Translating violence in children’s picture books: A view from the former Yugoslavia

This chapter examines the translation of violence in picture books through the example of Hedgehog’s Home (2011), the English translation of the classic picture book Ježeva kućica (1949) by Branko Ćopić, one of the most enduring children’s books from the former Yugoslavia. I focus specifically on the representations of direct, war-related violence in the original picture book and its translation. The analysis is multimodal and examines the text, paratext, and illustrations of each work. I also look at a musical stage adaptation. Written shortly after World War II, the picture book deals with the violent past of a threatened homeland. W hen translated and adapted, this reality is changed to fit the context of the target audience. The analysis shows that the English translation tones down the physical violence in the source text, erasing or muting most references to war and death. Simultaneously, it moves the story away from its original patriotic narrative by introducing a new narrative about the consequences of environmental violence and the need for protecting the natural habitat.