The Art of Translation
The CBC looks for a theme to spotlight in each month’s Hot Off the Press list so that we can alert parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and all children’s book enthusiasts to cool new offerings from our member publishers.
Though many hands are involved in each book’s creation, there is one important group whose artistic talent is not often immediately evident. Literary translators act as a cultural bridge, bringing an author’s work to a broader audience, and in turn, introducing those readers to that author’s culture. It’s easy to assume that translators simply take a word from one language and translate it to the same word in another, but there’s considerably more that goes into this. There is craft and artistry involved in recapturing the original story’s essence. In the case of picture books, translators must also ensure that the read-aloud experience is just as engaging as it would be in the book’s native language. Our April Hot Off the Press list has numerous titles that feature translators, shining a light on the work of these dedicated and talented collaborators. Below are six examples of this expertise at work, but a full list of April’s translated titles can be found on this spreadsheet.
Giant Steps, written & illustrated by Anaïs Lambert; translated by Johanna McCalmont (Blue Dot Kids Press) — Environment / Sustainability / Recycling, Imagination / Play, Animals, Science / Nature, ages 4-6.
A young child puts on boots and heads outside to explore—and finds a tiny world of battling beetles, racing snails, and ants on the move in this STEAM-focused picture book for nature lovers.
Each small step into the backyard garden leads to a new and wondrous find that unlocks the imagination, magnifying the world—and even the adventurer!—until the child is taking giant steps through whole forests, tracking a bear, and even pausing to watch a parade of wild creatures dance across the sky. Then, an even bigger giant appears to lead the young explorer home!
Giant Steps is full of bright, whimsical illustrations and paper collages of plants, insects, and animals that will inspire young readers to play and seek new experiences outdoors.
Little readers interested in science will enjoy feeling like a giant as they step into the equally little explorer’s shoes, while parents and grandparents will enjoy seeing the world once again through a child’s eyes. Each page holds a new nature discovery along with valuable lessons on mindfulness, creativity, and independent play, making Giant Steps the perfect gift for curious young readers ready for adventure.
Good Morning, Space, by Linda Bondestam; translated by A. A. Prime (Restless Books / Yonder) — Sci-Fi, Imagination / Play, Humor, Family / Community, ages 4-6. Snoring aliens, parties on rocket ships, and interstellar bath time—it’s a brand-new day in outer space! When Sweetie peers through a toilet paper tube at the early morning sky, a spectacular world appears through the makeshift telescope—many worlds, in fact. With abundant humor, interactive cutouts, and plenty of Easter eggs for those with a curious eye, Good Morning, Space is a delightful new story from Linda Bondestam, creator of My Life at the Bottom: The Story of a Lonesome Axolotl.
How to Reach the Moon, by Nicolas Schuff; illustrated by Ana Sender; translated by Lawrence Schimel (Amazon Publishing / Amazon Crossing Kids) — Family / Community, Places / Travel, Family / Community, Action / Adventure, ages 4-6.
Emilio and Abuelo: two adventurers off to see the moon!
Emilio loves spending vacations out in the forest at his abuelo’s house. The woods are mysterious, and Abuelo and Emilio can dine outside by the light of a lantern every night. And then, best of all, Abuelo tells his fantastical stories! One night, when there’s a full moon, Abuelo suggests they go and meet the moon. At first, Emilio isn’t sure he’s serious―but Abuelo is a true adventurer! And so the two, boy and grandfather, set off on their mission. But what creatures might await them in the forest? And will they really get to see the moon?
The Mystery of the Thinking Rabbit, by Clarice Lispector; illustrated by Kammal João; translated by Benjamin Moser (New York Review Books / NYRB Kids) — Animals, Humor, Family / Community, Mystery / Thriller, ages 4-6.
Joãozinho is an ordinary rabbit, happy and hungry. Ideas come to rabbits when they scrunch and unscrunch their noses, but as anyone who has seen a rabbit knows, they do this nonstop. In order to sniff out one single idea, they have to scrunch their noses 15,000 times. Joãozinho comes up with an idea as good as the smell of a fresh carrot. He’s finally figured out how to escape from his rabbit hutch in order to find more food. Joãozinho soon becomes an escape artist—but how does he do it? That’s a mystery he dares you to solve.
Clarice Lispector, one of the foremost writers of the twentieth century, wrote this story for her son Paulo, a lover of rabbits when he was small and, as she writes in her introductory note, “had yet to discover stronger affections.”
So Tired, So Wide Awake, written & illustrated by Susanne Strasser; translated by Melody Shaw (Lerner Publishing Group / Gecko Press) — Sleep / Dreams / Bedtime, Humor, Animals, ages 0-3.
It’s bedtime. Hedgehog, Fox, Donkey, Pelican, and Crocodile are so tired! But Seal needs to use the bathroom—slip slap slip, out the door. Crocodile forgot to clean those sharp teeth—shlurf shlurf, out the door. And Pelican is thirsty . . .
One by one the animals climb out of bed, until everyone is piled in the child’s bed for a last goodnight kiss. Oof, that’s a heavy pile! What happens now?
Susanne Strasser’s snowballing animal stories that children love are bestsellers in multiple languages. This funny in-and-out-of-bed story ends with a timely fart joke to start the fun all over again.
¡Vamos a surfear!, by Kwame Alexander; illustrated by Daniel Miyares; translated by Isabel C. Mendoza (NorthSouth Books / Ediciones NorteSur) — Spanish, Animals, Action / Adventure, BIPOC Characters and Creators, ages 4-6.
Surf’s up, Bro! Not yet, Dude. Books are boring. Not this one!
The Spanish edition of Newbery Award winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander’s nautical ode to the joy of reading.
Bro and Dude have very different ideas about how to spend a day at the beach. But as Bro continues to gasp and cheer while he reads his book (Moby Dick), Dude can’t help getting pulled in—literally. Before you can shout “Surf’s up!” both frogs are sharing the same adventure—that is, until they get to the beach.
Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander and illustrator Daniel Miyares join forces to give readers a wild ride, celebrating the joys of summer and reading. Translated into Spanish by award-winning translator Isabel C. Mendoza.
For more great book suggestions, be sure to check out the full April Hot Off the Press list!
List compiled by CBC’s resident book connoisseur, Brooke Pisarsky. Check out other Hot Off the Press Spotlight book lists on our blog.
