What do you think?
Rate this book
67 Tales from Poland
The book comprises the best of Polish folk tales as well as short stories by the most renowned Polish authors, such as:
Henryk Sienkiewicz,
Władysław St. Reymont,
Bolesław Prus,
Adam Szymanski,
Stefan Zeromski,
Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski,
Zofia Rygier-Nałkowska,
Wacław Sieroszewski.
It is undoubtedly the best compilation of Polish fairy tales and children’s short stories.
Henryk Sienkiewicz,
Władysław St. Reymont,
Bolesław Prus,
Adam Szymanski,
Stefan Zeromski,
Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski,
Zofia Rygier-Nałkowska,
Wacław Sieroszewski.
It is undoubtedly the best compilation of Polish fairy tales and children’s short stories.
758 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2017
26 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 30, 2026
This book is a carefully balanced collection of Polish storytelling, bringing together the country’s classic literature and its rich folk traditions in a way that feels thoughtful, respectful, and deeply engaging. It includes 52 traditional Polish folk tales—many of which you wont find anywhere else—alongside carefully selected works from Poland’s greatest authors. For children, these stories are really special: they’re the ones kids ask for night after night, the ones they insist on hearing before bedtime, and the ones that capture their imagination in a way few other books can.
Beyond the stories themselves, the book is enriched with afterwords that provide historical context, often reading almost like additional tales. One of the most moving examples tells of a church bell in Warmia that was buried during one of Poland’s historical partitions to protect it from destruction. Even after being hidden, local people continued to gather at the site to pray, calling it “the place where the bell rings from underground.” This story appears in the afterword to How a Smith Worked His Way to Heaven and is rooted in real regional history. It resonated personally with me, as my grandmother once lived in a village nearby where this story is still remembered today.
Another afterword recounts the tale of a seamstress who secretly passed messages by weaving them into patterns on fabrics sold at local markets. This quietly powerful story, accompanying Mazek’s Debt, adds human depth and historical richness to the collection.
The selections from Poland’s classic authors are equally compelling. In the short story by Nobel Prize laureate Henryk Sienkiewicz entitled Lamplighter on an Island, the focus is on the fate of a Polish emigrant in the United States. This is a unique English translation that exists only in this book, and it is the most accomplished translation of the work published to date.
Another Nobel Prize laureate in literature, Władysław St. Reymont, is represented in this book by the short story Maternity, which tells of the friendship between a wealthy girl and a poor village boy. It is a very touching story and, once again, presented here in a unique translation. The book also includes Reymont’s short story The Trial, which deals with a complex phenomenon—the Polish crowd. The essence of the story lies in showing how not to become part of the crowd. These stories give children not only entertainment but also meaningful lessons about courage, integrity, and the importance of heritage.
Taken together, this collection fully satisfies a childs’ need for Polish literature. It offers the magical charm of folk tales and the intellectual depth of classic works, all in one volume. Its a book that can be read over and over again, cherished at bedtime, shared across generations, and treasured as a lasting window into the heart of Polish culture. For families, it’s the kind of book that becomes a beloved part of daily life—a true home library in a single volume.
Beyond the stories themselves, the book is enriched with afterwords that provide historical context, often reading almost like additional tales. One of the most moving examples tells of a church bell in Warmia that was buried during one of Poland’s historical partitions to protect it from destruction. Even after being hidden, local people continued to gather at the site to pray, calling it “the place where the bell rings from underground.” This story appears in the afterword to How a Smith Worked His Way to Heaven and is rooted in real regional history. It resonated personally with me, as my grandmother once lived in a village nearby where this story is still remembered today.
Another afterword recounts the tale of a seamstress who secretly passed messages by weaving them into patterns on fabrics sold at local markets. This quietly powerful story, accompanying Mazek’s Debt, adds human depth and historical richness to the collection.
The selections from Poland’s classic authors are equally compelling. In the short story by Nobel Prize laureate Henryk Sienkiewicz entitled Lamplighter on an Island, the focus is on the fate of a Polish emigrant in the United States. This is a unique English translation that exists only in this book, and it is the most accomplished translation of the work published to date.
