First Kirkus Reviews International Podcast, Issue Offer Insights and Reading Ideas

Anton Hur

Anton Hur is perhaps best known in kidlit circles for contributing to the volume International LGBTQ+ Literature for Children and Adults. But to hear him interviewed from Seoul on the first international episode of the Kirkus Reviews podcast (March 1) is to meet someone just plain great—and funny—at describing the role of literary translators. We're like musicians bringing to life what's on sheet music, he says, and it's OK that we didn't compose it; we can't all be Taylor Swift. We're like the violinist Hilary Hahn, whose interpretations move people without her being Mozart.

Listen for a lift, more music references, and insights into any and all translated books. Then, keep listening as Kirkus editors discuss several, including

• the picture book Star Fishing by Sang-Keun Kim, translated from Korean by Ginger Ly, published by Abrams.
• the middle grade novel Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan, translated from Chinese by Helen Wang, published by Walker (UK) and Candlewick (US).
• the YA novel The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart by Chesil, translated from Japanese by Takami Nieda, published by Soho Teen.

The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart is due out on April 5, 2022.

An interview with Seoul-based Kim about Star Fishing appears in the March 1 issue of Kirkus Reviews, free to view and download. The issue also includes an interview with Ghanaian-born, Senegal-based YA author Ayesha Harruna Attah. Finally, it features intriguing releases from around the world selected by young readers' editors Summer Edward (p. 90) and Laura Simeon (p. 118). 

#UkrainianKidLit update: Enchanted Lion is donating all proceeds from web sales of the picture book How the War Changed Rondo by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, translated from Ukrainian by Oksana Lushchevska, to UNICEF's relief efforts in Ukraine "for as long as the conflict is ongoing."

My name is Avery Fischer Udagawa, and I am honored to be blogging global reads this month on Thursdays. I serve as SCBWI Translator Coordinator (see Translation in SCBWI) and SCBWI Japan Translator Coordinator (see Ihatov). I live near Bangkok. 

#UkrainianKidLit and #UkrainianLit Picks

As all eyes turn to Ukraine, many of us find ourselves seeking Ukraine-born books for children, ourselves, or both. Two hashtags and two groups can help.

On Twitter, #UkrainianKidLit leads to a selection of children's books authored in Ukrainian, translated into English, and published by the likes of Chronicle, Enchanted Lion, and Tate, posted by (especially) Project World Kid Lit—the collective behind World Kid Lit Month in September. Standout Ukrainian titles not yet published in English are also viewable. 

Stars and Poppy Seeds by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, translated from the Ukrainian by Oksana Lushchevska, published by Tate (UK) and Abrams (US).

Also on Twitter, #UkrainianLit leads to books authored in Ukrainian and translated into English for adults, some of which may interest teens, posted by (especially) the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative—the collective behind the GLLI Translated YA Book Prize.

Further reading can be found, and shared, by slotting other nations into the hashtags and visiting:

Project World Kid Lit

Global Literature in Libraries Initiative

My name is Avery Fischer Udagawa, and I am honored to be blogging global reads this month on Thursdays. I serve as SCBWI Translator Coordinator (see Translation in SCBWI) and SCBWI Japan Translator Coordinator (see Ihatov). I live near Bangkok.