimel (Orca Books) ~ Spanish / Spain
Einstein: The Fantastic Journey of a Mouse Through Space and Time by Torben Kuhlmann, tr. David Henry Wilson (NorthSouth) ~ German / Switzerland
The Star Tree by Gisela Cölle, tr. Rosemary Lanning (NorthSouth) ~ German / Switzerland
A Kunwinjku Counting Book by Gabriel Maralngurra & Felicity Wright, tr. by Gabriel Maralngurra (Enchanted Lion) ~ bilingual Kunwinjku/English, USA
Junior fiction
The Boy Who Saw With His Fingers by Tomasz Małkowski, ill. Joanna Rusinek, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Mimesis International) ~ Polish / Poland
The Clever Little Tailor by Solomon Simon, translated by David R. Forman (Kinder-Loshn Books) ~ English/Yiddish bilingual edition
Graphic novels / YA
Oksi by Mari Ahokoivu, translated by Silja-Maaria Aronpuro (Levine Querido) ~ Finnish / Finland
Illustrated nonfiction
One Million Oysters on Top of the Mountain by Alex Nogués, ill. Miren Asiain Lora, tr. Lawrence Schimel (Eerdmans) ~ Spanish / Spain
Nonfiction about children’s literature
The Grammar of Fantasy, An Introduction to the Art of Inventing Stories by Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe, translated by Jack Zipes (Enchanted Lion) ~ Italian / Italy
‘Chinese Children’s Literature in English Translation‘ by Minjie Chen and Helen Wang, in Ye Zhengdao (ed.) in The Palgrave Handbook of Chinese Language Studies (Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, Aug 2021)