Another Nobel Prize laureate in literature, Władysław St. Reymont, is represented in this book by the short story Maternity, which tells of the friendship between a wealthy girl and a poor village boy. It is a very touching story and, once again, presented here in a unique translation. The book also includes Reymont’s short story The Trial, which deals with a complex phenomenon—the Polish crowd. The essence of the story lies in showing how not to become part of the crowd. These stories give children not only entertainment but also meaningful lessons about courage, integrity, and the importance of heritage.
Taken together, this collection fully satisfies a childs’ need for Polish literature. It offers the magical charm of folk tales and the intellectual depth of classic works, all in one volume. Its a book that can be read over and over again, cherished at bedtime, shared across generations, and treasured as a lasting window into the heart of Polish culture. For families, it’s the kind of book that becomes a beloved part of daily life—a true home library in a single volume.
January 8, 2026
This book is a remarkable collection that brings together two great treasures of Polish literature: 52 authentic Polish folk tales and classic works for children written by Polish Nobel Prize–winning authors. It is a rare and valuable composition that introduces young readers to stories shaped by centuries of wisdom, experience, and moral reflection.
The folk tales in this volume teach children timeless lessons—about kindness, courage, responsibility, and compassion. These stories quietly pass on a wisdom that can help young readers face challenges later in adult life, offering ethical and moral foundations that remain relevant in any era. Alongside them, the classic works by Polish Nobel laureates enrich the collection with literary depth and enduring human values.
The value of this book is truly immense. It preserves moral and ethical principles gathered over generations and presents them in a form that is both engaging and accessible to children. So, this is not just entertainment, but a meaningful introduction to cultural heritage and life wisdom.
I suppose the edition itself is beautifully produced. The illustrations are thoughtfully created to match each individual story and are clearly the work of a talented artist. They stimulate the child’s imagination and enhance the reading experience without overwhelming the text. The book is perfectly laid out, with a comfortable font size and clear formatting, making it pleasant and easy to read.
Finally, the price-to-quality ratio is excellent. Considering the richness of content, the quality of illustrations, and the careful design, this book offers outstanding value.
The folk tales in this volume teach children timeless lessons—about kindness, courage, responsibility, and compassion. These stories quietly pass on a wisdom that can help young readers face challenges later in adult life, offering ethical and moral foundations that remain relevant in any era. Alongside them, the classic works by Polish Nobel laureates enrich the collection with literary depth and enduring human values.
The value of this book is truly immense. It preserves moral and ethical principles gathered over generations and presents them in a form that is both engaging and accessible to children. So, this is not just entertainment, but a meaningful introduction to cultural heritage and life wisdom.
I suppose the edition itself is beautifully produced. The illustrations are thoughtfully created to match each individual story and are clearly the work of a talented artist. They stimulate the child’s imagination and enhance the reading experience without overwhelming the text. The book is perfectly laid out, with a comfortable font size and clear formatting, making it pleasant and easy to read.
Finally, the price-to-quality ratio is excellent. Considering the richness of content, the quality of illustrations, and the careful design, this book offers outstanding value.
December 28, 2025
This is a collection of truly folk Polish fairy tales, and it is the only collection that genuinely deserves the reader’s attention. Other competing compilations have chosen the path of posting reviews that artificially lower the ratings of rival books while inflating the ratings of their own. In other words, the rating of this book has been deliberately pushed down because publishers of other books leave low-rating reviews in an attempt to promote their own unsuccessful and frankly inauthentic Polish fairy tales.
As for this book, the illustrations are simply stunning; according to the article included in the volume, they were created in Poland. The authors and editors of this book are Polish citizens, and they have an excellent sense and understanding of how a fairy tale should sound in English and which stories are truly worth translating. Moreover, the book brings together works by some of Poland’s greatest writers, including Nobel Prize laureates—classic Polish children’s literature.
Overall, I very strongly recommend this book and advise readers to ignore its artificially lowered rating.
As for this book, the illustrations are simply stunning; according to the article included in the volume, they were created in Poland. The authors and editors of this book are Polish citizens, and they have an excellent sense and understanding of how a fairy tale should sound in English and which stories are truly worth translating. Moreover, the book brings together works by some of Poland’s greatest writers, including Nobel Prize laureates—classic Polish children’s literature.
Overall, I very strongly recommend this book and advise readers to ignore its artificially lowered rating.
