Building Bridges: The Art of Children's Book Translation

According to an oft-cited and oft-lamented statistic, a mere 3% of books published in the U.S. are works in translation. In recent years, several independent publishers have strived to fill this literary chasm, with companies such as Blue Dot Kids Press, Enchanted Lion, Levine Querido, and minedition, and imprints including Archipelago's Elsewhere Editions and Restless Books' Yonder specializing in bringing international children's books to the U.S. Amid the current pandemic, when overseas travel is restricted and people's lives have become more insular, literature in translation offers a vital means of connecting readers across the globe. In honor of World Kid Lit Month, we spoke with 10 acclaimed translators about the unique challenges and rewards of adapting international children's books for English-speaking readers.