Sharing Polish Culture with Maciek's class

As published in the Polish Heritage Society's December Newsletter.


Community Outreach
Third Graders introduced to Polish-born Author and Illustrator Janina Domańska.

On December 13, 2008, I was invited to share Polish Culture with my son Maciek and his third grade classmates at Denmark Elementary School. His teacher, Marie Michel allowed me to share Bajka (bye-kah) – fairy tales and Polish crafts.

I shared books from the Polish born author Janina Domańska (1913 - 1995.) Domańska attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland. She moved to the United States in 1952. Domańska is best known for her self-illustrated children's books. She won Caldecott Honors for her book If All the Seas Were One Sea in 1971. 1 She illustrated more than forty

The class was recognizing Maciek’s one-year anniversary of American Citizenship. My husband Tim and I brought home our three adoptive children Emma, Maciek and Michal, from Poland on December 13, 2007.

I found Domańska’s King Krakus and the Dragon at the Denmark site of the Brown County Library. I was delighted to see the Polish fairy tale and sought to buy as many of Domańska’s books that I might find. With the help of Amazon.com, I quickly acquired five titles from Domańska, mostly used, in good shape and reasonably priced.

Maciek’s class was treated to King Krakus and The Dragon, Din Dan Don It’s Christmas, Marilka, and The Best of the Bargain. I read this and did my best to capture the enchantment and depth in these stories.

On our trip in 2007, I purchased children’s DVDs. One was of Polish Baika that included 13 tales from TVP (Polish Public Television.) We watched The Golden Water or Zywa woda.

This tale follows a family whose mother has become ill. The local Herbal Healer Woman explains to her three sons, that Golden Water must be brought down from the spring atop the mountain to cure their mother. But there are dangers and distractions a long the path to the top and the Healer gives them strict instructions about how to proceed. The oldest brother decides to go fetch the healing water. But he is distracted and trapped. The Healer is alerted to his fate by a bell the rings when there is danger. The middle brother takes on the duty and is also trapped.

The youngest brother realizes he must attempt the challenge but is determined to follow the words of the Healer. She sends him with the bell to alert him of an impending trap. He proceeds with caution and nearly falls for the trap other have fallen for, but he is reminded by the bell to stay the course despite the harsh journey. He reaches the summit and finds the spring with the Golden Water. A jug appears and he fills to bring to his mother. But on the way down the mountain, he passes those who were trapped. He sprinkles them with the Golden Water. They become free of their traps. When he arrives home, his generosity leaves him with little water left, but just a sprinkle is needed to restore his mother to health. She wakes and asks her sons to bring firewood in to heat the stove for cooking. They are all grateful for the returned health of their mother and for the perseverance of their youngest brother.

I was also able to share Polish cultural objects with the class. I brought woolen slippers - kapcie (cup-CHAY), carved wood boxes, painted wood eggs, woven straw ornaments, children’s non-fiction books of Polish Culture, and a Polish soccer piłka nożna (pihwa-KAH nosz-NAH) scarf. I also provided simple wycinanki that the class used to decorate their window for Christmas. I found some simple designs with a search on the Internet.

I was pleased to share some cultural heritage with Maciek’s class. They were attentive and interested, asking questions and wanting to know more.

Please contact me, if you are a teacher or group organizer and would like a presentation of such as this. This is part of the mission of the Polish Heritage Society. You may reach me at perryworth@gmail.com or contact the Polish Heritage Society.








King Krakus and the Dragon 1979, Din Dan Don It’s Christmas 1975, Marilka 1970, and The Best of the Bargain 1977.

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other information found online



Janina Domanska; Children's-Book Author, 82

Published: February 15, 1995

Janina Domanska, an author and illustrator of children's books, died on Feb. 2 at Naples Community Hospital in Naples, Fla. She was 82 and lived in New Fairfield, Conn.

She had suffered a stroke recently, said her stepson Robert Nossen.

Ms. Domanska was born in Warsaw and studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. She came to the United States in 1952 and worked in New York City as a textile designer and freelance artist before turning to creating picture books for children.

She wrote, adapted or translated 22 books, each accompanied by her own illustrations, which frequently evoked Polish folk art and drew upon folk tales from her childhood. She also illustrated 23 books by other authors. Among her best-known books are "If All the Seas Were One" (1971), "King Krakus and the Dragon" (1979), "Busy Monday Morning" (1985) and "A Was an Angler" (1991).

In addition to her stepson Robert, of Naples, she is survived by her husband, Ernest Nossen; another stepson, Edward Nossen of Cherry Hill, N.J., and five stepgrandchildren.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE4D71E38F936A25751C0A963958260

Janina Domańska (1913 - 1995) was an award winning Polish artist, author and illustrator.

Domańska attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland. She moved to the United States in 1952, where she later married writer Jerzy Laskowski. Domańska is best known for her self-illustrated children's books. She won Caldecott Honors for her book If All the Seas Were One Sea in 1971.