December 29, 2025
These are truly authentic Polish folk tales and classic works by the most renowned Polish authors who wrote for children — stories that have shaped generations. The book is very considerate of a child’s mind: there is nothing here that could unsettle or offend young readers; in contrast to many frightening tales, this one is entirely safe for children.
This edition offers a truly excellent English translation. One can even use this book as a way to study the English language. It is also important to note that the illustrations in this book are genuine works of art — they are simply magnificent. I fully agree with the idea that a child who reads this book will grow up resilient to any harmful temptations in life. The book quietly teaches young readers to make the right and wise decisions. This is precisely how the experience of previous generations of Poles is passed on to the present generation. All the wisdom of the Polish people is contained within these pages. It is truly remarkable that one can buy a single book and receive the wisdom of many, many millions of Poles gathered over the centuries.
This edition offers a truly excellent English translation. One can even use this book as a way to study the English language. It is also important to note that the illustrations in this book are genuine works of art — they are simply magnificent. I fully agree with the idea that a child who reads this book will grow up resilient to any harmful temptations in life. The book quietly teaches young readers to make the right and wise decisions. This is precisely how the experience of previous generations of Poles is passed on to the present generation. All the wisdom of the Polish people is contained within these pages. It is truly remarkable that one can buy a single book and receive the wisdom of many, many millions of Poles gathered over the centuries.
January 5, 2026
This book was highly recommended to me at university by my professor, and he turned out to be absolutely right. It is an outstanding collection and one of the finest books of Polish fairy and folk tales and classical works I have ever read.
The book is beautifully designed and makes a wonderful gift. The layout is excellent, the font is very comfortable to read, and the illustrations are truly enchanting. Everything about this edition shows great care and respect for the material.
What makes this collection exceptional is the content itself. In most other editions of Polish fairy tales, the texts are simply reprints of stories that can easily be found online. This book is different. It contains original authorial translations that cannot be found anywhere else. These are genuine folk tales collected on the territory of Poland, not recycled versions copied and republished from the internet.
Because of this, I consider this book to be the best collection of Polish folk and classical fairy tales available. It offers readers something truly authentic, unique, and of lasting value.
The book is beautifully designed and makes a wonderful gift. The layout is excellent, the font is very comfortable to read, and the illustrations are truly enchanting. Everything about this edition shows great care and respect for the material.
What makes this collection exceptional is the content itself. In most other editions of Polish fairy tales, the texts are simply reprints of stories that can easily be found online. This book is different. It contains original authorial translations that cannot be found anywhere else. These are genuine folk tales collected on the territory of Poland, not recycled versions copied and republished from the internet.
Because of this, I consider this book to be the best collection of Polish folk and classical fairy tales available. It offers readers something truly authentic, unique, and of lasting value.
January 25, 2026
This book offers an exceptional and well-balanced collection of children’s literature, bringing together 67 works, including Polish folk tales and classic texts by Poland’s greatest authors, among them Nobel Prize laureates. It is rare to find such a thoughtful combination of traditional storytelling and high literary heritage created specifically for young readers.
A special value of this edition lies in its 52 Polish folk tales, which cannot be found anywhere else. These are not recycled public-domain texts easily available online, as is often the case with other collections of Polish fairy tales. Instead, these are authorial versions with remarkably successful translations, created exclusively for this book.
This makes this book a truly original and author-driven work, not a compilation of freely accessible materials. It is a meaningful, valuable book of high quality—one that genuinely serves children. The stories help young readers develop resilience, moral strength, and the inner resources needed to overcome difficulties in their future adult lives.
This is a book that educates, inspires, and stays with the reader long after childhood.
A special value of this edition lies in its 52 Polish folk tales, which cannot be found anywhere else. These are not recycled public-domain texts easily available online, as is often the case with other collections of Polish fairy tales. Instead, these are authorial versions with remarkably successful translations, created exclusively for this book.
This makes this book a truly original and author-driven work, not a compilation of freely accessible materials. It is a meaningful, valuable book of high quality—one that genuinely serves children. The stories help young readers develop resilience, moral strength, and the inner resources needed to overcome difficulties in their future adult lives.
This is a book that educates, inspires, and stays with the reader long after childhood.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews