THE ROLE OF THE PATRON IN TRANSLATING CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

This article provides an overview of the translation activities in children’s literature by the Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books (ITBM), which serves as an official patron promoting the production of children’s books through its translation and publication efforts. Established with the aim of enriching and strengthening the Malay literary corpus and internationalising national works through translation, ITBM is recognised for playing a pivotal role in broadening access to children’s literature both within Malaysia and internationally. This study aims to answer three questions: (i) What translated children’s books has ITBM published from 1993 to 2018? (ii) What factors influence the selection of children’s books for translation? (iii) Who are the other actors involved in the translation and publication of children’s books, apart from translators? The results indicate that 171 children’s literature titles were translated into six target languages during this period, with the majority translated from Malay into English (52 titles). A total of 65 translators participated in the production of these translations, including 17 adaptors, one international publisher, and one digital media developer. Overall, the findings highlight the significant role of ITBM in shaping and advancing the landscape of children’s literature publishing in Malaysia.