Water Can Be… Chinese!

At a library event this past spring, a woman introduced herself to me and explained that she had translated Water Can Be… into Chinese for Lerner, my publisher. Cool! I just received my 5 copies and thought I’d share. The paper is porous, not glossy, so Violeta Dabija’s gorgeous art is more muted than in the U.S. edition, but it’s still wonderful to see this paperback edition that kids on the other side of the world will read!

Here are a few pictures–whee!

Chinese Water Can Be... wrapper
I think it’s published as part of a subscription series there, perhaps? It has this wrapper like a magazine’s.
Chinese Water Can Be... cover
Here’s the front cover. The trim is rectangular rather than square, so Violeta’s art is cropped differently throughout.
Chinese Water Can Be... a ship-breaker
Here’s an interior page. I love the drama of this image, especially after visiting Lake Superior recently.
Chinese Water Can Be... back cover
And here’s the back cover. The only printed English besides the copyright page are the words “Minnesota Book Award.” (Water Can Be… was a Finalist.) I can see why Minnesota is just Minnesota, but I was surprised they didn’t translate Book and Award. I guess it’s to keep the official name of the award consistent…

18 Responses

  1. Laura, what a wonderful experience to see your book translated into Chinese and to meet the translator. Hooray! That has got to feel very special. So happy for you!

    1. Thanks, Linda! It is really fun to see a totally new version. I need to find a few educators with Chinese students in their school to give these copies to.

      1. Very cool, Laura! My friend’s niece was adopted from China and goes to a Chinese Immersion school in Minneapolis. There is also a Chinese immersion program in the Minnetonka school district.

        1. Thanks, Jenna! I will see if one of them would like my four copies. I appreciate the leads. Happy Halloween!

    1. Thanks, Buffy! Yep, I met the translator in April, and she had done it prior to that, but I didn’t get to see it ’til now. Very fun:>)

  2. Very cool, Laura… and I love the artwork both ways. Congratulations!

    1. Thanks, Michelle–and, true, you could print Violeta’s art on newsprint or pizza coupons and it would still look wonderful!

  3. Oh this is so wonderful to see! A beautiful book, shared more widely and a reverence for water for all our needs and around the world.… Just think you will be known in China!

    1. Thanks, Kim! Need to find an elementary school with some Chinese-language speakers to donate them to!

  4. This is superneat, Laura. What a thrill! It will be fun to find a school you can donate them to! Congratulations! xo

    1. Thanks, Amy! It sounds like there are two Chinese immersion schools/programs here in Mpls (at least two), so I’m excited to get in touch with one of them. Maybe someone would e willing to translate it back into English for me so I can see what it says now that it no longer rhymes!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,551 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheeta home like thisALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid ElliottDavid L. Harrisondeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersFlurry Float and Flyforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's Insidewhen a butterfly goes to schoolWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."