For little naughty princesses and princes

The Tale of Sigismunda and Krpimir is written by Sanja Lovrenčić, translated in English as a joint effort of the author and Peter Carrier, and illustrated by Pika Vončina.

This tale is about princess Sigi, the baker’s apprentice Krpi and the two rival kings, Muk and Mrachak. The last two try to win Sigi's hand in marriage and are eager to make war to show who's best. But violence is not the way to make a princess like you, and it can be expensive too, especially if you use elite water dragons. After all, princess Sigi really only likes Krpimir.

This is another book selected for the White Raven list  for 2004 and won a prize as a theater play.

Once upon a time...

A selection of twenty two Albanian folktales translated by Robert Elsie are free to read from his website. Most of the tales are translated as they appeared in Albanian language in Folklor shqiptar 1, Proza popullore (Tirana 1963). Together with about ten legends and an introduction by the translator they have been published in a book format first by Naim Frashëri Publishing Company, Tirana (Albania) in 1994; and than again by Dukagjini Publishing Company, Peja (Kosova) in 2001.

The stories in the collection are not necessarily written for children, but as in other folktales and adaptations children would find much pleasure in the fantastic world of the tales. As the translator and editor of the book states in his introduction: "The fundamental theme of Albanian folk tales, as no doubt of folk tales everywhere, is the struggle between good and evil, a reflection of social values as we perceive them. The cautious reader may rest assured ... that in the fantastic world of Albanian folk literature the good always win out."

Discovering little secrets

Another e-picturebook free to read online is Secret's Secret written by Dragana Kršenković Brković and illustrated by Suzana Pajović Živković. The book was published by the School of Fine Arts, University of Montenegro [Fakultet likovnih umjetnosti, Univerzitet Crne Gore] in 2011 and nominated for the 2011 Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB) award.

One of the most prominent characteristics of Dragana Kršenković Brković's writing is her love for innovation based on mythology, legends and fairy-tales. One of her other books for children The Genie of the Manito Lake, unfortunately not yet translated in English, was selected for the 2011 White Ravens list for books that deserve wider reception due to the innovative artistic and literary style. She also won the best children's play award for The Marvelous Star (1990).

Dragana Kršenković Brković and her husband established the first children's puppet theater in Montenegro, Blue Lagoon.

Where is home?

Andrea Petrlik Huseinović is a writer and illustrator for children. She has received the 2014 GRAND PRIX at the Oita Biennial of Illustrations, Japan and the 2003 BIB GOLD PLAQUE in Bratislava. Her two most awarded and most read books are The Blue Sky and Ciconia Ciconia, translated into English by Ludwig Bauer.

Andrea Petrlik Huseinović wrote and illustrated Maleni in English and Croatian. Together with her husband Kašmir Huseinović they created Oscar, Hector and A Tale of Snowman. She also wrote and illustrated adaptations of the famous children's classics Little Red Ridding Hood and The Three Little Pigs.

The Digital Children's Library is a great source of free multicultural e-books for children. And if you have time you can put your translation skills to great use and translate the books in as many languages as you know. It is my favorite translation volunteer  work.

If you check the web site of the publisher Kašmir promet you may find more of their books available in English, and other languages too.

Another folk story

Theater for Children and Youth Skopje

After the Croatian folk tales, you can also check the translation of an old folk story from Macedonia, Silyan the Stork translated in English by Michael Seraphinoff.

The story comes from the collections of folk tales recorded by Marko Cepenkov (or Tsepenkov) (1829 - 1920). A selection from the collection is also available in English edited by Dr. Ilija Casule, translated by Fay Thomev and published by Macquarie Univerity, Sidney.

The Macedonian language children adaptation of the story can be found at the Digital Children's Library.

Tales from Long Ago

illustration by Vladimir Kirin

And now something for the fantasy lovers. Probably most of the translated text for children from the Balkans are traditional folk tales. But this book offers a twist to the folk tales from the Croatian Tolkin. Croatian Tales of Long Ago were written by Ivana Brlić Mažuranić in 1916 in Zagreb. It was translated in English by F.S. Coperland and published in 1922 in New York and 1924 in London, with illustrations by the Croatian artist Vladimir Kirin. The six (or eight) stories included in the collection will also give you an insight into Slavic mythology.

Recently, the tales have been given a new look in a wonderful animation project by Helena Bulaja.

Children's Voices in War Times

  

Books about war stand as monuments, constant reminders of the devastation that war brings. When that book comes from a child who experienced war, it is an even more powerful cry to stop all violence.

In this post I will present two translated works of non-fiction for children, both from Bosnia: Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in a War Time Sarajevo (2006) by Zlata Filipović, translated by Christina Pribichevich-Zoric; and My Childhood Under Fire (2006) by Nadja Halibegovich, translated by the author herself. Both diaries describe life in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the Bosnian War (1992-1995). Both books, autobiographies, are personal stories of what you don't hear in the news. Both authors have been known as Bosnian Anne Frank.

Zlata was only 11 years old when she started keeping a diary in 1991 and never knew there will be a war soon. When the war started the diary, called Mimmy, is her only friend. In 1995 it was published in English translation in UK and the US. Anthony Powers composed a choir work based on the diary.

My Childhood Under Fire is the diary that the 12 year's old Nadja kept between 1992 and 1995. Originally published in Bosnian language, the author translated and published the book in Canada and the US. She is still a peace activist.