Turkish Children's Books: English Translations and Bilingual Books by Age
Updated: 2 days ago
For readers in a hurry: This guide brings together Turkish children’s books available in English translation and Turkish-English bilingual books, organized by age. Bilingual books are easy to find for toddlers and early readers, while English translations of books by Turkish authors become much harder to find for older children. I have also included ISBNs for librarians and separate Turkish-language book lists for children who already read Turkish.
Recently a student of mine in the United States passed along a question from a librarian in Michigan. She was looking for children's books that are Turkish in origin, and for books written in both Turkish and English. The age group was third grade.
I started writing a short list for her and got stuck almost immediately. Bilingual books were easy to find. A search for "Turkish English bilingual" brings up board books and short bedtime stories, and most of them are English stories translated into Turkish.
They are useful for a child learning Turkish, but they answered only half of her question. Books written in Türkiye by Turkish authors and then translated into English were much harder to find. A 2023 article by Turkish children's book authors on the World Kid Lit site says it directly: "we realized how few of our works have been translated into English" (World Kid Lit).
The list below includes both kinds of books. A bilingual book includes both Turkish and English, while a translated book was first written in Turkish and later published in English. At the end of each age section, I have also linked an Amazon list of Turkish-language books for children who already read Turkish.
Toddlers and Preschool (Ages 0 to 4)
At this age, books are often something to hold, look through together, point at and name things in. Bilingual picture books, simple stories and first-word books are especially easy to find for this age group.
Tiny Polyglots, my own bilingual series. I created these Turkish-English books for young children and families introducing Turkish at home. The collection includes bilingual storybooks, matching coloring books and a Turkish alphabet book, with themes such as animals, colors, numbers, emotions, fruits and vegetables.
Tiny Polyglots: Turkish-English Bilingual Books
My own collection of bilingual storybooks, coloring books and first books for young children, with Turkish and English together.
I also put together a separate collection for this age group, with 13 Turkish and Turkish-English books from different authors and publishers. It includes bilingual vocabulary books, picture books, simple Turkish stories and books designed for children beginning to encounter Turkish.
Turkish Books for Toddlers & Preschoolers
A selection of Turkish and Turkish-English books for ages 0–4, including picture books, first-word books, simple stories, and early vocabulary books.
Ages 5 to 7
English translations by Turkish picture book authors become easier to find in this age range. For a family looking for stories from Türkiye in particular, this is where I would start.
For children who already read or listen in Turkish, I put together a collection of 16 books for this age group. Aytül Akal, one of Türkiye’s established children’s authors, is represented with Kitap Perisi, Ben Ne Olacağım? and Ormandaki Apartman. The collection also includes Feridun Oral’s Kırmızı Elma, the Turkish original of The Red Apple, which appears above in English translation. Aziz Nesin is here with Çocuklara En Güzel Masallar, while other books introduce children to contemporary stories, short fairy tales and larger story collections. There are also multi-book sets designed for children beginning to read longer texts independently, alongside shorter illustrated books that can still be read together. The result is a broader look at what children around this age can actually read in Turkish, rather than a list limited to books that happen to have an English edition.
Turkish Children’s Books Ages
5–7
A collection of 16 Turkish-language picture books, early readers and story collections for children ages 5–7.
Ages 8 to 10
By this age, many children are ready for longer stories and chapter books. English translations of Turkish children’s books are less common for this age group, but there are some good examples.
Şermin Yaşar, Grandpa's Grocery Store (Yellow Pear Press, 2023). A girl decides to become a grocer and apprentices herself to her grandfather's corner shop, the neighborhood bakkal. Her ideas, from homemade cherry soda to birthday parties in the shop, mostly end in chaos. She keeps a notebook of observations about how adults treat children, which is where much of the humor sits. It is 160 pages with black and white illustrations and is listed for readers aged 8 to 11. The Turkish original is Dedemin Bakkalı, so children who read Turkish can also find the original.
Nasreddin Hodja stories. Nasreddin Hodja stories are part of growing up in Türkiye. Most are short anecdotes that end with a twist. Demi's picture book The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey retells one of the best known. Nasreddin arrives at a dinner in dusty clothes and is ignored. He goes home, changes into a fine coat and returns, only to begin feeding his soup to the coat. Demi is an American author, so this is a retelling of a Turkish tale rather than a translation.
Sara Şahinkanat, The Beyoğlu Adventure, translated by Feyza Howell (Yapı Kredi Yayınları). This illustrated puzzle story takes place in Beyoğlu, the old Pera district of Istanbul. Sinan and his dog Explorer decode backwards writing and follow clues through the neighborhood and its landmarks. The publisher recommends it for ages 9 to 12, so it suits readers at the upper end of this section.
For children who read in Turkish, I put together a larger collection of 28 books for this age group. Behiç Ak has a particularly strong presence, with books including Galata'nın Tembel Martısı, Buzdolabındaki Köpek, Kedi Adası, Kedilerin Kaybolma Mevsimi and Postayla Gelen Deniz Kabuğu.
