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Explore SCBWI Portfolio Showcase

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Deep Dive Into Nonfiction

2024

Nevada

Poet, writer, and translator Grigor Vitez (February 15, 1911
– November 23, 1966) was the first Croatian
author whose children’s poetry was not only as well written as the most
accomplished world
works, but who also made Croatian poetry for children as popular as that
written for adult readers.
Even though
there had been laudable children’s poets before Vitez, nobody had made such a
qualitative leap with their entire opus like Vitez did. Generally speaking, Croatian
children’s poetry was mostly didactic, used themes of little interest, and was
replete with ideology. Today, generations of children enjoy Vitez’s Antuntun
(AntonTon inthe English translation), the poet’s walking and talking trees,
and birds that fly out from the Slavonian fields of Vitez’s childhood, just as
much as children growing up in the 1950’smarveled at Vitez’s first collection
of poems Prepelica (The Quail). Croatian children’s poetry was in
dire need of free play and laughter, and Vitez provided this with his
understanding of both sides of the best Croatian traditions, both oral and
written. He felt and was carried by the rhythm and themes of traditional epic
poetry, free of didactic aims. Vitez enjoyed language games and meanings,
forming his own words and according them with the sound and meaning of
the whole poem, never just for their own sake. Vitez did not hesitate to use
nonsensical
verse if it suited his poetics, as well as melodic onomatopoeias, sonorous and
harmonious
rhymes, and rich imagery. Vitez used a range of themes and motifs, from the
plant and
animal world, across the numerous hues of human emotions, to abstract mood
sketches, all of which portray the richness of the world we are part of.
Vitez developed and transformed the best of the Croatian
literary tradition to such a degree that he has
rightly been dubbed the father of modern Croatian children’s poetry. A teacher by
profession, Vitez also worked as a translator, literary critic, editor, and
held functions at the Ministry of Education and Croatian Writers’
Association. His repertoire includes more than 500 works
for children, many of which have been translated into twenty languages.
Diana Zalar, Faculty of Teacher Education, University of
Zagreb 
(Adapted from the Preface to Vitez, Grigor. Nevidljive
ptice (Invisible Birds). Zagreb: Mozaik knjiga, 2002.) 

AntonTon

The bossy hen is on her way to market with a basket of eggs when she muddies her foot. In a succession of demands on the local flora, fauna and villagers, Hen learns the usefulness of courtesy and respect when none of her requests are heeded. She also learns that cooperation and a bit of humility are necessary to accomplish her request.

When Hen Was on Her Way to Market: A Folktale-Inspired Story of Manners