The Polish Book Institute

A translation of Justyna Bednarek’s children's book Pięć sprytnych kun (“Five Clever Martens”) with illustrations by Daniel de Latour has been published in Spain. The publication of the book translated by Karolina Jaszecka was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

Cinco martas listas, as reads the Spanish title of the book, has been published by Duomo ediciones in Barcelona.

To say that Five Clever Martens is a book that draws fully on Warsaw's reality is no exaggeration. It tells the culinary-detective story of a gang of clever martens prowling Warsaw's Bielany district. Among other things, the friendly little animals successfully thwart an attempt on Mrs Eliza's life and her heavenly recipes as well as expose a major gastronomic conspiracy. And finally... they open their own restaurant.

Justyna Bednarek is currently one of the best-known Polish writers creating children's books, with more than fifty titles to her credit. Her success was brought especially by the famous Niesamowite przygody dziesięciu skarpetek (czterech prawych i sześciu lewych) (“Incredible Adventures of Ten Socks (Four Right and Six Left)”), the book that quickly developed into a whole series about ten socks. She most often collaborates with Daniel de Latour, but she also happens to create books with other illustrators, including Józef Wilkoń. Her books have been translated into many languages and more translations are being published all the time.

Daniel de Latour is one of Poland's most recognisable children's illustrators. He has illustrated dozens of books for children, including those by Justyna Bednarek, Grzegorz Kasdepke, Zofia Stanecka, and Artur Andrus. He has collaborated with many magazines - both for children ("Miś", "Świerszczyk") and for adults ("Wysokie Obcasy", "Dziecko").