Katarzyna Łakomik

A graduate of German Studies at the University of Silesia, extended thanks to scholarships in Erfurt, Marburg and Trier. Her professional life has always revolved around the German language – she has worked as a lecturer, university professor and translator, and a few years ago discovered the fascinating world of translating literature, in particular children’s and youth literature. The book she translated – Waste. Everything About the Most Bothersome Thing in the World by Gerda Raidt won the 2019 Smart Book of the Year Prize in the children's book category. Mum of a teenager, looking with trepidation at literary education in elementary schools. An involved member of the Association of Literary Translators, founder of the so-called reading initiative, which she wants to use to involve the community of literary translators in the debate about the legitimacy of required reading list in schools and in developing them, since this is one of the few professional groups with practical experience of literary education in other countries, which at the same time cares about readership in Poland. She dreams of a school where children look forward to Polish language classes that stimulate their passion for reading.