| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Off topic: What are your country's typical (and favourite) children's books? Thread poster: Andrea Riffo
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Rafa Lombardino
United States
Local time: 22:40
Member (2005)
English to Portuguese
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| Harry Potter | May 29, 2007 |
I believe Brazilian kids nowadays are hooked on Harry Potter. Well, who can blame them? The story is really interesting, even for adults. And I'm just glad to see that a series of books (instead of movie, cartoons, or video games) is popular among kids nowadays.
However, I have to say that back on my day we used to read "Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo" (Yellow Woodpecker Farm), written by Monte... See more I believe Brazilian kids nowadays are hooked on Harry Potter. Well, who can blame them? The story is really interesting, even for adults. And I'm just glad to see that a series of books (instead of movie, cartoons, or video games) is popular among kids nowadays.
However, I have to say that back on my day we used to read "Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo" (Yellow Woodpecker Farm), written by Monteiro Lobato in the late 30's. It takes place in a fantasy world in a little farm, where two kids try to make a crocodile-witch stop doing bad things. Their best friends are a rag doll and a corn on the cob that have come to life to help them fight the crocodile-witch and a little folkloric figure called "saci pererê," who is a one-legged teenager that smokes a pipe, plays tricks on everybody, and wears a red hood, Santa Claus style.
The other famous children's book back then was "O Menino Maluquinho" (Crazy Little Boy), written by Ziraldo in the early 80's. I bought a brand new copy of it last year because, despite how silly it may look, this is a very language-oriented book. There are several Brazilian expressions illustrated in there, such as "ele tinha o olho maior do que a barriga" (he had eyes bigger than his stomach), meaning that he would LITERALLY bite off more than he could chew.
There was also a great series of comic books featuring "A Turma da Mônica" (Monica's Gang) with several characters, including a chubby big-toothed girl (Monica) and her blue rabbit toy (Sansão), a boy who cannot pronounce "Rs" and uses "Ls" instead (Cebolinha), a girl who eats everything she sees in front of her (Magali), and a boy who's afraid of water and has never taken a shower (Cascão).
Great question... It brought me some good memories!
[Edited at 2007-05-29 16:21]
[Edited at 2007-05-29 16:28] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Recommended! | May 29, 2007 |
Little Prince
The Paul Street Boys
Alice In Wonderland
Complete Jules Verne (esp. Around the World In 80 Days)
Iliad and Odyssey
Complete Jack London (esp. White Fang)
When I was a child, my uncle had done me the favor of the favors by presenting me with the simplified versions of the abovementioned works.
I would have been so happy if I had been able to recommend some Turkish literature; however, I don't remember any such books translate... See more Little Prince
The Paul Street Boys
Alice In Wonderland
Complete Jules Verne (esp. Around the World In 80 Days)
Iliad and Odyssey
Complete Jack London (esp. White Fang)
When I was a child, my uncle had done me the favor of the favors by presenting me with the simplified versions of the abovementioned works.
I would have been so happy if I had been able to recommend some Turkish literature; however, I don't remember any such books translated into other languages. What a shame for us!
All the best for our bookworm-to-be
Best Regards,
Çağdaş ▲ Collapse
| | | | Clare Barnes 
Sweden
Local time: 07:40
Swedish to English
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| Mrs Pepperpot | May 29, 2007 |
These books were a bit of a surprise hit with my son when he was 6 or 7 (he found them among my old books). They are by the Norwegian author Alf Proysen and are about a little old lady who shrinks. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Pepperpot)
Don't discount The BFG, some of it does take place in the "normal" world; they end up having breakfast with the queen, as I recall. Beside... See more These books were a bit of a surprise hit with my son when he was 6 or 7 (he found them among my old books). They are by the Norwegian author Alf Proysen and are about a little old lady who shrinks. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Pepperpot)
Don't discount The BFG, some of it does take place in the "normal" world; they end up having breakfast with the queen, as I recall. Besides which, there's plently of farting and burping, which definitely tickled my son's funny bone.
Another good book is The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, by Jill Timlinson. I love this book - as do a lot of other people who have grown up with fond memories of a little owl called Plop...
Other books that my son has enjoyed reading or having read to him:
Anything by Joan Aiken
Flat Stanley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley)
Horrid Henry
E Nesbit's dragon stories ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:40
Russian to English
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In memoriam | "stories of mischief by young boys in our everyday world" | May 29, 2007 |
The "William" books by Richmal Crompton. Written from 1930s onward into 50s, so maybe a bit dated, but later made into popular TV series in UK. Not sure if they've been translated into Spanish, but they fit the above part of your requirement perfectly.
Yes, some were published in Spanish by "Editorial Molino" in 1981.
[Edited at 2007-05-29 08:21]
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Kirill Semenov
Ukraine
Local time: 08:40
Member (2004)
English to Russian
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| Marshak for Russian | May 29, 2007 |
Samuil Marshak, one of the greatest Russian translator ever (translations of Shakespear's, William Blake's and many others'). He's my idol of translation.
