Nasza Księgarnia
Nasza Księgarnia is a historic Polish publisher specializing in children's, young-adult, educational and illustrated books, with a later expansion into board games.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nasza Księgarnia, whose name means “Our Bookstore,” is one of Poland’s oldest publishing brands devoted primarily to children’s and young people’s literature. It was established in Warsaw in 1921 by the Polish Teachers’ Union as a joint-stock company, reflecting an educational mission as much as a commercial one. From its earliest years, the publisher developed a catalogue intended for children, families, schools and libraries, combining literary works with educational and informational titles. A notable early achievement came in 1938, when Nasza Księgarnia issued the first Polish translation of A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, translated by Irena Tuwim. The company’s publishing history also includes Polish-language editions of internationally recognized children’s literature such as Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking and Tove Jansson’s Moomins. Alongside translations, the publisher has supported Polish children’s and youth literature and has issued illustrated books, series fiction, educational materials and works introducing young readers to science, nature, technology and culture. The company continued its publishing activity during the Second World War, adapting its methods and formats to the conditions of underground work. After the war, its legal and institutional form changed several times. In 1945 it became a cooperative, and in 1954 it was converted into a state-owned enterprise. It initially operated under the name Państwowe Wydawnictwo Literatury Dziecięcej Nasza Księgarnia, or the State Publishing House of Children’s Literature. In 1960, following a decision by Poland’s Ministry of Culture and Art, it adopted the name Instytut Wydawniczy Nasza Księgarnia, meaning the Nasza Księgarnia Publishing Institute. The political and economic transformation of Poland in the early 1990s brought another structural change. Following a 1991 staff referendum concerning privatization, the state enterprise was transformed into a limited liability company. In 1992 it began operating under the name Wydawnictwo “Nasza Księgarnia,” the form associated with its modern publishing business. Its catalogue has historically been organized through numerous recognizable series. These have included children’s classics, books for the youngest readers, illustrated nature and technology series, school theatre and educational collections, youth adventure literature, scouting titles and books connected with reading, criticism and teaching practice. The series model helped the brand serve different age groups and institutional audiences while maintaining a clear association with children’s culture and education. Beginning in 2016, Nasza Księgarnia expanded beyond books into board games. Its games portfolio has included family, party and children’s titles, extending the company’s role from a traditional publisher into a broader provider of entertainment and learning products for young audiences and households. The brand remains principally associated with Polish-language children’s and educational publishing, with board games functioning as a complementary category.
History
Nasza Księgarnia was founded in 1921 in Warsaw by Związek Nauczycielstwa Polskiego, the Polish Teachers’ Union. It began as a joint-stock company with a publishing remit closely connected to education and children’s reading. The company’s early catalogue established the direction that would define the brand for much of its existence: Polish-language books for children and young people, supported by educational and illustrated publications. In 1938, the publisher released Irena Tuwim’s Polish translation of A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. This edition occupies an important place in the history of Polish children’s publishing and illustrates Nasza Księgarnia’s role in bringing international children’s classics to Polish readers. The company later published Polish editions of other internationally known works, including Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking and Tove Jansson’s Moomins. Its catalogue also developed a substantial domestic and educational component, covering subjects such as nature, technology, school practice, youth literature and literary criticism. Nasza Księgarnia remained active during the Second World War, although wartime conditions required it to change its methods and adapt its output to underground publishing circumstances. After 1945, the organization was transformed into a cooperative. In 1954 it became a state-owned enterprise and was initially given the formal name Państwowe Wydawnictwo Literatury Dziecięcej Nasza Księgarnia, or the State Publishing House of Children’s Literature. The name emphasized its institutional role in the production and distribution of literature for children. In 1960, following a decision by the Ministry of Culture and Art, the company was renamed Instytut Wydawniczy Nasza Księgarnia, the Nasza Księgarnia Publishing Institute. During the following decades it issued a wide range of series for different reading levels and interests. These included collections of children’s classics, books for beginning readers, youth adventure titles, nature and technology books, scouting materials, school drama and teaching resources, as well as series presenting the world through illustrations. Some series were collaborative or associated with wider Polish publishing initiatives rather than being limited to a single corporate imprint. The transformation of Poland’s political and economic system in the early 1990s led to a change in ownership structure and legal form. In a 1991 referendum, the publishing house’s staff decided in favor of privatization. The enterprise was subsequently converted into a limited liability company, and from 1992 it operated under the name Wydawnictwo “Nasza Księgarnia,” or Nasza Księgarnia Publishing House. The modern company has continued to focus on children’s books, youth literature, educational publications and illustrated titles. In 2016 it entered the board-game market, adding party, family and children’s games to its publishing portfolio. This move broadened the brand’s relationship with families and educational consumers while remaining consistent with its long-standing emphasis on learning, imagination and shared activities. Nasza Księgarnia is therefore best understood as a specialized Polish children’s publishing house with a century-long institutional history and a later extension into tabletop entertainment.
