The focus of this article is the ‘voice of the translator’ in the Polish core curriculum with specific reference to the textbooks for grades 4 to 6 published in the period 1999-2010. Language texts in school materials include translations of European classics and contemporary literature, from many languages and many cultures. One important dimension of the pedagogical use of these language texts is the ‘fragmentation’ of literature through excerpting. A fragment, or excerpt, can often take on a specific character of representing the whole text and also function outside a literary work in an autonomous role. Many of the excerpts from translated works of foreign literature which are presented in school textbooks give students an opportunity to prepare for understanding and dialoguing with other cultures.