31 Days, 31 Lists: 2024 Translated Children’s Books

Just now I sat down to work on today’s post and I saw the topic: Translated Children’s Books. Immediately, I gave a bitter chuckle. “Oh ho ho… THAT’s a big list.” And it is, you know. Though they can only win a handful of awards here in America, the sheer plethora of amazing translated works for kids only improves every year. So today I’m going to highlight the ones that stood out to me. The books themselves are good, sure, but let’s make sure to give a shout out as well to the hardworking translators that get these books ready for prime time here in the States. You folks clearly know what you are doing!

You can find the full PDF of today’s titles here.

Interested in other lists of translated children’s books? Then check out these lists from previous years:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016

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2024 Translated Children’s Picture Books

Best Thing Ever! by Beatrice Alemagna, translated by Jill Phythian

[Translation – French]

Pascaline is back! The little hot pink bat first seen in Never! Not Ever! (one of my favorite First Day of School books of all time) returns in a story of a supermarket and a small child who wants EVERYTHING. I have it on good authority that in the past Pascaline was based on Alemagna’s own child, so all I can say is that I hope she never stops getting great material out of her offspring. As with her other books, Alemagna utilizes fluorescent colors to a marvelous degree. That pop of color really draws your eye to Pascaline as she makes her way across pages of natural brown and green tones. There also isn’t a parent alive unfamiliar with what happens when a child melts into “a pile of gloop” on the floor of a store. I’m not even certain that that’s a metaphor when you experience it firsthand. A can’t miss title about a literal meltdown. Previously On the Funny Picture Books list.

A Better Best Friend by Olivier Tallec, translated by Anthony Shugaar

[Translation – French]

Having a best friend is great! A little red squirrel has just made friends with Pock, a somewhat awkward little mushroom, and things are great. That is, until a third friend comes along. Can someone have TWO best friends?!? Look. Look DEEP into the eyes of this anxious little mushroom on the cover and tell me you’re not intrigued by this book. This little French translation taps into the anxiety of having a best friend. Not acquiring one (though it makes it clear how that can be hard too) but what to do when you have two of them! I dunno. It’s the little details in this that just slay me. The way the squirrel crosses its legs, just so. The rings under Pock (the mushroom guy)’s eyes. I also kind of love that it makes it clear that a quiet person who doesn’t say much can be a very good friend, and that it’s okay to have more than just one. It’s small, slight, subtle, and unmistakably French.

The Cat Way by Sara Lundberg, translated by B.J. Woodstein

[Translation – French]

Usually when the human and the cat go walking, the human decides what they should do and where they should go. When things flip and the cat gets to take the lead, it’s the human who begins to see things in a whole new way. First off, it’s very satisfying to see a book where the main character knows how to hold a cat correctly on the cover. I also am intrigued by the fact that this is the rare picture book where an adult is the main character. There’s a funny surreal quality to this story, while at the same time the emotions are so real to me. It’s both telling its own story straight, while also feeling like it’s talking about a lot more than just the relationship between a woman and her cat. The art is fantastic, I love the gatefold (a rare three-page gatefold, no less!) and the simplicity of the telling. GREAT work by translator B.J. Woodstein, by the way! It really gets the tone of the book down JUST right! Previously seen on the Caldenott List.

Champ by Payam Ebrahimi, ill. Reza Dalvand, translated by Caroline Croskery

[Translation – Iranian]

