Are you looking for books from Slovenia but not sure where to find them? Did you know that several publishers in Slovenia have released their own English translations? Read on for a list of translator Brigita Orel’s favourites!
By Brigita Orel
From classics and traditional legends to newer works, this is a list of more recent translations of Slovenian works for young readers into English. The first three are Slovenian classics that generations of Slovenian children heard while growing up. The stories are fun, at times impish, and all beautifully illustrated. I wrap up the list with two picture book retellings of legends about two famous places in Slovenia: the Pokljuka plateau and the Castle hill of the capital city.
Little Sleepy Star
Written by Frane Milčinski Ježek
Illustrated by Gorazd Vahen
Translated by Ksenija Malia Leban
Published by Sanje, 2014
Buy here
Little Sleepy Star is the youngest star in the sky. Because she is constantly late for work, the Moon sends her to Earth as punishment. She must learn the lesson before she can return to the sky. Among the people she meets on Earth there is also a bandit Rascal, who wants to steal her golden hair. But because of Little Sleepy Star’s innocence and goodness the cold rock he has instead of a heart starts to beat again. Little Sleepy Star is then allowed to return to the sky.
Slipper Keeper Kitty
Written by Ela Peroci
Illustrated by Ančka Gošnik Godec
Translated by Irena Duša
Published by Mladinska knjiga, 2017
Buy here
There is a white house with a red roof in the middle of the forest. The window sills overflow with flowers. The sign on the door says ‘Slipper Keeper Kitty’. This very special kitty was created by renowned Slovenian writer Ela Peroci and illustrator Ančka Gošnik Godec. The messy children in the small village never put their slippers away at night, and so one morning, they can’t find them. Slipper Keeper Kitty took them, and the children must walk barefoot across the dewy grass all the way to the forest to get them back. The story is entertaining and enjoyable, but it also gets the message across efficiently: keep your things in order or else!
Magic Muri
Written by Kajetan Kovič
Illustrated by Jelka Reichman
Translated by Alan Duff, Lili Potpara
Published by Mladinska knjiga, 2017
Buy here
The story of the cat Muri is told through fun poems and prose sections. Muri lives in Kitty Town with his friends and a cat thug Cheatcat. They have a Cat Mayor, Cat Pub, and even a football club – the Kittens. All Slovenian children have grown up with this beloved classic.
The Treasure of the Pokljuka Dwarves
Written by Žiga X. Gombač
Illustrated by Gorazd Vahen
Translated by Urška Charney
Published by Škrateljc, 2021
Buy here
The Treasure of the Pokljuka Dwarves is a story about dwarves whose environment was being destroyed by people. The dwarves are guardians of a treasure that the greedy people are trying to find. In the process, they’re cutting down centuries-old trees and ruining everything that surrounds them. The dwarves must join forces to overcome this destruction of nature. The story is an invitation to visit the beautiful and mysterious Slovenian plateau Pokljuka or simply to dive into old legends.
Friderik: The Castle Rat’s Tales
Written by Žiga X. Gombač
Illustrated by Gorazd Vahen
Translated by Urška Charney
Published by Mladinska knjiga, 2023
Buy here
Friderik is the castle rat and the most famous inhabitant of Ljubljana Castle and has lived there since forever. He is a rat from the castle dungeon. He has been living on the castle hill at least since the time of ancient Emona, perhaps even earlier, no one knows. He knows all the castle secrets, every castle stone and every dark crevice. Over the centuries, he has met a wide variety of castle inhabitants and their stories. He was a confidant of the prisoners of the castle dungeons, from disobedient noblemen led by Erasmus of Predjama to the greatest Slovenian writer Ivan Cankar.
About Brigita Orel
Brigita Orel lives in Slovenia where she works as a translator from English into Slovenian. In her spare time, she either reads books, writes them or researches them. She can be found on the web at https://brigitaorel.com/
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