By Katy Dycus

Michelle Rolinski, founder of Catavento Press, speaks about her experience of starting a publishing house dedicated to Brazilian children’s literature. Catavento’s first title to be translated into English, Never Forgotten, was published last year.

Never Forgotten

Katy Dycus: How did you come to establish Catavento Press?

Michelle Rolinski: I am a Brazilian who has lived in the United States for the past 15 years, and for the last 5 years I have been working with children’s literature in Portuguese as a bookstore owner, distributor, and publisher. I have always thought that Brazilian stories deserved to be read in English and for them to reach children beyond Portuguese-speaking homes. So, in 2024 I published Desesquecida in Portuguese. When I first read Suria Scapin’s manuscript, I knew how unique and universal the story was and knew this was the kind of book that I wanted to publish in the US. I decided it was time to create a publishing label dedicated to translating Brazilian children’s literature into English. It took time to structure everything, but last year in California, where I live, I officially established Catavento Press. Our very first title was the English edition of Desesquecida, published as Never Forgotten.

KD: That is so exciting! Congratulations on getting the press up and running. Never Forgotten is a beautiful book about memory, tradition, and the way love transcends loss and absence.

MR: Never Forgotten was originally published by our Brazilian publishing label in Brazil as Desesquecida. Even though we were the publishers of the Brazilian edition, translating it into English felt like a huge responsibility. It wasn’t just about translating the words but about preserving the depth, emotion, connection and sensitivity of the story. That process made me realize how delicate and meaningful this work truly is.

KD: This work is incredibly important. Thank you for what you do! How do you choose the books you publish, and what are you looking to publish?

MR: I choose books I believe deserve to be read by children all over the world. Unique books, both in text and illustration, that showcase the talent of Brazilian authors and illustrators. These are stories that reflect our culture, our perspective, and our uniqueness. For Never Forgotten, I think what makes it uniquely Brazilian is its lyricism, its warmth, and the strong presence of family and intergenerational bonds.

In general, I think Brazilian authors have their own way of telling and illustrating stories, a unique rhythm and emotional tone. Many books highlight our family life and a sense of community, others feature our humor. Some showcase our culture, nature and traditions. All from a different perspective that is usually not seen in the international book market. Catavento not only translates books, we carefully curate stories written from a Brazilian cultural perspective, something I believe is still missing in the global children’s book market. Catavento’s goal is to bring Brazilian voices, art, and storytelling to a wider audience, helping these stories be known and recognized around the world.

KD: What three words guide Catavento’s mission?

MR: Brazilian. Voice. Bridge. A phrase that keeps me going is: “Brazilian stories deserves to be read by children around the world.” I see Catavento as the bridge that makes these stories and voices reach the world, a bridge between cultures, languages and children around the world. 

One important thing to know is that this work is very personal to me as a mother raising my children between cultures and languages. I understand firsthand how powerful it is for a child to see their culture represented in books and how meaningful it is for other children to be exposed to stories from different parts of the world. I am very intentional with my daughters and make sure to present them with literature from many countries. I think it’s amazing how unique and rich these stories are and how important it is to read from different cultural perspectives.

Katy Dycus: This is exactly the mindset behind World Kid Lit! You’ve expressed it perfectly. In terms of the day to day responsibilities, what’s it like running a small press?

MR: Alongside Catavento Press, I also run an online children’s bookstore and book subscription, distribute Brazilian books worldwide, and have another publishing label publishing children’s books in Portuguese. My days are immersed in Brazilian literature. I move constantly between editing, marketing, logistics, customer service and all the behind-the-scenes work that publishing requires. No two days look the same, and in the middle of it all, I am also a mom of two girls. It is busy and not always easy, but I truly love what I do.

KD: It is meaningful work. What is your vision for Catavento Press?

MR: I see Catavento Press becoming a reference for culturally rich children’s books. In the short term, our goal is to get our first book, Never Forgotten, into the hands of children and available in bookstores, while preparing to publish our next title at the end of this year. In the long term, we plan to release a small number of carefully curated books each year, always focusing on quality, cultural depth, and meaningful stories.

KD: Suria Scapin’s book sets an incredible precedent. How did you go about selecting an illustrator and translator for this text?

MR: For our first title, Never Forgotten, we chose to leave the selection of both the illustrator and the translator to the author. Suria Scapin is a book editor herself and had a very clear vision for her book, so it felt important to respect that creative direction.

The translation was then revised by Catavento Press and we also hired Amy Betz, an American editor and consultant who has worked with Disney Press and Scholastic, to review the translation.

Because the book was entirely written, edited, and translated by Brazilians, we felt it was important to have it reviewed by a native English speaker who is deeply familiar with the international children’s book market. This additional step helped ensure the text would read naturally for international readers while still preserving the author’s voice and the story’s original essence.

KD: I can see careful consideration in all of these decisions that go into crafting a book for young people. Are there any book people, past or present, that inspire your work? 

MR: Brazilian authors such as Eva Furnari, Ruth Rocha and Ana Maria Machado inspire me. They have dedicated their lives to writing for children in Brazil and their stories have made and continue to make, many children fall in love with reading in a country where access to books is still limited. I am also inspired by independent publishers around the world who prioritize cultural voice and quality over scale, and who are brave enough to start small presses in a market dominated by large publishing houses.

KD: Small press heroes! What advice do you have for others wanting to do what you do? 

MR: Be intentional, patient and persistent. Curate your books with care and truly believe in the stories you are bringing into the world.