One of our goals is to support emerging and experienced translators, and especially those working with languages and literatures that are traditionally underrepresented in English-language publishing.

Here you’ll find resources to support translators, and a few ways translators can get involved in championing world literature for young readers.

Annual translation lists

Since 2017 we have been keeping a database and publishing a list of translations for young readers, to help readers find books from around the world. Do you have a new translation coming out? Please use our Google form to make sure your book is on our list, and ask the publicist to send us an advanced review copy.

Write for us!

We review and showcase children’s books from around the world – in English and in translation into English. We also like to share perspectives on the creative (and business) processes of translating children’s and teen literature.

Please email the blog co-editors (WorldKidLitBlog@gmail.com) if you’d like to write or be interviewed about your work as a translator.

If you are familiar with or have good industry knowledge of a children’s/YA literature market beyond the English-speaking world, please contact us to propose an interview or a feature. A few examples include these introducing the Arabic, Indian, Norwegian, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Welsh children’s books.

See our submissions guide for more about contributing to World Kid Lit blog.

Professional guidance

Some introductory resources to help translators navigate the world of children’s and YA publishing:

• Step-by-step guide to becoming a literary translator by Outside In World, together with Daniel Hahn and the BCLT (the British Centre for Literary Translation (download as a PDF)
• Getting started in children’s book translation by Julie Sullivan, Words & Pics, the online magazine of SCBWI British Isles
• Translation in SCBWI: The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has translator interviews and other resources
• We frequently post interviews with publishers. Search by publisher

Some guidance on how translators can prepare an effective book proposal for a publisher:

• ITD 2020 feature at Translators Aloud: Getting into print: translator Ros Schwartz on how to pitch to publishers
• ALTA43 event: Chad Post and Katie Whittemore ‘How to Pitch Publishers‘ (video and transcript available on Crowdcast)
• LBF 2018: Bridging Language Divides: The Role of Translators in Supporting Diverse Acquisitions (panel discussion with translators Sawad Hussain, Antonia Lloyd-Jones and Nicky Harman)
• How to Pitch a Translation: translator Nanette McGuinness shares her tips at SCBWI blog

Advice on contracts and compensation:

• 3 Cs for Translators: Copyright, Compensation, Credit by Avery Fischer Udagawa
• Authors Guild Literary Translation Model Contract
• PEN America A Model Contract for Literary Translations

Journals and readings

The following literary journals welcome submissions of texts for young people in translation:

• Lunch Ticket Literary Journal from Antioch University, USA.
• Voyage YA Literary Journal A journal dedicated to inclusive Young Adult writing.
• Words Without Borders The Home for International Literature

The following organizations encourage translators to share recordings of translations:

• Translators Aloud
• Jill!

Funding and competitions

The following sites include information on funding opportunities.

• PEN Translates: English PEN funding For UK-based publishers
• PEN Presents: English PEN funding for UK-based publishers
• Literature Across Frontiers lists funding institutions, bursaries and grants

See also this list of prizes, awards and competitions for published and unpublished translations.

Professional organizations for literary translators

Here are a few ways that literary translators working in children’s and YA publishing can market themselves and find potential clients:

• Bologna Children’s Book Fair translator directory
• CEATL, the Conseil Européen des Associations de Traducteurs Littéraires / European Council of Associations of Literary Translators. CEATL lists the 34 member associations here, with links to their websites and translator directories
• The Society of Authors/Translators’ Association. Translator directory here. 
• ALTA – the American Literary Translators Association. Translator directory is here
• AALITRA – the Australian Association for Literary Translation
• Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association (ITIA) / Cumann Aistritheoirí agus Ateangairí na hÉireann​. Translator directory here
• ATA – American Translators Association) has a Literary Division. Translator directory here
• SCBWI – the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (and translators!). More info here