The collection also includes several books by Gülten Dayıoğlu, among them Dört Kardeşler, Dünya Çocukların Olsa, Gökyüzündeki Mor Bulutlar and Kırmızı Bisiklet. Şermin Yaşar is represented by books including Para Ağacı, Babaannem Geri Döndü, Abartma Tozu and Dünyanın En Önemli Öğrencisi. There is poetry as well, with Aytül Akal and Mavisel Yener's Zıplayan Şiirler.
Turkish Books for Children Ages
8–10
A collection of 28 Turkish-language chapter books, illustrated stories, poetry and independent reading books for ages 8–10, with works by Behiç Ak, Gülten Dayıoğlu, Şermin Yaşar and other Turkish children’s authors.
Ages 10 to 14
English translations of Turkish books become harder to find for readers in this age range. Two useful examples come from much older parts of Turkish literary history.
The Book of Dede Korkut, translated by Geoffrey Lewis (Penguin Classics). This collection brings together the epic stories of the Oğuz Turks, including the story of Tepegöz, the one-eyed giant. The tales come from a much older storytelling tradition and include battles, family conflicts, journeys and encounters with extraordinary figures. The language is a translation of a medieval text, so I would place it toward the older end of this age group, particularly for confident readers. Some episodes contain violence, as is common in epic literature.
Aziz Nesin, Istanbul Boy, translated by Joseph S. Jacobson. Aziz Nesin was one of Türkiye's best-known twentieth-century satirical writers. Istanbul Boy looks back at his childhood in Istanbul during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, including poverty, family life and the city around him. This is an older English edition published by the University of Texas and is now more likely to be found secondhand.
For children reading in Turkish, I put together a collection of 14 books for this age group. It moves into longer fiction, mysteries and books by writers who are also important names in modern Turkish literature. Rıfat Ilgaz is represented by Hababam Sınıfı, Bacaksız Okulda and Apartıman Çocukları, while Aziz Nesin appears with Şimdiki Çocuklar Harika. The collection also includes Sevim Ak's Vanilya Kokulu Mektuplar and a ten-book story set by Muzaffer İzgü.
Mystery and adventure become more prominent here as well. Mavisel Yener's Dolunay Dedektifleri series is represented by İz Peşinde, Dehşet Mektuplar and Korkunç Satranç, while Aytül Akal's books include Kırmızı Arabanın Hayaleti and Süper Gazeteciler 2: Parktaki Esrar. I also included both the Turkish Dede Korkut Hikâyeleri and Geoffrey Lewis's English translation of The Book of Dede Korkut, giving families with readers in both languages access to both editions in the same collection.
Turkish Books for Children Ages 10–14
A collection of Turkish-language novels, mysteries and story collections for independent readers, with books by Rıfat Ilgaz, Aziz Nesin, Aytül Akal, Mavisel Yener, Sevim Ak and other Turkish authors.
Watch and Listen: Turkish Stories for Children
The Yunus Emre Institute, Türkiye's public institution for Turkish language and culture abroad, has a YouTube playlist called Türkçe Dünya Masalları (World Tales in Turkish), with tales from around the world told in Turkish. Watch the playlist
The Türkiye Fairy Tales channel also has a long playlist, Türkçe peri masallar, with more than 400 fairy tale videos in Turkish. Watch the playlist
For Librarians
Many libraries order through vendors rather than Amazon, so here are the translated Turkish titles from this list with their ISBNs.
Picture books (ages 4 to 8)
The Red Apple, Feridun Oral, minedition 2015 edition, ISBN 9789888240005 (an earlier edition also circulates as ISBN 9781905341122)
A Friend in Winter, Feridun Oral, minedition, ISBN 9789888341870
When the Moon Came Down, Feridun Oral, minedition, ISBN 9789888341764
Memo and the Unexpected Gift, Funda Özlem Şeran, Amazon Crossing Kids, ISBN 9781662512926
The Ferris Wheel, Hüseyin Sönmezay and Tülin Kozikoğlu, Crocodile Books, ISBN 9781623717216
The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey, Demi, Margaret K. McElderry Books, ISBN 9780689846809
Chapter books (ages 8 to 11)
Grandpa's Grocery Store, Şermin Yaşar,
Yellow Pear Press, ISBN 9781684811373
The Beyoğlu Adventure, Sara Şahinkanat, Yapı Kredi Yayınları, ISBN 9789750826382
For bilingual Turkish-English titles, Language Lizard is a US distributor that works with schools and libraries. Most of their Turkish titles are translations of English and world stories, such as Handa's Surprise and Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
Free Turkish Stories, Songs and Vocabulary Materials
PIKTES also has free downloadable materials for children learning Turkish. The website is in Turkish, so these are the sections to look for:
Video İçerikli Şarkılar (Songs with Video) includes songs created for children learning Turkish.
Kelime Kartları (Vocabulary Cards) contains downloadable vocabulary cards that can be used with younger learners.
Etkinlik İçerikli Öğretmen El Kitabı Kart Setleri (Activity Card Sets) includes printable activity cards originally prepared as supporting classroom materials.
