Karolcia
Karolcia is a 1959 novel for children by Maria Krüger. In Poland it is required reading for classes I to III.
Plot
The protagonist is an eight-year-old girl who finds a magical blue bead that fulfills her every wish. The girl and her friend Peter use the bead to bring happiness to other people. They have various adventures, including helping the President escape from an evil witch, Filomena, who also tries unsuccessfully to steal the bead. The bead becomes paler throughout the book and tells Karolcia that it will eventually vanish. Although Karolcia is unhappy about this, she and Peter decide not to be selfish with their final wish but to wish that the dreams of others be fulfilled –children receive new toys, and the recovery of children who are in hospital, amongst other things. The book ends with Karolcia being happy about their good deed but also sad over the loss of the bead that has now disappeared.Sequels
The success of novels for young readers encouraged the author to write a sequel. In 1970, she wrote the novel Witaj, Karolciu, about new adventures of Karolcia and Piotr. In 2009, another author, Krzysztof Zięcik, added further adventures in Karolcia na wakacjach.Both Karolcia and Hello Karolcia are available as audio books, read by Maria Seweryn.