List of translators of children's books facts for kids
Have you ever read a book that was originally written in another language? Maybe a thrilling adventure from Japan, a funny story from France, or a heartwarming tale from Germany? If you have, it's all thanks to amazing people called literary translators!
These talented individuals are like language detectives. They take a book written in one language and carefully rewrite it in another, making sure the story, characters, and even the jokes feel just right for new readers. This is super important because it lets kids all over the world enjoy stories from different cultures and learn new things.
Contents
What is a Literary Translator?
A literary translator is someone who changes books from one language to another. It's not just about swapping words. They have to make sure the story keeps its original feeling. They work hard to keep the author's voice. This means the humor, sadness, or excitement stays the same.
Translators are like bridges between cultures. They help us explore new worlds. They let us meet characters from far-off places. They do this without needing to learn a new language ourselves.
Why are Translated Books Special?
Reading books from other countries is a fantastic adventure. It helps us understand different ways of life. We can learn about new traditions and ideas. These books show us that even if we speak different languages, we share many feelings. We all love stories about friendship, bravery, and discovery.
Translated books also help us see the world from new angles. They can introduce us to different kinds of schools, foods, or holidays. It's like traveling the world without leaving your comfy reading spot!
Awards for Awesome Translated Books
Because translating books is so important, there are special awards for it! These awards celebrate the best translated children's books and the talented people who bring them to us.
One important award is the Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation. This award celebrates amazing children's books translated into English. Another great award is the ALSC Mildred L. Batchelder Award. This award also honors outstanding children's books that have been translated into English. These awards help everyone discover more fantastic stories from around the globe.
Meet Some Amazing Translators!
Here are some of the wonderful people who translate books for young readers:
- Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp – Russian, German, Arabic to English
- Sarah Ardizzone – French to English
- Anthea Bell – German to English
- Simon Breden – Spanish to English
- John Brownjohn – German to English
- Karin Chubb – German to English
- Martin Cleaver – Dutch to English
- Patricia Crampton - German to English
- Howard Curtis – Italian to English
- Lucia Graves – Spanish to English
- Daniel Hahn – Spanish, Portuguese, French to English
- Adriana Hunter – French to English
- Margaret Jull Costa – Basque, Portuguese to English
- Lene Kaaberbol – Danish to English
- Oliver Latsch – German to English
- Sheila LaFarge - Danish, Norwegian, Swedish to English
- Sophie Lewis – French to English
- Julia Marshall – Swedish to English
- Nanette McGuinness - Italian, French to English
- George Miller – French to English
- Denise Muir - Italian to English
- John Nieuwenhuizen – Dutch to English
- Frances Østerfelt – Danish to English
- Anna Paterson – Swedish to English
- Guy Puzey - Norwegian to English
- Azita Rassi – Persian to English
- Betsy Rosenberg - Hebrew to English
- Cheryl Robson – Danish to English
- Lance Salway – Dutch to English
- Lawrence Schimel - Spanish to English
- Ros Schwartz – French to English
- Fatima Sharafeddini – Arabic to English
- Ginny Tapley Takemori - Japanese to English
- Laurie Thompson – Swedish to English
- John Thornley – Greek to English
- Avery Fischer Udagawa – Japanese to English
- Helen Wang – Chinese to English
- Rachel Ward - German to English
- Laura Watkinson – Dutch to English
- Siân Williams (translator) Italian to English
- Chantal Wright – German to English
See also
- Freeman Awards
- International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