He possessed the rarest talent to make even the most complicated text simple and easy to read! Each his translation is a precious masterpiece and a great sample of unique, clear and going straight to your heart Russian language. He is our Pushkin in translation, so light and so playful!
To cap it all, he is also a cla... See more Samuil Marshak, one of the greatest Russian translator ever (translations of Shakespear's, William Blake's and many others'). He's my idol of translation.
He possessed the rarest talent to make even the most complicated text simple and easy to read! Each his translation is a precious masterpiece and a great sample of unique, clear and going straight to your heart Russian language. He is our Pushkin in translation, so light and so playful!
To cap it all, he is also a classical writer of poems for children, and you can hardly find any Russian kid or adult who wasn't raisen on Marshak's verses. In his specific and inimitable manner, he plays with constantly changing rhythm, metre and rhyme, and even the youngest babies are hypnotized by the utter magic of his poetry.
I have no doubts that any Russian native will second my opinion, there is no better for a Russian kid than Marshak's!
To learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuil_Marshak
[Edited at 2007-05-29 08:38] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rosa Enciso
Germany
Local time: 07:40
Member
German to Spanish
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| Books by Paul Maar | May 29, 2007 |
Do you know the German author Paul Maar?
He has written a serie of books about Sam, a strange but very lovable creature with red hair. I think in Spanish the translation is "Historias de Sam". It's really funny.
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I could almost copy Steven's list directly.
I totally forgot about Encylopedia Brown until I saw this, but I loved them!
The Phantom Tollbooth I must have read a thousand times, as well as the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory books.
Another favourite of mine was "How to Eat Fried Worms" by Thomas Rockwell.
And I can't recommend enough Canadian author Gordon Korman's wonderful, wonderful Bruno and Boots series, the first being "This Can't be Happening at Mac... See more I could almost copy Steven's list directly.
I totally forgot about Encylopedia Brown until I saw this, but I loved them!
The Phantom Tollbooth I must have read a thousand times, as well as the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory books.
Another favourite of mine was "How to Eat Fried Worms" by Thomas Rockwell.
And I can't recommend enough Canadian author Gordon Korman's wonderful, wonderful Bruno and Boots series, the first being "This Can't be Happening at MacDonald Hall" that he wrote at the age of twelve. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Clare Barnes
Sweden
Local time: 07:40
Swedish to English
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| Oh, William! | May 29, 2007 |
Thanks Jack - I read lots of William when I was younger and recently read a couple to my son, who also loved them. They also generated lots of historical discussion ("Mum, just what are evacuees????), but he took it in his stride and was much more interested in what the Outlaws next adventure would be.
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:40
Russian to English
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In memoriam | To Clare: Barna Hedenhos | May 29, 2007 |
My wife and I were in Stockholm for four months in 1973 with two young children, and we discovered the Barna Hedenhos books. They loved them, though we knew hardly any Swedish and had to guess some words on the basis of our knowledge of German, but the pictures also told the story. I think they would be for younger children than we are talking about here though (ours were under seven at the time).
To Kirill: this English native will also second your opinion about Marshak, though I... See more My wife and I were in Stockholm for four months in 1973 with two young children, and we discovered the Barna Hedenhos books. They loved them, though we knew hardly any Swedish and had to guess some words on the basis of our knowledge of German, but the pictures also told the story. I think they would be for younger children than we are talking about here though (ours were under seven at the time).
To Kirill: this English native will also second your opinion about Marshak, though I only know one of his books, simply called "Детям", if I remember rightly (I still have the book but it is so dilapidated from much use that both the spine and the title page are missing). It had beautiful drawings too, by someone else whose name I have forgotten (you will probably know it.) This was for quite young children, up to about five, I would think.
[Edited at 2007-05-29 11:53] ▲ Collapse
| | | | sarahjeanne (X)
Brazil
Local time: 02:40
Portuguese to English
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| The Phantom Tollbooth | May 29, 2007 |
Norman Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth" is a book that anyone who works with the English language would love. Even though it's children's lit. it would probably be pretty difficult for foreign children to understand. I was reading it the other day and thinking of how you would probably have a pretty tough time translating it.
I LOVE PIPPI! Nobody in Brazil has ever heard of Pippi Longstocking, but I can't count the times that I put wire in my braids for Halloween.
And ... See more Norman Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth" is a book that anyone who works with the English language would love. Even though it's children's lit. it would probably be pretty difficult for foreign children to understand. I was reading it the other day and thinking of how you would probably have a pretty tough time translating it.
I LOVE PIPPI! Nobody in Brazil has ever heard of Pippi Longstocking, but I can't count the times that I put wire in my braids for Halloween.
And although it's not a book, I think the movie "The Point" is excellent for kids and adults, and the soundtrack is so great.
Also, when I was learning Spanish I read "Platero y yo," which I think is a classic in Spain.
