Children’s Books and Young Fiction Autumn 2021 Catalogue by Rights & Brands

Rights & Brands AUTUMN 2021 Catalogue Children's Books and Young Fiction

Rights & Brands is a 360° licensing and publishing agency bringing Nordic rights and brands to a global arena. Starting from a strategic base in literature, art and design, R&B’s platform is built on knowledge, passion and people. Using all aspects of character representation and branding, from publishing and PR to licensing, merchandising and digital development, with a worldwide network of sub-agents and over 800 clients, R&B’s international insight and business capacity is unique. Rights & Brands represents iconic Nordic brands, artists and authors and is the worldwide master agent on behalf of Moomin Characters. Other representation includes Tove Jansson, Stig Lindberg, Carl Larsson-gården Sundborn, Ilon Wikland, Hello Ruby, Mauri Kunnas and many more. With its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and local branches in Helsinki, Oslo and Tokyo, R&B was founded in 2016 by Moomin Characters and Bulls, combining over 70 years of licensing experience.

Rights & Brands Stockholm Rosenlundsgatan 31 118 63 Stockholm Sweden

Rights & Brands Helsinki Uudenmaankatu 8 00120 Helsinki Finland

publishing@rightsandbrands.com www.rightsandbrands.com

Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson p. 5 Watch out, Stella p. 19 by Susanne Trydal and Ellen Ekman Moomin p. 4 Ilon Wikland p. 8 Mauri Kunnas p. 10 Tatu and Patu p. 12 Inger and Lasse Sandberg p. 13 Picture Books p. 14 Children's Fiction p. 30 Young Adult Fiction p. 35 Non-fiction p. 40

Rock the Rabbit and Rolla the Owl by Pete Leppänen p. 30

LasseMaja comics by Martin Widmark and Helena Willis p. 31

Hello Ruby by Linda Liukas p. 40

Tove Jansson (1914-2001) Finnish-Swedish writer and artist, who achieved worldwide fame as the creator of the Moomins, written and illustrated between 1945 and 1977. The books about the brave, adventurous, yet family-focused and homeloving Moomins have been translated into more than 50 languages and are still in print all over the world today. The Moomins were only a part of Jansson’s prodigious output. Already admired in Nordic art circles as a painter, cartoonist and illustrator, she would go on to write a series of classic novels and short stories. She remains Scandinavia’s bestloved author.

Moominland Midwinter (Trollvinter) 1957, 1961 | 144 pages

Stunning colour illustrations bring out the magic in winterly Moominvalley in this classic story of Moomintroll waking up in winter time. Tove Jansson was commissioned to create six original pieces of art for an Italian edition of Magia d’inverno in 1961, and for the first time this colour art is available for other translations as well. The new Finnish edition is published in a slightly larger format with a cloth spine and with bigger font than the original Moominland Midwinter, to set this gift edition apart from the original black and white edition. This is the only original Moomin novel illustrated with colour art.

Special edition!

Tove Jansson / Moomin

Moomin / ABC

Reading and Writing with Moomins

Being able to express yourself is one of the most important things in the world: it allows you to communicate your hopes and dreams, relate to others, engage with the big issues of our times, and create change. To express yourself, you first need to learn to read and write. The Reading, Writing and the Moomins initiative of brings together publishers, charity organisations and Moomin licensing all around the world. The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the importance and joy of reading and writing in the life of children, youth and adults. The publishing program was launched in Finland and Sweden with bespoke Moomin ABC titles: Alphabet of Happiness and Moominvalley Alphabet. Macmillan Children's Books are working on worldwide Moomin ABC titles. The artwork is based on Tove Jansson’s unique hand-drawn alphabets and original illustrations. See our Moomin Publishing catalogue for the complete programme. To join this this poetic and inspiring initiative, please ask you R&B contact for more details.

