Slovakia - Children's Books

Bratislava is a really cool city with so much to see, such as a castle and a UFO bridge. It's a short ride away by train from Vienna and very much worth the visit. It's very different from Vienna!

According to Julia Sherwood, a translator of fiction and non-fiction from Slovak, Czech, Polish, German, and Russian, "Slovakia takes its children’s books seriously. Since 1967, the country’s capital has been hosting the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Children’s literature, which bestows one of the oldest international honours on illustrators of children’s books. Held under the auspices of UNESCO, the biennial is organized by Bibiana, the International House of Arts for Children, said to be one of the few institutions of its kind in Europe dedicated to promoting children’s books and art." Check out Slovak Literature in English Translation for Slovak books translated into English. I included a few of them in the list below.

Do you know of any other children’s books featuring Slovakia? Please feel free to note it in a comment below!

Children's Books about Slovakia

[Mama Traveler Recommended!] Danube, The Magic River: In Danube The Magic River, which was published simultaneously in Slovak and English, writer Michal Hvorecký and illustrator Simona Čechová have teamed up to introduce children ages 5 and over to one of Europe’s mightiest rivers. A beluga sturgeon, one of the largest fish in the Danube, swims down the river from its source in Austria to its Black Sea estuary, presenting its history and geography, the legends surrounding the river as well as its flora and fauna.

The Tree Which Came From Afar: O strome, ktorý bol na ceste/The Tree Which Came From Afar is a bilingual (Slovak and English) tale for children aged 6 to 12. It tells the story of a tree’s journey. Carried by birds and the wind, by floods and tornadoes, a seed of a Chinese sequoia reaches Slovakia where it grows into a beautiful tree—a foreign visitor to these parts.

Czech, Moravian and Slovak Fairy Tales: Presents fifteen traditional tales from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, including stories of witches, kings, and magic, and of virtuous and clever peasants who reap the rewards of their good deeds.

Andy Warhol (Little People, BIG DREAMS): Little Andy was the tiniest and palest child of the Warholas, a humble couple from Slovakia who lived in Pittsburgh. Sketchbook glued to his hand, he loved every minute of drawing, but he was too shy to show his work to others, even to his family!  As an adult he got a chance to publish his first illustration for a glamorous magazine. He turned his attention to the ordinary, like soup cans he ate from for lunch every day. He showed the world that the ordinary objects could POP, and founded a cultural movement, becoming one of the most famous artists of the 20th Century. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the inspiring artist’s life.

Christmas in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: Illustrated by Catherine Macaro, co-authored by Mary Jo Macaroand published by Daniela Mahoney. This 24 page book contains information about traditions and customs associated with winter holidays, decorations, craft projects, culinary delights and songs. Most of the text is in English, but some Czech vocabulary is included. Activity section includes word search, word scramble, name search and more….

Bonus! Coloring Book about Slovakia

Slovakia Coloring Book For Kids: With Interesting Facts: This coloring book is designed for children who want to learn about the wonderful country that is Slovakia! This unique coloring book includes over 30 high-quality pages designed to entertain and engage, providing hours of coloring fun.  Each page contains an interesting fact about Slovakia which will help your child learn about the country, culture, food, language and people.