[Edited at 2007-05-29 15:40] ▲ Collapse
| | | | cherepanov
Ukraine
Local time: 08:40
Member (2005)
English to Russian
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| Korney Chukovskii | May 29, 2007 |
I do not now if any his tales for children (or for adults, nobody knows) are translated from Russian into English (though his books on translation theory and Russian Silver Age poets are translated). It is hard to explain how comes Chukovskii's mistic and irrational poems for children such as Mukha-Tsokotukha (Fly-Who-Clatters), Moydodyr (Wash-to-Holes), etc. were so popular and were published in high circulation in the era of socialist realism.
| | | | | Shel Silverstein | May 29, 2007 |
Cherepanov wrote:
I do not now if any his tales for children (or for adults, nobody knows) are translated from Russian into English (though his books on translation theory and Russian Silver Age poets are translated). It is hard to explain how comes Chukovskii's mistic and irrational poems for children such as Mukha-Tsokotukha (Fly-Who-Clatters), Moydodyr (Wash-to-Holes), etc. were so popular and were published in high circulation in the era of socialist realism.
This reminded me of another children's classic here in the US: Shel Silverstein's story "The Giving Tree", and also his humorous poetry for children. I'd be very curious to see a Spanish translation of his poems, if one exists! My sister and I loved read those when we were kids. They are silly and somewhat irreverent.
Yvette
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Lakshmi Iyer
France
Local time: 07:40
French to English
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| Indian children's books | May 29, 2007 |
Hello Andrea,
Many thanks for this topic: brought back some very happy memories!
Just wanted to add a few Indian touches to your nephew's reading list: I'm sure at least some of these will have been translated into Spanish. They're "once upon a time" tales and generally involve talking animals.
Tales from the Panchatantra
The Jataka Tales (Buddhist)
Tales of Birbal (a wily minister at the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar)
I know... See more Hello Andrea,
Many thanks for this topic: brought back some very happy memories!
Just wanted to add a few Indian touches to your nephew's reading list: I'm sure at least some of these will have been translated into Spanish. They're "once upon a time" tales and generally involve talking animals.
Tales from the Panchatantra
The Jataka Tales (Buddhist)
Tales of Birbal (a wily minister at the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar)
I know children are a lot more sophisticated these days but hopefully at six he's still not too blasé to enjoy these simple tales!
I went through the other posts quite quickly, so I'm not sure if anyone mentioned Enid Blyton: I read absolutely all her books as a child, though they're apparently no longer deemed politically correct.
'Five Children and It' by E. Nesbit was another of my favourites and one he might enjoy.
Have a good evening - or whatever time of day it is where you all are!
Kaveri ▲ Collapse
| | | | | the best of Astrid Lindgren | May 29, 2007 |
If I were an eight years old boy, I would absolutely love "The Brothers Lionheart". IMHO, this is the best book of this author.
And when it comes to Polish literature for young boys, I definetely recomend ALFRED SZKLARSKI's adventures of Tom. This is a whole series of books starting with "Tomek w krainie kangurow" (Tom in the country of kangaroos).
Unfortunately, out of what I see in the net, none of these books was translated to English or any other language.
| | | | | Some more German authors | May 29, 2007 |
Dear Andrea,
Here are a few of the popular children's books by German authors:
- Momo and the Jim Button stories by Michael Ende
- Anything by Austrian writer Christine Nöstlinger (she's just great).... See more Dear Andrea,
Here are a few of the popular children's books by German authors:
- Momo and the Jim Button stories by Michael Ende
- Anything by Austrian writer Christine Nöstlinger (she's just great). The Franz stories (also available in Spanish )are rather for younger children, and many of the other stories are great for any age, such as Conrad: The Factory-Made Boy.
- Otfried Preussler's books are great too. I still remember the thrill I felt when reading Krabat as a teenager.
- Erich Kästner's children's books (The Flying Classroom, Emil and the Detectives) are also wonderful to read. I don't know if they are still read by today's children, but I just loved them.
- Heidi by Swiss writer Johanna Spyri might not be the best choice for Jaimito, since it is very much a girls' book. But it is one of the important children's classics in the German-speaking countries, and I just felt like it should be listed here.
- Not to forget the Grimm brothers' fairy tales. They are really popular throughout the world.
- Wikipedia says Karl May was the best-selling German writer of all time. He is mostly remembered for his Winnetou stories (wild west), and there are film versions of his stories and festivals to honour his work.
- Here is a list of English and Spanish tites by German children's book author and artist Janosch. Every German child knows his Tiger Duck and the stories about the Little Bear and the Little Tiger.
- A very recent German children's book writer is Cornelia Funke. She became popular with her 2003 fantasy novel Inkheart.
- Lots of fantasy for older children can be found in the works of Wolfgang Hohlbein and his wife Heike.
I'll think of more in a while. Will come back here later.
Have fun, everybody. And thanks for bringing this topic up, Andrea! I'm loving it.
Stefanie
[Edited at 2007-05-29 20:25] ▲ Collapse
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