our projects
Bookswithout Borders
The "Bridges" series is an invitation to read. It was designed for readers for whom the printed word is often a barrier, for whom reading is a challenge.
Adults with neurodiversity, such as those on the autism spectrum, with dyslexia or visually impaired people, are often excluded from book culture due to the lack of appropriately designed books.
The "Bridges" series, prepared in the spirit of universal design, helps to break down barriers, invites to the world of literature, presents various literary genres and different formats, from picture books, through comics, to novels and poetry collections.
Anna Kaminska
author of bestselling and award-winning biographies such as: "Wanda. A Story about the Power of Life and Death", "Simona. A Story about the Extraordinary Life of Simona Kossak" and "Kotański. God the Father. Confrontation." She is also the author of the book "Białowieża in Whisper. Stories from the Białowieża Forest" and the collection of short stories "Discovered. True Stories of the Adopted."
Spinter. Biography of Irena Szewińska
Biography of a Polish sports legend. "Sprinterka" is a story about Irena Szewińska, an athlete, multiple medalist, world-famous sprinter. This book is an incredibly inspiring story of a sportswoman and a story of passion and determination.
The Dark Secrets of the Chrysanthemum Estate
A crime story set in Polish realities. The action begins at the Chryzantem Housing Estate, a seemingly peaceful housing estate, like many others. Until it turns out that ordinary neighbors often hide their dark secrets. Joanna Jagiełło's gripping crime story confuses the clues and draws readers into more mysteries.
Joanna Jagiełło
author of books for children, teenagers and adults (including: Kawa z kardamonem, Jak ziarnka dźwięków, Zielone martensy), as well as poems and short stories. She graduated from the Faculty of English at the University of Warsaw.
Jaroslaw Kaczmarek
storyteller, writer, Polish philologist, cultural animator. Co-founder and founder of the "Grupa Studnia O" Association, professionally involved in the art of storytelling, storytelling in various forms. Author of many books for adults, youth and children.
Pan Tadeusz. Pictures from Soplicowo
Classics of Polish literature in an extraordinary interpretation. "Pan Tadeusz. Pictures from Soplicowo" is a picturesque version of a national epic that every student in a Polish school will encounter. Jarosław Kaczmarek's original interpretation faithfully tells us about the fates of the characters known from Mickiewicz's novel, their conflicts and loves.
Family secrets
A social novel by the excellent Justyna Bednarek has the potential to be a true family saga. Ula's orderly world suddenly falls apart due to her fiancé's betrayal. The young woman goes to her beloved grandmother Lula, a woman of exceptional insight and intuition. The grandmother tells her devastated granddaughter incredible family stories. The author invites you to an incredibly absorbing world of unhappy, strong, passionate and intriguing women.
Justyna Bednarek
a Romance philologist by education, a writer for children, the author of over 80 books, including Niesamowite przygody dnia skarbek, Maryjki and Babcocha. Winner of numerous literary awards.
Catherine Majgier
graduate of psychology at the Jagiellonian University and author of over 20 books for children and adults. Winner of the K. Makuszyński Award and 1st Prize and 3 distinctions in the Astrid Lindgren competition.
Pride and Prejudice: Don't Believe the Gossip
A world classic retold. Katarzyna Majgier has brilliantly told a story set in the English countryside at the beginning of the 19th century. In the book, we meet Elizabeth Bennet, a brilliant young woman struggling with social pressure. The heroine faces her own pride and prejudices against a mysterious man – Mr. Darcy. Despite the passage of time, the reading does not lose its relevance, and the author has brilliantly brought this text full of humor and accurate observations to modern readers.
Love stop
A social novel written in the style of a romantic comedy. It tells the story of two young people who, traveling on the same bus, connect their fates in a completely accidental and unexpected way. Each of them struggles with reality and their own problems and, like many people, seeks happiness and support from another person.
Barbara Quinta
a linguist by education, author of social novels, children's books and guides. Mother, wife and dog owner - Kawa. Collects notebooks and memoirs. Loves the smell of paper.
Aleksandra Cieslak
author of texts, illustrator, designer. She creates, among others, original picture books. Since 2008, she has been running creative workshops for children, youth and adults. She is fascinated by working with expanded states of consciousness and expression.
Afternoon Tea 5:05 PM
is a moving pictorial story in which two stories intertwine: an interrupted afternoon tea in a bourgeois house in the suburbs and a dramatic journey of a ninja warrior who, trapped in darkness, fights to return to his beloved Hikari. The illustrations create an emotional narrative about love, devotion and attention needed in every relationship with another person. Seemingly distant worlds intertwine, revealing new meanings to the reader. A collage pictorial dictionary invites you to search for words and creates an additional context for the story, in which the readers themselves can become narrators, expanding the story with their own associations and memories.
Niusiek. The wartime fate of the maharaja's children
A comic book that tells the true story of Franciszek Herzog and the stories of several hundred Polish children who survived deportation to Siberia, hunger, fear and wandering, and often the death of their loved ones during World War II. Only thanks to the generosity of the Indian Maharaja did the children survive the war and regain their childhood. This story is proof that despite cultural differences, big politics and the madness of war, there were places where humanity and respect for others prevailed.
Monika Kowaleczko-Szumowska / Urmas Viik
Monika Kowaleczko-Szumowska – writer, translator, screenwriter, film producer. Author of the series "Gupikowo" and historical books such as "Galop 44" and "Fajna Ferajna. She graduated in archaeology and English philology, and is involved in historical education of children and youth. Urmas Viik graduated from the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts in 1991. He is an Estonian graphic artist, illustrator, creator of installations and professor at the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts. Urmas's works have won numerous national and international awards and have been shown at exhibitions in over 30 countries. Urmas has designed over 40 books.
The aim of the Books without Borders project is to support adults who experience difficulties in reading books due to disability, neurodiversity, old age or health conditions, as well as people reading in a second language that is foreign to them (in particular migrants).
We develop books adapted in their form and content to the widest possible audience (in accordance with the idea of universal design) and prepare librarians to work with them. We implement the project in partnership: Information Society Development Foundation (Poland, leader), Universal Reading Foundation (Poland), Stadt Köln (Germany), Leser søker bok (Norway), Trøndelag fylkebibliotek (Norway), Ukrainian Library Association (Ukraine) – associate partner.
#Bookswithoutborders
The books are sent free of charge to public and pedagogical libraries that run activities for adults, especially those who experience difficulties in reading books.
To order books, please complete the form available at: https://forms.office.com/e/qnHhSbiJm3
The books will be shipped in March and April via the distributor Azymut.
