Jan Brzechwa

Hello, my name is Jan Brzechwa, but I'll let you in on a little secret: that wasn't my real name. I was born Jan Wiktor Lesman on August 15th, 1898, in a town in modern-day Ukraine called Żmerynka. From the time I was a young boy, I was completely fascinated by words. I loved how they could be twisted and turned into funny rhymes and beautiful poems. I wasn't the only writer in my family, either. My cousin, Bolesław Leśmian, was already a very famous poet. He was the one who gave me my special writer's name, 'Brzechwa.' It’s a Polish word that means the feathery part of an arrow, which helps it fly straight and true. I thought it was the perfect name for someone who wanted his words to fly into people's hearts.

As I grew up, I discovered I had two great passions in my life: law and poetry. They might seem very different, but for me, they both used the power of words. In the 1920s, I moved to the big city and went to the University of Warsaw to become a lawyer. My job was serious and very important. I specialized in something called copyright law, which meant I helped other writers, artists, and musicians protect their ideas so that no one could steal them. I was proud of my work helping creative people. But even when I was busy with serious legal papers, my mind was always buzzing with silly rhymes and fantastical stories. I couldn't stop my imagination! Before I became known for my children's books, I also wrote clever poems and songs for shows that were meant for grown-ups.

My greatest joy, however, came from creating worlds for children. Writing for young readers felt like unlocking a special kind of magic. In 1938, I published one of my first books for children, called 'Tańcowała igła z nitką,' which means 'The Needle and Thread Danced.' The very next year, in 1939, I wrote another one called 'Kaczka Dziwaczka,' or 'Ducky the Quacky.' Children loved these playful, rhyming tales. But the story I am most famous for came a little later. In 1946, I wrote 'Akademia Pana Kleksa,' which you might know as 'Mr. Inkblot's Academy.' It's a story about a wonderful, magical school where the lessons are exciting adventures. The headmaster is the amazing Mr. Inkblot, who is full of secrets and fun. I poured all of my imagination into that school, creating a place where learning was the greatest adventure of all.

I continued writing for many years, filling countless pages with my rhymes and stories. I lived to be 67 years old, and my life came to a gentle end in the year 1966. Even though I am no longer here, my stories have stayed behind. Today, children all over Poland still read my poems and laugh at the adventures of 'Ducky the Quacky.' The magical world of Mr. Inkblot's Academy has even been brought to life in movies for new generations to enjoy. My greatest hope is that my words continue to make children smile, dream, and believe in a little bit of magic.