Moominvalley's Alphabet

The Alphabet of Happiness

(Mumindalens alfabet) Age 5+ | 40 pages | Förlaget M & Bonnier Carlsen | 2021

(Onnelliset aakkoset) Age 5+ | 40 pages | Otava I 2021

Att vakna arla i april att andas vårluft, finnas till att smeka armens sammetshud och höra vårens alla ljud. Allt är så nytt och underbart när Snorkfröken har sovit klart. Hon kammar pannlugg och sin svans och binder snabbt en blåsippskrans. Nu vaknar Mumin och de hör en munspelston där utanför. A börjar alfabetet men, till vilken bokstav går vi sen?

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Moomin / Gift and Board Books

Fascinating guide books for fish enthusiasts and nature lovers of all ages.

Moomin board books This series of Moomin board books created by Riina and Sami Kaarla introduces first concepts with Moomintroll and Little My. Sturdy pages and colourful illustrations will keep young readers safe and entertained.

Snufkin’s Fish Book

Hemulen’s Herbarium

(Nuuskamuikkusen kalakirja) Age 7+ | 128 pages | WSOY | 2021

(Hemulin kasvio) Age 7+ | 128 pages | WSOY | 2019

Embark on a fishing trip in the footsteps of Snufkin and explore inhabitants of lakes, rivers and the Baltic Sea! The book contains useful facts and classical drawings of almost a hundred fish common in the Nordics. The book also includes information on water food chains, fish behavior and senses, and the annual cycle beneath the water surface.

Explore plants and learn about the Nordic nature together with Hemulen. The precisely drawn plants and interesting anecdotes inspire people of all ages. You can even collect and dry flowers and leaves to add into the book. The format can be adapted for different markets.

Moomin and Little My: Feelings

Moomin and Little My: Colours

Moomin and Little My: Seasons

Moomin and Little My: Family and Friends

(Muumi ja Pikku Myy: Tunteet) 0+ | 16 pages | Tammi |2019

(Muumi ja Pikku Myy: Värit) 0+ | 16 pages | Tammi | 2019

(Muumi ja Pikku Myy: Vuodenajat) 0+ | 16 pages | Tammi | 2020

(Muumi ja Pikku Myy: Perhe ja ystävät) 0+ | 16 pages | Tammi | 2020

Moomin / Picture Books

Step into the world of Moominvalley This beautifully illustrated series introduces the world of Moominvalley, its characters and values to new young readers. The books are developed by Bonnier Carlsen in collaboration with Moomin Characters, and they are retold and illustrated by established Swedish authors and illustrators. The series returns to Tove Jansson’s original storylines and art style in watercolour and ink. The series includes seven picture books, some of which are also published as story collections. A new book is to be published at summer 2022!

Moomin and the Magic Hat The Way to Moominvalley

Moomin on Hattifatteners Island

Christmas comes to Moominvalley

(Mumintrollen på hattifnattarnas ö) Text by Alex Haridi, Cecilia Davidsson, illustrated by Cecilia Heikkilä Age 3+ | 40 pages | Bonnier Carlsen | 2020

(Julen kommer till Mumindalen) Text by Cecilia Davidsson, illustrated by Filippa Wiklund Age 3+ | 40 pages | Bonnier Carlsen | 2018

The Invisible Guest in Moominvalley (Mumintrollen och den osynliga gästen) Text by Cecilia Davidsson, illustrated by Filippa Wiklund Age 3+ | 40 pages | Bonnier Carlsen | 2019

(Mumintrollen och den magiska hatten) Text by Alex Haridi, Cecilia Davidsson, illustrated by Cecilia Heikkilä Age 3+ | 40 pages | Bonnier Carlsen | 2021

(Vägen till Mumindalen) Text by Alex Haridi, Cecilia Davidsson, illustrated by Cecilia Heikkilä Age 3+ | 40 pages | Bonnier Carlsen |2020

Moomin and the Last Dragon

Moomin and the Ocean Orchestra

(Mumintrollen och draken) Text by Alex Haridi, Cecilia Davidsson, illustrated by Cecilia Heikkilä Age 3+ | 40 pages | Bonnier Carlsen | 2019

(Mumintrollen och havsorkestern) Text by Alex Haridi, Cecilia Davidsson, illustrated by Filippa Wiklund Age 3+ | 40 pages | Bonnier Carlsen | 2020