Okay, I don’t know why, but the Iranians are just particularly good at funny children’s books. Don’t believe me? Well, think about some of the titles by Rashin Kheiriyeh (who brought to life one of my favorite fables, Two Parrots). Or what about Daniel Nayeri and his particularly skewed take on life, the world, the universe, and everything in it? Now we add to that list this book from Ebrahimi and Dalvand and it is just boffo. At its core, it’s a story about familial expectations and the ways in which we try to live up to them. In Abtin’s family (the delightfully named Moleskis) you are either a champion or you’re nothing at all. All throughout his house the Moleskis are portrayed with their customary frowns of concentration and seriousness as they win athletic championship after athletic championship. Abtin studies them with all the seriousness of a scholar. Unfortunately it’s all for naught, as his disgusted relatives note that not only has he no mole on his face, “Forget about being a champion, you couldn’t even be a flagman at a race.” His solution? Let’s just say it requires a bit of out-of-the-box thinking (and ends with a delightful silent image of his father’s bright red face screaming, which is not something you see in a picture book every day). You know, books from other countries don’t have any trouble with taking their art to illogical extremes, and this book reminded me (in a way) of this year’s Sleepless Night translated from the Spanish by Micaela Chirif. Good goofy Iranian fun.  Previously seen on the Funny List.

Every Wrinkle Has a Story by David Grossman and Ninamasina, translated by Jessica Cohen

[Translation – Italian]

This may sound a bit odd, but while author David Grossman is an Israeli author, this book initially came out in Italy. And as the person who buys all the adult titles for my library, I was personally previously aware of Grossman’s A Horse Walks Into a Bar but not his children’s book work. Accompanied by the watercolor art of Italian one-namer Ninamasina, the book is a discussion between a grandfather and grandchild about wrinkles. Yotam is picked up by his grandfather every Tuesday and they always stop at a cafe on the way home. I credit the translator on this one with keeping this book just this side of becoming precious. When Yotam asks if getting wrinkles hurts or “how will my face know how to make the wrinkles?” it could come off as just too too cute. Instead, it feels honest. The kinds of questions that kids come up with that adults would never even consider on their own. I suspect Grossman may know a kid or two. In the end, this is a story about not being afraid of getting older. It’s just a natural part of life, and something we all get used to. Gentle and gently done. 

Everyone Gets a Turn by Marianne Dubuc, translated by the VeroK Agency

[Translation – French]

Dubuc specializes in the small. Flashy does nothing for her. When she creates a book, she wants to create a world that your child could just dive into. In this particular tale, four friends discover an egg one day, and everyone wants to care for it. What makes the most sense then is for everyone to care for it equally and to take turns. And that sharing doesn’t end when the egg hatches either. Out comes a fluffy little chick, with four different animals (each with four different personalities) on hand to help it any way they can. Honestly, this is one of the few picture books about communal parenting that you’re likely to find on your shelves these days (if you want to know about gaps in the marketplace, there’s one right there). Sweet, soft, and gentle, but this isn’t pablum. It’s just darned good storytelling. Previously seen on the Message List.

Finding the Way to Faraway Valley by Cecilia Heikkila, translated by Polly Lawson

[Translation – Swedish]

For years Grandpa has been talking about visiting Faraway Valley. Now he and his grandchild are finally making the trip, but when they get there it’s not at all what they imagined… or is it? A tale about preserving our last wild spaces. Who’s up for a Swedish translation? This one really snuck up on me. I’d heard about it earlier in the year but somehow didn’t have a chance to read it until now. The story is very much about tourism, finding wild spots, and their protection. If nothing else, you need to read this book so that you can fully appreciate Otterline Otter’s Wilderness Store (I want to go to there). Definitely give this one a taste.

The Gale by Mo Yan, ill. Zhu Chengliang, adapted by Gu Xiaoxiao, translated by Ying-Hwa Hu

[Translation – Chinese]

Having just turned seven, a boy is finally allowed to accompany his grandfather to work, cutting grass for their livestock. But when a massive wind hits them, will they both survive the trip? So the question we lay before you is this: Is this book by Mo Yan, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, appealing to kids at all? I can tell you this much, this book sticks in your brain. I mean, it’s an interesting tale I’ve never really seen before. It reminds me of that old Reading Rainbow book about the farmer whose plow accidentally falls into a hole that becomes an active volcano. Like that book, a farmer must face head on a natural disaster. Only in this case, it’s a real man vs. nature situation, and you don’t know who’s going to win. You might spend a fair amount of time yelling at this book, “It isn’t worth it, man!!!” Still, it doesn’t read like a translation, or even an adaptation, at all. It’s exciting and beautiful to look at. We get a lot of grandparent books in a given year but NONE of them are like this one. Previously seen on the Caldenott List.