- 2016
Expansion into board games
[1]The company entered the board-game category with party, family and children's games.
- 1992
Modern company begins operations
[1]The privatized enterprise began operating as Wydawnictwo “Nasza Księgarnia,” a limited liability company.
- 1991
Staff referendum on privatization
[1]Employees voted in a referendum to support privatization of the state-owned publishing house.
- 1960
Adoption of the Publishing Institute name
[1]The Ministry of Culture and Art renamed the organization Instytut Wydawniczy Nasza Księgarnia.
- 1954
State-owned publishing enterprise
[1]Nasza Księgarnia became a state-owned enterprise under the name State Publishing House of Children's Literature Nasza Księgarnia.
- 1945
Conversion into a cooperative
[1]Following the Second World War, the company was reorganized as a cooperative.
- 1938
First Polish Winnie-the-Pooh translation
[1]Nasza Księgarnia published the first Polish translation of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, translated by Irena Tuwim.
- 1921
Foundation by the Polish Teachers' Union
[1]Związek Nauczycielstwa Polskiego established Nasza Księgarnia in Warsaw as a joint-stock company focused on children's and educational publishing.
Products and positioning
A heritage Polish publisher centered on children's culture, reading development and educational content, with a complementary portfolio of family-oriented board games.
Children's publishing · 1921
Children's and picture books
Nasza Księgarnia's core catalogue consists of illustrated books, picture books and literary works for children. These publications are designed for shared reading, independent reading and early literacy, and include both Polish works and translations of internationally established children's literature.
Young-adult publishing
Youth literature
The publisher has issued books for older children and young people, including adventure-oriented and literary series. This part of the catalogue extends the brand beyond early childhood and supports continuity for readers moving from illustrated books into longer fiction.
Educational publishing · 1921
Educational and illustrated non-fiction
Educational titles have covered subjects including nature, technology, school practice and the world presented through images. The category reflects the company's historical connection with teachers, schools and families seeking supplementary learning materials.
Literary publishing · 1938
Children's classics and translated literature
Nasza Księgarnia has published Polish editions of major international children's works, including Winnie-the-Pooh, Pippi Longstocking and the Moomins. These translations form part of the brand's long-term contribution to the availability of global children's literature in Polish.
Tabletop games · 2016
Board games
Since 2016, Nasza Księgarnia has published board games aimed at children and families, including party and family-oriented formats. The category adds an interactive, non-book dimension while remaining compatible with the company's focus on play, learning and shared time.
Brand decisions
2016
Entry into board gamesStrategyBackground
After decades centered on children's and educational books, the company broadened its product scope to include tabletop entertainment.
Action taken
Nasza Księgarnia began publishing party, family and children's board games.
Aftermath
The move expanded the brand into a related family-entertainment category; the available reference material does not provide quantitative results.
Sources2 sources
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