E-books for all ages

My latest discovery is this wonderful e-book publisher of translations for children by authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Style Writers Now. The translations are mostly in English, with some are in Spanish and in German. There are more than 20 authors, and about 50 books you can get for just 1 to 3 US$. Most are picture books, but there are collections of short stories and novels. My personal favourite is Sirenoteka Fairy Tales and Rujana.

The driving force of the publisher is Marija F. Sullivan, who is also one of the authors and translator of some of the stories. Her book The Mermaid's Dream has first been published in Singapore (1995) and then in Sarajevo (2003). Adrian Mitchel compared this collection of original children’s stories to Andersen’s fairy tales. You can download a copy for free and play with the lovely little Mermaids.

You can also find Marija's books in paperback on amazon

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.

For the Youngest

There is a colorful, bright and lyrical story staring animals that comes from former Yugoslavia. I have recently written a post about this book, but in Macedonian, so here it is in English as well. Some of you might be familiar with this beautiful picturebook, since it has been published in London by Istros Books, a new but rapidly developing publisher specialized in Eastern European literature, and Balkans literature in particular. Their only publication for children, so far, is Hedgehog's Home by Branko Ćopić.

The translation of the story in rhyme is craftily done by Susan Curtis and the illustrations are by Sanja Rešćek.

The original story was first published in 1949 in Zagreb inspiring young readers to love and protect their home, something so precious to the generation who just gone through the Second World War. Many generations in former Yugoslavia grow up with this story and the song based on the text. In its 2011 translation for the English speaking audience this love for the home shifts to the love for the natural environment and habitat, something so important to the kids of today.

The book has been many times put on stage in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia, most recently in Zagreb, Osijek and Sarajevo. Similarly the story was adapted for stage in UK as children's opera and musical.

Another review for this book is available at Outside In World, and if you want to buy your copy contact Istros Books directly.