From: Annette Goldsmith <agoldsmith.fsu_at_gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:58:58 -0500

Ginny, I will give it a shot. Briefly, for my dissertation, "Found in Translation," I conducted a web-based survey to which 93 busy editors, some of them on this list, responded. (Thanks again!) The survey listed editors' motivations for publishing translations, identified the barriers they encounter in their work, and asked them which resources they find helpful. I then followed up with hour-long telephone interviews with 10 editors who, in deviating somewhat from the center, had additional information to offer about why they did or did not want to publish translations. I defined "translations" as the type of books eligible for the Batchelder, so my findings relate directly to the award.

Here are some pertinent results. When I ranked editors' motivations for doing or wanting to do this type of publishing, the most important motivation was having a strong personal response to the book -- not a surprise, of course, for an editor wanting to publish any book. The most important barrier editors identified was having to rely on others to read in the language of the original when they could not read it themselves. (This ranked higher than financial considerations.) They saw attendance at the Bologna Book Fair as the most useful resource for locating books to translate. Also, editors were more open personally to publishing translations if they spoke a second language, and perceived the industry as being more open to publishing translations than five years ago.

I would like to emphasize that publishing children's translations is a complicated undertaking for which there is little or no training or mentorship available unless one happens to work for a firm where it is already being done. When we look at adult publishing the situation is only slightly better. The Batchelder is an important and unusual award in that it is given directly to publishers who go to the extra work to search out amazing books from other countries to share with children here. For that reason I think it deserves a much higher profile, which would not only help promote the books and maybe keep them in print longer, but also the importance of reading books from other countries, stories that are inaccessible to us unless we read in the language of the original. I also hope it would encourage publishers to consider publishing translations if they had not done so before. A few of the editors I surveyed were intrigued at the idea of publishing translations and said they might try it!

Annette

Annette Goldsmith, PhD Guest Faculty University of Washington Information School Seattle, WA Residence: Tallahassee, FL Chair, 2010 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Committee Member, USBBY Outstanding International Books Committee


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Message-----

From: Ginny Moore Kruse
 Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 12:47 PM To: CCBC -Net Cc: Natalie Ziarnik; Annette Goldsmith Subject: Batchelder Honors for brief texts: Big Wolf & Little Wolf, Garmann's Summer

Annette and Natalie, you've confirmed my hunch about why the Enchanted Lion press was honored for its English language translation of the French picture book "Big Wolf & Little Wolf." I agree that its lyrical, poetic text will stand on its own when read aloud, something I plan to do on Monday evening during our neighborhood poetry group gathering. Thank you for understanding that I fully agree with the Batchelder Committee's decision. By writing about it I wanted to illuminate the picture book issue, because people who look only at Batchelder eligibility terms without having specific honored books in hand can become puzzled.

I'm a passionate admirer of "Garmann's Summer" created by Stian Hole of Norway and published in the U.S. by Eerdman's. As you pointed out, Annette, "Garmann's Summer" was honored by the 2009 Batchelder Committee, and like "Big Wolf & Little Wolf," the artwork in that picture book is striking. Like BWLW, too, the translated text of "Garmann's Summer" stands on its own. That was confirmed a second time in the U.S. by its winning of the 2009 Ezra Jack Keats Writing Award.

The skill and insight necessary to translate any work of poetry or fiction is rarely valued or even noticed. It's wonderful that you each were able to read the text of "Big Wolf & Little Wolf" in the original French. It's rare that Batchelder committee members have access to the original texts of books under consideration, not to mention access to someone who can appraise the original and compare it to the English language translation. This year's committee was fortunate.

Annette, you have unique insights into the publishing of translated books due to your dissertation study of decision making by U.S. editors who acquire children's books for translation. Is there something pertinent within your findings to share in our discussion?

Meanwhile during this snowy evening, I look forward to reading "A Faraway Island" (thanks to Nick Glass who placed his copy on my doorstep last night) and "Eidi" which popped up at my public library yesterday.

Peace, Ginny

Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse_at_wisc.edu
Received on Fri 05 Feb 2010 05:58:58 PM CST