Ilon Wikland / Artwork

Ilon Wikland (b. 1930) is an Estonian-born Swedish artist and illustrator. In 1944 she escaped the Soviet occupation of Estonia and arrived in Sweden as a 14-year-old refugee. She was later educated at Swedish art school Konstfack and in 1953 Wikland applied for a job as an illustrator at Stockholm-based publisher Rabén & Sjögren, where she started working with Astrid Lindgren. Wikland has said that Lindgren’s writing makes her see inner pictures. She also derives inspiration for her pictures from real life. Wikland illustrates in the the same way that Astrid Lindgren wrote - for “the child within her”. The pair worked together for many years and Wikland has illustrated some of the most appreciated works by Lindgren, including Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, Mardie, Karlsson on the Roof, The Children on Troublemaker Street, and many more. Ilon Wikland has donated over 600 of her original illustrations, now to be enjoyed at "Ilon's Wonderland", a gallery and theme centre for children and families in Haapsalu, Estonia.

Ilon Wikland artwork Over 1000 images and illustrations in a variety of techniques are available for publishing and licensing purposes from Rights & Brands. The text rights are with The Astrid Lindgren Company.

“Light, air, warmth, feeling and colour. That’s when the image comes alive.” Ilon Wikland

Madicken (Mardie)

Ronja the Robber's Daughter - 40th anniversary in 2021

Ilon Wikland / Artwork

Above: Ronja the Robber's Daughter. Below Madicken (Maddie) and Brothers Lionheart

Mauri Kunnas (b. 1950) is Finland’s most successful children’s book author today. He has published over 50 books, which have been translated into over 40 languages and sold nearly 10 million copies. Kunnas is also widely appreciated by adults, particularly for his comics about the Beatles. Mauri Kunnas offers the reader an unparalleled joy of discovery: his brilliantly coloured illustrations are filled with rich and humorous detail. He has an unrivalled gift for taking history and casting it in a new and hilarious way, as well as for giving old stories and legends his own delightful twist.

Who Seized the Sun? (Kuka kaappasi auringon?) Age 5+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2021

Greed swipes away the beaming sun from the sky. Mauri Kunnas returns to the mythical sceneries of the groundbreaking Canine Kalevala with a new topical theme. Golden beams of sunlight shine down on Kalevala, surrounded by beautiful nature. But then the forever greedy Louhi, mistress of the North, comes up with a wicked plan: what if the sun was hammered into gold coins? Louhi captures the sun in a cave, and darkness and coldness take over Kalevala. Northland again is boiling hot. But the sun possesses such power that even Louhi has to give in. Eventually, the greediest of all understands that there are far more important things in life than gold coins.

Mauri Kunnas / Picture Books

Santa’s Christmas Holiday (Joulupukin joululoma) Age 5+ | 40 pages | Otava | 2020

40 years after the classic Santa Claus, Mauri Kunnas returns with his fourth book about the real Santa in Lapland. Have you ever wondered what Santa Claus and the elves do when all the gifts are delivered? Up in the village of Korvatunturi, where the Christmas spirit is at its fullest, a welldeserved holiday break begins for everyone. It lasts for twelve days of Christmas, from Christmas Day to Epiphany. In this jolly Christmas story, we find out what happens over Santa’s holiday and how the Korvatunturi folk relax.

Santa Claus (Joulupukki) Age 5+ | 50 pages | Otava | 1981

In this Christmas classic we learn everything there is to know about Santa Claus, his elves and their magical home Mount Korvatunturi in Lapland. Santa Claus has been translated into 28 languages and about 2 million copies have been sold to date. The book celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2021!

Twelve Gifts for Santa Claus

Santa Claus and the Magic Drum

(Kaksitoista lahjaa joulupukille) Age 5+ | 42 pages | Otava | 1987

(Joulupukki ja noitarumpu) Age 5+ | 48 pages | Otava | 1995

What can an elf give Santa for Christmas? This is a story about sharing the gift of happiness with others, regardless of the season.

Odd things are happening in Santa’s village with Christmas just around the corner. A picture book based on an acclaimed animation, and the third book in the Christmas book series.

