Love this post- right up my alley! Now I need to see if I can get my hands on any of your favorite books. So much food for thought. I think you're right with American-centric primary and secondary curriculum playing a part, and the fact translated books can't win many awards. I also think it could be the general feeling of what style and feel is typical in American children's picture books. Yesterday a library coworker and I were laughing about how different this translated French Christmas book felt compared to American Christmas books. The book features an old woman who talks about being scared of thieves and her friends dying and then what happens when a family's car breaks down in front of her house on Christmas. The themes of the book, and the way they were expressed, were just so different from most American kids books that I can see the difference in taste- and possible worry publishers might have that they wouldn't sell- being another part of the equation? Have you read Jon Klassen's The Skull or David Sedaris' Pretty Ugly? I was surprised by those books in a way that now makes me think they might not be as surprising in other cultures/ languages. Last thing- just putting in this link to Betsy Bird's list of children's books translated to English in America in case anyone wants to see https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/12/13/31-days-31-lists-2024-translated-childrens-books/
Thanks for sharing your Mexican book trip with us! For me, it was a great reminder about just how much wonderful literature, while perhaps aimed at a younger audience, still carries messages and values that should also resonate with older readers. It also provides a convenient excuse for me to have one more section to visit when I find myself in my local bookstore.
Happy to have received yesterday my copy of Taiwan Travelogue. I just want to be sure I'm on the list to receive the zoom link for the bookclub meeting on Jan 24.
Enjoyed and appreciated this article about children's books. Food for thought on the lack of translated books published in America and whether or not the Caldecott is partly to blame. Thanks for broadening my horizons.
Love this post- right up my alley! Now I need to see if I can get my hands on any of your favorite books. So much food for thought. I think you're right with American-centric primary and secondary curriculum playing a part, and the fact translated books can't win many awards. I also think it could be the general feeling of what style and feel is typical in American children's picture books. Yesterday a library coworker and I were laughing about how different this translated French Christmas book felt compared to American Christmas books. The book features an old woman who talks about being scared of thieves and her friends dying and then what happens when a family's car breaks down in front of her house on Christmas. The themes of the book, and the way they were expressed, were just so different from most American kids books that I can see the difference in taste- and possible worry publishers might have that they wouldn't sell- being another part of the equation? Have you read Jon Klassen's The Skull or David Sedaris' Pretty Ugly? I was surprised by those books in a way that now makes me think they might not be as surprising in other cultures/ languages. Last thing- just putting in this link to Betsy Bird's list of children's books translated to English in America in case anyone wants to see https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/12/13/31-days-31-lists-2024-translated-childrens-books/
Thanks for sharing your Mexican book trip with us! For me, it was a great reminder about just how much wonderful literature, while perhaps aimed at a younger audience, still carries messages and values that should also resonate with older readers. It also provides a convenient excuse for me to have one more section to visit when I find myself in my local bookstore.
Happy to have received yesterday my copy of Taiwan Travelogue. I just want to be sure I'm on the list to receive the zoom link for the bookclub meeting on Jan 24.
Happy 2025! Trying to remain hopeful.....
Great post as always! Is there where I should reply for book club Zoom link?
Enjoyed and appreciated this article about children's books. Food for thought on the lack of translated books published in America and whether or not the Caldecott is partly to blame. Thanks for broadening my horizons.
Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing your experiences! 💕