Kaytek the Wizard facts for kids
2012 US edition
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| Author | Janusz Korczak |
|---|---|
| Original title | Kajtuś Czarodziej |
| Translator | Antonia Lloyd-Jones |
| Illustrator | Avi Katz (2012 US edition) |
| Country | Poland |
| Language | Polish |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Penlight Publications (2012 US edition) |
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Publication date
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1933 |
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Published in English
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1 August 2012 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 272 (2012 hardcover edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-9838685-0-7 (1st US edition) |
Kaytek the Wizard (Polish: Kajtuś Czarodziej) (alternatively Kaytek the Sorcerer or Kaytek the Magician, with some title renderings retaining the original name Kaytus instead of Kaytek) is a 1933 children's novel by Polish author, physician, and child pedagogue Janusz Korczak. It was published in English translation in August 2012, the second of Korczak's novels to be published in English. His other novel to be published in English was King Matt the First. In addition, several of his pedagogical works have also been translated.
Plot
The book depicts a schoolboy who gains magic powers. At first, Kaytek acts as a selfish child, using his power for mischief. He eventually dissatisfied with himself, and leaves his home town, where he had acquired a reputation as a troublemaker. On his travels he meets Zosia, a girl who uses her magical power for good. Together they fight an evil wizard, and Kaytek chooses the path of a good mage. The book contains some gaps, including one of the chapters, which were sections that were crossed out because they were too frightening to children.
Adaptations
The story has been adapted for theatre several times, including in 2008 (directed by Łukasz Kos) and 2012 (directed by Jerzy Łazewski).
Kaytek has been adapted for television, in a 1997 production by Julia Wernio that premiered in 1999. That production was 46 minutes in length.
A film adaptation is planned for a 2018 release, following a 14 October 2011 agreement between the Polish Book Institute (copyright holder to all works by Korczak) and Media Brigade of Wrocław.