Aino Havukainen & Sami Toivonen / Tatu and Patu

Aino Havukainen (b. 1968) and Sami Toivonen (b. 1971) are best known as the creators of the hilarious Oddville boys, Tatu and Patu. The series includes 23 titles to date, and the riotous humour of these hugely popular illustrated books appeals to children and adults alike. Among many other awards and nominations, Tatu and Patu: This is Finland won the Finlandia Junior prize in 2007 and in 2017 the authors were granted the Finland State Prize for Children’s Culture. In Finland Tatu and Patu books have sold over 1 million copies and the translation rights have been sold in 23 languages.

Tatu and Patu at Summer Camp (Tatu ja Patu kesäleirillä) Age 5+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2021 Tatu and Patu at Summer Camp is a perfect book to allay anxieties about heading off to a new place and having to make new friends while being away from home. When the Oddville duo heads off to a week of summer camp for the first time, mishaps and bizarre incidents ensue and the usual hilarious antics follow. Summer camp with Tatu and Patu is something totally different and it all adds up to the best week ever for their new friend Timppa and the other campers.

Tatu and Patu: Tremendous Train Trip (Tatu ja Patu, kovaa menoa kiskoilla) Age 5+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2020

Tatu and Patu are travelling on a train for the very first time. What does one pack on a train journey: hot chocolate induced underwear and mashed all-you-can-eat, of course. The joy of discovery in the train leads into the most hilarious train trip towards Helsinki in this new comic album design. Back to the basic oddness and essence of these curious brothers.

Inger Sandberg and Lasse Sandberg / Picture Book

Inger Sandberg (b. 1930) and Lasse Sandberg (1924-2008) Swedish cartoonist and illustrator Lasse Sandberg and teacher and author Inger Sandberg met in the 1950s and started their successful collaboration as a creative team and married couple. Outside the Nordics they are best known for their books about Little Anna and Little Ghost Laban. Together Inger and Lasse wrote and illustrated over 100 books and they have been nominated and awarded several prestigious prizes, including the Astrid Lindgren prize and Elsa Beskow plaque.

Little Anna is a little girl who likes to do things by herself. She wants to build things and she wants to decide on things. She know how to! She has a good friend, the world’s Tallest Uncle. Tall Uncle is tall and thoughtful. Little Anna is small and very brave. Together they form a great team. Little Ghost Laban is a ghost who’s afraid of the dark. His scary (but kind) father has high hopes for his son, but Laban is more interested in helping out around the castle than learning the spooky business. His sister Labolina is feisty, full of fun and with a very strong voice that keeps them all awake at night.

Little Anna looks at Vehicles (Lilla Anna tittar på fordon) Age 0+ | 18 pages | Rabén & Sjögren | 2021

Little Anna looks at Animals (Lilla Anna tittar på djur) Age 0+ | 18 pages | Rabén & Sjögren | 2021

The Big Book about Little Anna, Ghost Laban and Friends

Three Stories about Little Ghost Laban

(Stora boken om Lilla Spöket Laban, Lilla Anna och några till) Age 3+ | 142 pages | Rabén & Sjögren | 2021

(Tre berättelser om lilla spöket Laban) Age 3+ | 96 pages | Rabén & Sjögren | 2021

Special anthology of the bestloved classic stories created by Inger and Lasse Sandberg with refreshed artwork. The six stories include Little Anna and Tall Uncle at Sea, Little Ghost Laban, Thumb's ball runs away, Help me, said Pulvret, What's that Noise, said Ghost Laban, When Little Anna Had a Cold and Black, White and Other Colours.

This story collection includes the following three original stories: Ghost Laban gets Little Sister, What's that Noise, said Ghost Laban, Daddy is Ill, said Ghost Laban.

Oili Tanninen (b. 1933) Finnish award-winning author and illustrator, has created over 20 children’s books. Her works have been published in various languages. Her simple, yet bold illustrations in graphic colours make her artwork feel as fresh today as when the first books were published in the 1960’s. Tanninen’s books have been published in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Swedish.

