Poland
202
Leszczyński, Grzegorz (ed.)
Ekier, Maria (illus. )
Lange, Grazyna (graphics)
Polskie ba¶nie i legendy (Polish fairy tales and legends)
Warszawa : Nowa Era, 2006. – 294 p.
ISBN 83-7409-369-2
Poland – Fairy tale – Legend
In this substantial volume, the Polish children’s literature specialist Grzegorz Leszczyński presents a particularly careful selection of Polish fairy tales and legends retold and adapted by well-known Polish authors such as Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, Maria Konopnicka, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Arthur Oppman, Kornel Makuszyński, Gustaw Morcinek, and many others. The imaginative and mysterious water-colour illustrations follow in the footsteps of important Polish illustrators such as Marian Murawski and Stasys Eidrig4vičius. Moreover, the book also stands out for its graphical and typographical design. (6+)
Special Mention
203
Olech, Joanna (text)
Lange, Grażka (illus.)
Czerwony Kapturel (Little Red Riding Hood)
[Warszawa] : Santorski, [2005]. – [36] p.
ISBN 83-89763-45-1
(Niebaśnie)
Little Red Riding Hood – Self-confidence – Obedience – Subordination – Social
role
This fairy tale, published in the series »Nieba¶nie« (un-fairy tales) together
with an adaptation of »Hansel and Gretel«, features a good little girl who is
often teased by others and never fights back. True, when the wolf asks her
where she is going, she does think »It’s none of your business« but still
answers very politely that she is on the way to visit her sick grandmother.
She behaves just like an obedient child is supposed to behave towards adults.
The text follows the classic versions by Charles Perrault and the Grimm
brothers yet it puts particular emphasis on the child’s subordination and
insecurity. Eventually, the huntsman arrives but, in this version, he cannot
save the grandmother or the girl. The text ends with the words: »Whenever they
remembered the dead girl, they repeated what a good little girl she had been.«
The bizarre mixed-media illustrations also underline the child’s insecurity
and her lack of self-confidence. (4+)
204
Ruszewska, Grażyna (text)
Fąfrowicz, Piotr (illus.)
Wielkie zmiany w dużym lesie (Great changes in big forests)
Łódź : FR09, 2005. – 63 p.
(Dziecko)
ISBN 83-920384-4-4
Meaning of life – Zest for life – Self-confidence
This picture book, produced by the small high quality publisher FRO9, contains three stories: one each about Mr. Ladybird, the rabbit, and the hedgehog. The tales deal with changes in the protagonists’ lives and habits. In the first story, Mr. Ladybird is not content with his looks but eventually realises that only his original colours and shape make him truly happy. Tale number two relates how the rabbit saves an eagle chick, and how he experiences a wave of self-confidence and courage when he becomes friends with the young bird’s dangerous mother. In the last story, the solemn, boring, and ostentatious hedgehog learns what zest for life is. The illustrations, which radiate cheerfulness and optimism, delight readers with their homeliness and warm colours. (5+)