Harriet’s Reflections by Marion Kadi, translated by Marion Kadi and Abram Kaplan

[Translation – French]

One day a lion’s reflection decides to become the reflection of a little girl named Harriet. Initially she’s delighted, but what happens when she wants her old reflection back again? I’m just all about the French translations this year. Maybe that is because I love a book that works by its own illogical logic. The metaphor is strong with this one, no question. I think we’ve known more than one kid in our lives that had a lion inside themselves from time to time. I love fierce little Harriet and how she slowly comes to realize that it’s not a great idea to be wild all the time. I also love shots like the lion reflected in the teacher’s glasses. The solution is unexpected but if we’re carrying this metaphor to its logical end then I think it works rather beautifully. And, of course, it’s hard to resist the beautiful acrylic colors all over these pages. A book unafraid to roar a little. 

How We Share Cake by Kim Hyo-Eun, translated by Deborah Smith

[Translation – Korean]

The logistics that go into fairness, particularly when you have multiple siblings to contend with. Kim Hyo-eun doesn’t just understand this concept. She’s able to render it on the page with so much verve and humor than even if you grew up an only child you’ll find yourself laughing in recognition time and time again. I particularly loved the logistics of sharing food following by a consideration of how one “shares” an uncle. You do not want to miss this. Previously seen on the Funny List.

Miss Leoparda by Natalia Shalohvili, translated by Lena Taer

[Translation – Russian]

Public transportation takes a blow when bus driver Miss Leoparda loses all her riders thanks to a surge in car purchases. A gentle environmental tale told with wit and humor. It’s also a more overt version of the Lucy Knisley picture book Ride Beside Me, I’d say. Consider this a clever little tale about the encroachment of cars, how much they take over, and the natural way to alleviate some of their problems. Shaloshvili has a lovely artistic style, and if I’m not much mistaken this is her first picture book in America. The expressions on the animals’ faces are fantastic. Love that two-page spread when they’ve seen a car for the first time and they’re acting like Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows. A book with a message that doesn’t whap you over the head with it. Extra points to the delicious translation from Traer.

Mr. Lepron’s Mystery Soup by Giovanna Zoboli, ill. Mariachiara Di Giorgio, translated by Denise Muir

[Translation – Italian]

Everyone agrees that Mr. Lepron’s soup is simply the greatest, so when he decides to start his own soup factory, folks are delighted. But what happens when a hobby you love turns into a full-time job? Hey, folks. Do you remember that fun wordless picture book from a couple years ago called The Midnight Fair? I read through this entire book, really enjoying it, but it wasn’t until I read the illustrator’s bio that I realized why her style looked so familiar. This one starts slow but once it gets going you just have to appreciate it. As always, I reserve my greatest respect for books that get a little bizarre on the pages. This one has a chaotic nightmare sequence involving mouths and rabbits and soup spoons that may haunt me for the rest of my days. LOVE IT! Great story, great messaging, and art that is simply to die for.

No. 5 Bubblegum Street by Mikolaj Pa, ill. Gosia Herba, translated by Scotia Gilroy

Translation – Polish

Richard Scarry by way of Poland. Are you curious? You dang well should be. I suspect we could make an entire list of picture books from this year alone involving apartment buildings and their residents. For whatever reason, such picture books tend to be more popular as imports. This particular book is keen. That’s the best word I use to describe it: keen. One by one we meet all the different residents at No. 5 Bubblegum Street and what they do for a living. There’s Mouse, who’s a famous rapper, but has to look through a slew of places to find his hat (if translator Scotia Gilroy was the one who came up with the book “Can I Kick It” on his shelf then I hereby humbly request the Batchelder Award committee to give Gilroy All The Things). Then there’s Panther, who is crazy for houseplants, the spider family playing instruments you’ve never heard before (I’m particularly fond of the baritone xylophone or the bass hexagon), and more. The frogs are by far the most fun to look at on the page, though, with their huge yellow eyes, composing songs on typewriters. Is it plot forward? It is not. Will you care? You will not. A delight. 

