BOOK ISLAND TRANSLATED CHILDREN'S FICTION PROJECT
BOOK ISLAND LIMITED
Literary translation projects
England
2018
Total project grant (euros)
18,829.00
Programme
Creative Europe
Sub-programme
Culture
Funding strand
Literary translation projects
Call number
604534-CREA-1-2018-1-UK-CULT-LIT1
Project date
1 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2020
Book Island is an independent, Bristol-based press publishing picture books in English translation. The BOOK ISLAND TRANSLATED CHILDREN'S FICTION PROJECT intends to increase access to high-quality illustrated children’s books by bringing writing and illustration from the vanguard of three European countries to a diverse range of audiences in the English-language picture book market.
This project will enable the translation, publication and distribution of the following three award-winning picture books from Belgium, France and Sweden to young readers aged 6 and older around the world:
- 'De gouden kooi' by Anna Castagnoli and Carll Cneut (published by De Eenhoorn, Belgium) | Translator: Laura Watkinson
- 'Le jardin du dedans-dehors' by Chiara Mezzalama and Régis Lejonc (published by Les éditions des élephants, France) |Translator: Sarah Ardizzone
- 'Fågeln i mig flyger vart den vill' by Sara Lundberg (published by Mirando Bok, Sweden) | Translator: B.J. Epstein
The selected titles will showcase the diverse and audacious nature of European children’s literature by offering:
- stories of high literary quality
- stories which all celebrate an independence of spirit
- a wide range of genre, reaching out to different audiences
- distinctive European flavours - in both subject matter and literary style
- extraordinary illustrations by well-regarded illustrators
- carefully designed high-quality hardback editions, which represent European production standards in children’s literature.
We are particularly excited about working with the translators to create a conversation about the translation process with English-speaking readers. With the support of Creative Europe and Book Island's distribution arrangements and promotional strategies, these translated works will reach a wide and diverse range of readers in all corners of the world.