Bean and Ball

Hippu

(Papu ja Polla) Age 1+ | 28 pages | Otava | 1970

(Hippu) Age 1+ / 28 pages / Otava / 1967

A wintery tale in bold block colours. Bean the snow rabbit and Ball the snowman play in the snow. But when spring comes and rain starts, where do they go?

Beautifully crafted in collage techique, this simple, stylish picture book about little mouse Hippu is a classic.

A retro picture book series originally published only in Japan has been brought to life in stunning Pantone colours. New translations published in Finnish, Korean and soon in Italian.

Hippu and a Friend

Heppu and a House

Misu and a Balloon

Pommo and a Ball

(Hippu) Age 1+ | 28 pages | Kodansha | 1976

(Heppu) Age 1+ | 28 pages | Kodansha| 1976

(Misu) Age 1+ | 28 pages | Kodansha | 1976

(Pommo) Age 1+ | 28 pages | Kodanhsa | 1976

Hippu the mouse builds a snowmouse to enjoy a snowy day.

Heppu the dog needs a new home when his house gets too small.

Misu the cat buys the perfect birthday present for a friend.

Pommo the girl plays with a ball but her friend Piko the bird comes to help when the ball rolls onto the road.

Oili Tanninen / Picture books

Nina Pirhonen / Picture books

Nina Pirhonen (b. 1975) is a multi-talented picture book author and fashion and graphic designer. She knows her target audience: bold designs and bright colours, whether it is vehicles, animals or a tantrum-prone toddler. New character Leo the Lion has a very personal touch.

“The color scale of the illustration is as from a print by Marimekko” Kuvittaja magazine

Leo the Lion Says No

Leo the Lion Makes Friends

Leo the Lion Faces his Fears

(Leo Leijona sanoo ei) Age 2+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2019

(Leo Leijona tykkää kavereista) Age 2+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2020

(Leo Leijona voittaa pelon) Age 2+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2021

Heartfelt and real picture book about little Leo coming to terms with new emotions, learning new skills and pushing his boundaries. Temper tantrums are not always the way to get what you want! The book was nominated for Rudolf Koivu picture book award in 2019.

A sequel to continue the series on Leo the Lion navigating his way through growing pains and new experiences – how does one make friends and play with them nicely? Real experiences shine through in this new series on emotional development.

In the third book, Leo has an exciting day ahead: he is going to the doctors and to a new nursery. At night he can’t sleep. Even though Mom and Dad comfort him and the bright flashlight and monster repellent chase away the monsters, fear remains. Why does one have to be scared when it makes you feel so miserable?

Ninka Reittu (b. 1982) is an award-winning author-illustrator, she is based in Liperi, Eastern Finland where she lives in an old vicarage in the beautiful Finnish countryside together with her family. Reittu imbues both images and text with a uniquely heart-warming air. Her heartfelt Super-series on a father and son relationship has been nominated for various awards. Her book You Are Super Loved (Sinä olet superrakas) was nominated for Finlandia Junior in 2017. Her books have been translated into ten languages to date.

Tully and Roly the Pony (Ystäväni Pulla Vehnänen) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2021

Little Tully lives on a cosy farm together with her grandmothers and dreams about having her very own pony. When she encounters Roly at the nearby stables she is convinced that this is the pony of her dreams. But suspicious Roly isn’t as sure and turns out to be as snappy and saucy as Tully herself. How will the two find common ground and ever understand one another? Tully and Roly the Pony is a charming start to a new picture book series about friendship, understanding and accepting one for who they are despite the differences. The thoughtful narration is combined with vivid and bubbly illustrations.

You Are Super Loved

My Super Bellybutton

I Feel Super!

(Sinä olet superrakas) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2017

(Oma rakas supernapa) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2018

(Silloin kun on superolo) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2019

Ninka Reittu / Picture Books

Johanna Lestelä / Picture Books

Johanna Lestelä (b. 1984) is a debut author, who works as a teacher and understands her young audience. Fresh illustration style and funky colours make this new series stand out. The praised Tuikku series on first experiences presents everyday worries in a relatable way.