Out of the Blue by Rebecca Bach-Lauritsen and Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard, translated by Michael Favala Goldman

[Translation – Danish]

A meticulous boy with a well-ordered life finds his house completely turned upside down by a wild bear… and he loves it! A sweet, strange tale of finding unexpected friends.  As I mentioned before, I always like it when a book works on its own internal logic and damned be the consequences. Here we have a boy living entirely on his own, as seen in such books as Bink & Gollie. He’s drawn in rather a standard, illustrated manner. The bear who comes to occupy the house with him reminded me a lot of how someone like Matthew Cordell will suddenly place a highly realistic wild animal into a picture book, surprising and delighting the reader. At its heart, this is a story about loneliness and finding a kindred spirit. Plus who doesn’t want their own bear to play airplane with? A subtle, sweet delight. 

The Remarkables: The Most Incredible Children I’ve Met – So Far! By Clotilde Perrin, translated by Daniel Hahn

[Translation – French]

Trust Clotilde Perrin to be weird. In a good way, naturally! If you enter a children’s room of a library and notice that some of the picture books are not fitting on the shelves, odds are those are Clotilde Perrin books. Alongside Gecko Press, she and her publisher raise a middle finger to typical picture book dimensions. Now this latest title may actually fit the shelves a little better than some of its fellows, but what she lacks in the usual height she makes up for in girth. Which is to say, in text and illustrations. Clocking in at a massive 66 pages, the book lists a slew of remarkable children. And not just because they’re a little different from their fellows either. They are a LOT different. There’s the prickly child, covered in spikes, and the diamond child (where translator Daniel Hahn chose to keep the original “Très ostentatious” on the page to describe). There’s the Grassy Child and the Cloud Child and the Giant Child as well. All told there are 38 children in total and their lives are strange and lovely and odd and fun. I particularly liked the sections that discussed how they interact with one another. The most disturbing? Definitely the Cupcake Child. Not because the kid is particularly weird, but because his parents are continually trying to eat him. It’s a miracle the child is still alive (once you read it, you’ll understand why the child doesn’t, “like hearing my parents talk about me” and why, “I’d like some peace and quiet, even if it meant becoming an orphan”). Ah, translated children’s books. You’re always my favorites. 

Two Little Red Mittens by Kirin Hayashi, ill. Chiaki Okada, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa

[Translation – Japanese]

Did you know that folks just send me images of knitting in picture books these days? This is due in large part to the fact that I do an annual round-up of knitting on this site called The Scourge of Upside Down Knitting Needles. This particular book appeared on that list on the plus side, and for good reason. Chiaki Okada doesn’t go halfsies on accuracy. The endpapers of this book consist of this incredible cable stitched pattern, clearly taken from real life. Every single solitary stitch looks insanely on the nose. But then we get to the fact that the story itself is just more than a little charming. It follows the inner life of a lost mitten as it is used and appreciated by animal after animal. The ending isn’t all that different from the ending you find at the end of Sara Varon’s Robot Dreams. It’s a little bittersweet but happy overall, as the former pair of mittens realize that the other has moved on, and are content with where they are in the world. 

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Translated Books for Older Readers

The Book of Whys by Gianna Rodari, ill. JooHee Yoon, translated by Antony Shugaar

[Translation – Italian]

Lest we get too far ahead of ourselves, I would like to say that though I will also be placing this book ostensibly in the “Poetry” section, you could probably justify putting it on any list from middle grade fiction to nonfiction and get away with it equally well. It’s one of those books that crosses genres so frequently that you’re in dire danger of getting a headache. Rodari is a big name in the Italian children’s book scene, but here in the States his moniker will mostly be met with blank stares. This particular book is a series of questions from kids that he would answer in his newspaper column (reminding me of another newspaper serial the Italians love – Pinocchio). But the true star of this show is Antony Shugaar who has the impossible task of having to not only translate into rhyme for many of these poems, but to make the jokes work (even the puns!) too. He can only do so much with the questions that are SO Italian they squeak (example: “Why do people say: ‘It’s like shampooing a donkey’s head’?”) but given what he has to work with the man has gone to Herculean lengths. Well done, sir!!

