Format: 🎧 Audiobook
Polish classic · Janusz Korczak · 1922
King Matt the First
A nine-year-old boy becomes king — war, a children's parliament, a desert island. Korczak's beloved novel about idealism, power, and growing up too fast.
Warsaw, 1922
About the book
Matt is nine years old when his father the king dies, leaving the throne to a child who barely understands what ruling means. With the help of his friend Felek — a street boy who becomes his confidant — Matt sets out to make the world fairer: he wants a parliament run by children, peace with foreign kings, and a new law that gives every child rights.
But the world of adults does not yield easily. Ministers deceive, armies march, and foreign rulers have their own interests. Korczak's novel is a parable about the weight of idealism meeting cold reality — written with warmth, humor, and deep respect for the moral seriousness of children.
First published in 1922, King Matt the First remains one of the most celebrated works of Polish children's literature, translated into dozens of languages and cited by educators worldwide. The Audio Opowieści edition pairs a professional narrator with original scene illustrations and a full character gallery.
Meet the characters
Meet the full cast in the app — the English audiobook is available now.
Matt
Felek
Old Doctor
Irenka
Klu-Klu
War Minister
About the author
Janusz Korczak (1878–1942) was a Polish-Jewish pediatrician, educator, and author whose life's work was devoted to children's rights and dignity. He ran an orphanage in Warsaw and wrote landmark works on child pedagogy alongside beloved novels. When the Nazis ordered the deportation of his orphanage children to Treblinka, Korczak refused to abandon them and was murdered together with his charges. He is remembered as one of the pioneers of children's rights worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this audiobook for?
Korczak's classic, read across generations. Suggested age 9+ — the protagonist is a nine-year-old king, so children identify with Matt easily. Older readers and adults will find the serious threads: a children's parliament, war, the weight of decisions.
Can a child listen alone?
Yes — the production is safe with nothing that needs adult supervision. The book does have serious themes (death, war, isolation on a desert island), so younger listeners may want to talk through them with a parent. The app remembers the last play position.
How long is the audiobook?
Around 11 hours 30 minutes across 53 chapters. Listen at your child's pace — a few chapters per evening, during the school commute, in the car. First 5 minutes free in the app.
Are there ads or in-app purchases?
0 ads. No nagging purchases mid-listen. You buy a specific book once and own it forever — no subscription, no per-chapter fees. The Android app is live; iOS and desktop are coming.
Can I share my account between siblings?
Yes — one family account is enough. Siblings can listen to the same purchased book on different devices. Playback position is per device, so each child keeps their own spot in the chapter.