Children’s and YA Books in Translation to Kick Off the 2021 School Year

It’s no secret that many of the classics of children’s literature are in translation. The Little Prince was translated from French. Pippi Longstocking is Swedish. The stories of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen are German and Danish, respectively.

Where are today’s international children’s books? New children’s books published in English translation are difficult to find, and those coming from languages other than French and German are few and far between. According to Daniel Hahn, translator and editor of the Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature, “what we see as our ‘world of children’s literature’… actually has so very little of the world in it. We still have some way to go.”

But we’re on our way. Elsewhere Editions(opens in a new tab), a new children’s imprint from Archipelago Books, is devoted to translating imaginative works of children’s literature from all corners of the world. Tiny Owl(opens in a new tab), established in 2015 in the UK, has published a number of Iranian children’s books in English. And Pushkin Press(opens in a new tab) has been publishing some of the world’s best stories for children since 1997.

In honor of #WorldKidLit month, here are a few more recently published children’s books in translation to add to your bedtime (or any time) story routine. You can find a list of 2021 recommendations on the #WorldKidLit website(opens in a new tab).

My Valley(opens in a new tab) by Claude Ponti, translated from French by Alyson Waters

Ponti leads us on a journey through the enchanted world of the Twims (tiny, extremely lovable, monkey-like creatures), a universe where uprooted buildings soar through the sky, trees keep the secrets you whisper to them, magic seeds grow into huge ships, and singing stones make children’s wishes come true.

Kuma-Kuma Chan, The Little Bear(opens in a new tab) by Kazue Takahashi, translated from Japanese

With sparse text and a deceptively simple, beautiful design, Japanese author/illustrator Kazue Takahashi brings to life the world of Kuma-Kuma Chan, which loosely translates from Japanese as “cute little bear.” Daily chores and seasonal activities become infused with special meaning when they are performed by this adorable creature.

The Snowman and the Sun(opens in a new tab) by Susan Taghdis, illustrated by Ali Mafakheri, and translated from Persian/Farsi by Azita Rassi

A snowman might seem an improbably topic for Iranian literature, but this charming picture book, told from a snowman’s point of view, is filled with tiny beautiful touches as it explains what happens to a snowman when the sun comes out.

Walk With Me(opens in a new tab) by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, and translated from Spanish by Elisa Amado

A deceptively simple, imaginative story depicting the complex emotional reality of a girl whose father no longer lives at home. The girl conjures up an imaginary companion, a lion, who will come with her on the long walk home from school. He will always come back when she needs him, unlike the father whom she sees only in a photograph — a photograph in which he clearly resembles a lion.

You Can’t Be Too Careful(opens in a new tab) by Roger Mello, translated from Portuguese by Daniel Hahn

Mello explores an idea he had as a child: that one small action can have marvelous consequences. Through wordplay, dreamlike images, and a playful lightness of touch, You Can’t Be Too Careful! expresses serious questions about the dangers of greed and the importance of kindness.

The Adventures of Shola(opens in a new tab) by Bernardo Atxaga, illustrated by Mikel Valverde, and translated from Spanish (originally written in Euskera) by Margaret Jull Costa

Shola is a little dog with attitude. Frustratingly for her, she loves both comfort (mainly in the form of food) and adventure, and spends much of her time trying to decide between the two. These four stories in one volume are sheer amusement whether Shola is faced with the possibility that she may really be a lion, the prospect of a boar hunt, or eccentric American visitors.

The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative(opens in a new tab) is working to raise the visibility of world literature for adults and children at the local, national and international levels. They also offer the annual Translated YA Book Prize(opens in a new tab) to highlight Young Adult titles of interest. The 2021 co-prize-winners, both celebrating contemporary gay life in Brazil, are: Here the Whole Time(opens in a new tab) by Vitor Martins and Where We Go from Here(opens in a new tab) by Lucas Rocha, both translated from Portuguese by Larissa Helena.(opens in a new tab)

This year the organization also honored two other YA books in translation, Almond(opens in a new tab) by Won-pyung Sohn (translated from Korean by Sandy Joosun Lee, and The End(opens in a new tab)  by Mats Strandberg (translated from the Swedish by Judith Kiros. Almond tells the story of a Korean teen born with a condition that leaves him unable to identify or express emotion, and The End is about a group of Swedish teens who have 4 months to come to grips with the fact that world will be ending.

And in case you missed it, Two Lines Press published our first YA title, Kim Sagwa’s b, Book, and Me, (translated by Sunhee Jeong) in 2020. The book is a “complex portrayal of teenage angst,” the story of best friends b and Ran, outsiders in their community until they find refuge with loner Book on the outskirts of town.

For more reading lists check out the Best Children’s Books in Translation(opens in a new tab) and Best Chapter Books in Translation(opens in a new tab) blogs, or #WorldKidLit Month’s list of translated books for 8-12 year olds(opens in a new tab) and a downloadable list of YA books in translation(opens in a new tab).