Translator's Choice 2020 1
31 Translator’s choice Why does this book deserve
to be translated? Kurran’s Treasure is about the joy of being in nature. Friends Kurran and Pigan have set off to try and find a treasure. Kurran discovers a nut and wants to carry it home with her. But when it begins to rain she is forced to leave the nut behind and so decides to bury it in the ground. Later she returns to try and find the nut again, but to no avail. Together with her friends she digs all over the place. But whilst they dig the nut has begun to grow and finally turns into a big tree with hundreds of fruits. Kurran and Pigan’s treasure hunt and all the digging they and their friends have done have helped the nut to grow. Kurran’s Treasure is an uncomplicated story, which expresses both Kurran and her friends’ active movements and the tree’s contrasting stillness. The comparison is funny and positively invites laughter. The reader follows the tree as it continues to grow, whilst at same time being entertained by the amusing gang of friends and enjoying the beautifully drawn landscapes. I feel that this book is suitable for children from any country aged between 3 and 6. The other books in this series are equally wonderful. I would love to translate them and I would love it if a publisher decided to publish them! “The comparison is funny and positively invites laughter” Fuyumi Nakamura Fuyumi Nakamura translates into Japanese, lives in Fujisawashi Kanagawaken, Japan. Another favourite amongst books she has previously translated is: Inger Skote Gå inte ifrån mej!, Children’s fiction, 1994 わたしを置いていかないで (Watashi wo oite ikanade) 金の星社 (Kinno hoshisha), 1995 Swedish publisher: Rabén & Sjögren Rights: Rabén & Sjögren Agency