The Gray City by Torben Kuhlmann, translated by David Henry Wilson

[Translation – German]

Moving to a new city is hard, but it’s even worse when everything is gray. As Robin learns more about her new home, she realizes that there may be something sinister behind the sameness.  I love the work of Torben Kiblmann, but in general I’ve always particularly enjoyed his early chapter book-like picture books because they featured cute mousies. Now, at long last, his heroes are of the human variety and it’s kinda throwing me for a loop. The story is, in our current book banning/you must conform era, a bit on the nose, and I like that. The book has this marvelous dreamlike quality to it, while still somehow invoking both 1984 and Camazotz from A Wrinkle in Time. It’s pretty fun, no matter how you slice it, and definitely worth a read. 

Miss Cat: The Case of the Curious Canary by Jean-Luc Fromental & Joëlle Jolivet, translated by Jill Phythian

[Translation – French]

Miss Cat is desperate for her next case, so when a sad man comes in looking for his kidnapped canary, she’s willing to look into it. But is there more to this feathered fiend than meets the eye? As a fellow librarian told me, this book falls squarely into that sweet spot where the reader wants a chapter book but still needs a load of pictures alongside the slightly more elevated text. When I was a kid I was very keen on detective stories, and this would most certainly have been exactly what I would have enjoyed. Sort of Encyclopedia Brown with magic, if you will. I like the hard-boiled kid detective. I like the octopus tending bar (a milkshake bar, but still). I like that the client isn’t all that they seem. Heck, I like the ending. Very strange. Very French.

Sounds Good by Hans Könnecke, ill. Ole Könnecke, translated by Melody Shaw

[Translation – German]

Discover 50 instruments, accompanied by delightful animal musicians, as they introduce you to a world of music. From glockenspiels to bongos and congas, a marvelous entry point for any kid looking for an instrument to love. Whenever people try to claim that Germans don’t have a good sense of humor, Ole Könnecke’s the one I like to offer up as a counter-example. So this is, at its heart, just a book meant to introduce kids to a range of instruments, but something I really love about it is that it isn’t afraid to take a trip outside the usual European orchestra ones. As a result you get a nice worldview that includes things like the sitar, didgeridoo, steelpan, kalimba, and more. My personal favorite, was definitely the theremin, and for that one I just had to try the QR code that appears on every page. Apparently the author composed a musical piece for each instrument. I didn’t listen to the code where all the instruments play together, but I can attest that that’s one fine theremin at work!

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So with all that in mind, here are the other lists for 2024:

December 1 – Great Board Books

December 2 – Picture Book Readalouds

December 3 – Simple Picture Book Texts

December 4 – Transcendent Holiday Picture Books

December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books

December 6 – Funny Picture Books

December 7 – CaldeNotts

December 8 – Picture Book Reprints

December 9 – Bilingual Books for Kids

December 10 – Math Books for Kids

December 11 – Books with a Message / Social Emotional Learning

December 12 – Fabulous Photography

December 13 – Translated Picture Books

December 14 – Fairy Tales / Folktales / Religious Tales

December 15 – Wordless Picture Books

December 16 – Poetry Books

December 17 – Unconventional Children’s Books

December 18 – Easy Books & Early Chapter Books

December 19 – Comics & Graphic Novels

December 20 – Older Funny Books

December 21 – Science Fiction Books

December 22 – Fantasy Books

December 23 – Informational Fiction

December 24 – Gross Books

December 25 – Science & Nature Books

December 26 – Unique Biographies

December 27 – Blueberry Award Contenders (Celebrating the Environment)

December 28 – Nonfiction Picture Books

December 29 – Nonfiction Books for Older Readers

December 30 – Middle Grade Novels

December 31 – Picture Books

Filed under: 31 Days 31 Lists, Best Books, Best Books of 2024