Some critics have been less approving; Josh Gartland commented that ' If all the Seas Were One Sea is a horrible book that delights in man's destruction of his environment and therefore conveys a very negative message to the children at which it is aimed.'

Feast of the Nativity, Solstice Letter 2008

What a year 2008 has been for us! We've done our best to let everyone know about the additions to our family. Our three adoptive children created an impact on our lives. And their lives have changed drastically as well.

Emma, Maciek (mah-CHECK), and Michal flew into Chicago from Warsaw on December 13, 2007 with their new Mom and Dad. In the beginning, it seemed as though we were on some strange reality TV show and other times our new melding family was as average as any.

We all adapted in different ways at different times. Beth's mothering instincts kicked in quickly and the kids' desire to be mothered surfaced soon as well. She didn't anticipate the sheer exhaustion involved. Tim took a while to get used to the inclusion of an instant family, but over the summer he found his sea legs. He's refereeing a roller derby in the basement as this is typed.

The kids liked arriving at winter break but were ready for peer social time without their new mom and dad. Their teachers were phenomenal as were their classmates. The kids hit the three-month language immersion milestone and became more conversational in English. Before that point, we used four-dozen Polish words, drawing, picture dictionaries and gestures to communicate. By July, all three were nearly using all English, even with each other.

In late May, Beth underwent a hysterectomy and was thankful to have done so. Grandma Phyllis and Grandma Perry helped Tim with kid-wrangling duty during her recovery. A former co-worker of Beth's, named Beth earned her future Godmother status at that time, too.

Beth called it the carefree summer. She occasionally, but rarely tried workbooks to bolster academics. This strategy seemed to pay off in emotional growth for everyone. All three attended summer school sessions, which had some fun electives to offset math and reading work. When Tim went to Virginia for a training session in late June, Beth, Emma, Maciek and Michal went camping at High Cliff State Park. Grandma Perry joined in, in between shifts at the hardware store. Beth, Emma, Maciek and Michal went camping at Peninsula State Park in late August. It was tent camping this time and it got down to 45° F but everyone survived and had a super time at the beach the next day.

The kids were nervous about going back to school but were full of excitement getting off the bus that afternoon. Some academic catch-up work remains but these are three bright kids making great strides. First quarter conferences brought good reports with suggestions for areas to concentrate. The boys shined at their holiday concerts and amazed their family with their excitement for music and performing. Emma will have her concert in spring.

Emma turned 10 in September and had fun birthday party with three favorite girl friends. She progressed to fourth grade and works more independently every day. She spends time in her room with various crafts or will take the dog for a survey of the property, inspecting the latest flora and fauna. She's been thrilled by the record snow and is bugging Dad to get the snowmobile ready for action. She played soccer with the school league and wants to repeat Tae Kwon Do at the YMCA. She keeps pace with mom while shopping and is a super snuggler.

Maciek hosted 25 classmates and friends for his 8th birthday. (Mom wasn't sure who to invite and in mid March, all came out of their groundhog hole due to cabin fever!) He accumulated a variety of Lego sets and sought to assemble them immediately and until they were complete per instructions. He's logged hours on Disney's Toontown Web site, exploring neighborhoods as his created 'Toon' character. He's taken a handful of piano lessons and we'll see if the noodle sticks to the wall. He progressed to third grade this fall, where his reading is improving and his math abilities impress both teacher and parents.

Michal entered Kindergarten in January. It was an uncertain beginning, but he made improvements as the days and weeks ticked off. He's steadily become Dad's shadow in the yard and on projects. He's also found common interests with a neighbor boy as they explore the woods near our house for treasure and adventure. He was tentative but headed to his the first day of first grade with bravery. He's connected with the rest of his class and likes school. He celebrated his 7th birthday in October. He, like his sister and brother, is a cozy snuggle bug.

Tim continues work at a nuclear power station. The job change is good for the family and allows for more time at home. He misses his former coworkers and transportation work, but there are cool projects at the plant, too! This past year did not see a significant amount of home improvement, but Tim is replacing the basement floor and drainage. This provides extra space for the kids to run and yell during the winter months. Mostly he's done his best to be the best husband he can be and find his inner Daddy-ness.

Beth stopped working her graphic design job at the end of April. She had a few weeks to prepare for her six-week post surgery bed rest. Summer filled itself easily with just lazing around the house, keeping the kids busy, camping and attending festivals. Beth delighted in the approach of the first day of school. But soon she followed the kids into school to help for an hour a day with reading in Michal's class and computer support in Maciek's class.

On July 26, about 85 friends and family gathered with our Pastor to bless our new family and celebrate after. We had great weather and were so happy to have such enthusiastic support from those who could make it and those who sent their best wishes. See photos at http://perrywattleworth.shutterfly.com/

We've been grateful to receive news from you over the year. Your friendship and courage has helped us to do the best we could for our new children. We wish you a belated Merry Christmas, Blessed Solstice and Adventurous New Year!

With love,
Tim, Beth, Emma, Maciek and Michal