For reading, look for Salih Hikâye Serisi (Salih Story Series) and Aslı Hikâye Serisi (Aslı Story Series). There is also Yabancı Öğrenciler İçin Türkçe Hikayeler (Turkish Stories for Foreign Students), where you can find additional Turkish reading materials.
The page itself may be difficult to navigate if you do not read Turkish. On the PIKTES materials page, scroll down and look for these Turkish titles. Click the title of the section you want to open or download the available materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ
Q: Where can I find Turkish children's books in English?
A: English translations are easier to find among picture books than among books for older children. Feridun Oral's The Red Apple, A Friend in Winter and When the Moon Came Down, Funda Özlem Şeran's Memo and the Unexpected Gift, and Şermin Yaşar's Grandpa's Grocery Store are some of the English editions included in this guide.
Q: What is a good Turkish book in English for an 8-year-old or third grader?
A: I would start with Şermin Yaşar's Grandpa's Grocery Store. It is written by a Turkish author, set around a neighborhood bakkal in Türkiye, and published in English for readers around this age.
Q: Are there Turkish-English bilingual children's books?
A: Yes. For younger children, there are bilingual board books, picture books and first-word books with Turkish and English together. Milet's My First Bilingual Book series and my Tiny Polyglots series are examples. Language Lizard also carries dual-language books in Turkish and English.
Q: What Turkish books are suitable for toddlers and preschoolers?
A: For ages 0 to 4, I would look for board books, first-word books and short illustrated stories. At this age, books that give children something to point to, name and recognize work particularly well. The 0–4 collection above includes both Turkish-language and Turkish-English options.
Q: Where can I find Turkish books for children who already speak or read Turkish?
A: The age-based collections in this guide are designed for exactly that. I have separate lists for ages 0–4, 5–7, 8–10 and 10–14, with Turkish-language books ranging from picture books and short stories to novels, mysteries and children's classics.
Q: Are there Turkish children's books for older children and middle-grade readers?
A: Yes, although English translations are much less common. Children who read Turkish have a considerably wider choice, including books by Behiç Ak, Gülten Dayıoğlu, Şermin Yaşar, Aytül Akal, Mavisel Yener, Sevim Ak, Rıfat Ilgaz and Aziz Nesin. The 8–10 and 10–14 sections above are the best places to browse them.
Q: Can I find Turkish folktales and traditional stories for children?
A: Yes. Nasreddin Hodja stories are available in many children's editions and retellings, while older readers can encounter the stories of Dede Korkut. The Türkçe Dünya Masalları video collection also gives children a way to listen to stories in Turkish.
Q: Where can librarians and schools buy Turkish-English bilingual books?
A: Many books in this guide have standard ISBNs that can be used when ordering through library suppliers. Language Lizard also works directly with schools and libraries and currently lists Turkish among its dual-language options. Its library information includes purchasing support and information about library purchase orders and MARC records.
Q: What is the difference between a Turkish-English bilingual book and a Turkish book translated into English?
A: A bilingual book contains both languages in the same edition, usually on the same or facing pages. A translation is an English edition of a work originally written in Turkish. This guide includes both because they serve different readers. Language Lizard, for example, describes its dual-language format as English and another language presented together on the page.
Sources
World Kid Lit, "Books from Turkey" (2023): https://worldkidlit.org/2023/04/17/books-from-turkey/
World Kid Lit, "An Overview of Children's Literature in Turkey" (2022): https://worldkidlit.org/2022/11/28/an-overview-of-childrens-literature-in-turkey/ Kirkus Reviews, The Red Apple: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/feridun-oral/the-red-apple/
Kirkus Reviews, Memo and the Unexpected Gift: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/funda-ozlem-seran/memo-and-the-unexpected-gift/
Kirkus Reviews, The Ferris Wheel: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tulin-kozikoglu/the-ferris-wheel/
Goodreads, Grandpa's Grocery Store: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62923187-grandpa-s-grocery-store Publishers Weekly, The Hungry Coat: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-689-84680-9
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative, The Beyoğlu Adventure: https://glli-us.org/2017/08/24/story-hunters-on-a-secret-mission-the-beyoglu-adventure/
Yapı Kredi Yayınları, The Beyoğlu Adventure: https://www.yapikrediyayinlari.com.tr/the-beyoglu-adventure.aspx
Cambridge Core, review of Istanbul Boy: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/review-of-middle-east-studies/article/abs/aziz-nesin-istanbul-boy-translated-by-joseph-s-jacobson-austin-university-of-texas-middle-east-monographs-no-3-1977-ix-227-pp/AFCB5E962CD5546BE3FE2F5DCD073830
Milet Publishing, My First Bilingual Book Set (Turkish-English): https://www.milet.com/books/my-first-bilingual-book-set-turkish-english-22-books-p3916.html
Language Lizard, Turkish-English bilingual books: https://www.languagelizard.com/Turkish-Bilingual-Children-s-Books-s/2743.htm
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