Tuikku Dares (Tuikku uskaltaa) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2021

Tuikku dreams about playing football but hesitates when Mummy enrols her on a football class. What if she isn't good enough? Does she even dare to try? Friendly neighbour and football enthusiast Lucky knows just what to say and encourages Tuikku to step on the field.

Tuikku's Bedtime

Tuikku and the Grumpy Day

(Tuikku ja pimeän mörkö) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2020

(Tuikun tärkeä tehtävä) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2019

It’s time for bedtime but Tuikku's toys all over the place. Mummy tells her to clean up but Tuikku gets upset. When her bedtime routine is finished, another worry raises its haid. Luckily, Mummy knows the tricks for overcoming the fear of the dark.

Tuikku is a three-year-old who has something heavy on her mind after a day at the nursery. The worry sits in her tummy and Tuikku must confess to her mummy that she has been mean to her best friend at nursery. Estelle must apologise to her friend.

Carl-Otto Johansson and Ola Lindbom / Picture Books

is a children's music performer behind the stage name Daddy Donut (Pappa Kapsyl in Sweden). He released his first record in 2012 and has been touring with his dinosaur rock ever since. Today he has played over one thousand concerts and his music videos has millions of views on YouTube.

Ola Lindbom (b. 1979) The illustrator Ola Lindbom (b. 1979) brings to life the chase and trill in Daddy Donut's test. He is an illustrator and librarian.

Running from a T-Rex (Jagad av en T-rex)

Age 3+ | 24 pages | Rabén & Sjögren | 2022 Daddy Donut is buying a hot dog when an ill-mannered T-Rex suddenly shows up and wants a bite. The best thing to do is to take the hotdog and run, but the T-Rex follows, and a thrilling chase through the pages begins. The rhyming text gallops through the pages and the quirky illustrations encourage to play hide and seek with the dinosaur. You can almost taste the hot dogs! This is a debut picture book by Daddy Donut, a Swedish children's music performer.

Photo private

Carl-Otto Johansson (b. 1976)

Susanne Trydal and Ellen Ekman / Picture Books

Susanne Trydal (b. 1981) comes from Åsa, a small town near Kungsbacka on the west coast of Sweden. She has worked in the publishing industry throughout her adult life. Trydal’s debut book, the first part of the fantasy trilogy about Hallahem that she co-wrote with Daniel Åhlin, was published in 2015. Ellen Ekman (b. 1986) is an illustrator and cartoonist, who has created several picture books with other authors and is known for the series Little Berlin. Her first own picture book, Idde och hajen (Idde and the Shark) was published in 2019. Celebrated Ekman has received numerous awards and prizes including te Albert Engström's Youth Prize, the Stora Pondus Prize, the Swedish Series Academy's Adamson Statuette and the Rosenström Culture Prize.

Watch out, Stella (Se upp, Stella)

Age 3+ | 32 pages | Rabén & Sjögren | 2021 A warm and humorous portrayal of sibling rivalry and affection, but also a poignant depiction of how children deal with their inner fears. Stella is five years old and has the world's best big sister who she adores. Agnes is cool, older and stronger, and she already goes to school. But when their mother says that Stella has got her eyes and must visit the eye doctor, jealous Agnes tricks little sister Stella into thinking that she's going blind. The following night worried Stella cannot sleep, and the next morning she decides to be prepared and starts to practice being blind. Moving around in her daily life at home and daycare with her eyes closed turns out to be a challenge with missteps and bumps on the way.

Jani Toivola and Saara Obele / Picture Books

is a Finnish actor, director and author who has worked in the media industry since the early 2000s. He was the first elected black MP in Finland. Previously, Toivola has written two books about personal identity and parenting. Boy in the Red Skirt is his first children’s book, which he hopes would speak to everyone and remind them that there are no rules, and your own story can change the world.

Saara Obele

(b. 1984) is an illustrator and a graphic designer living in Espoo, Finland. She studies Visual Communication Design at Aalto University. She loves bright colours, patterns, flowers, yoga, swimming and reading illustrated stories with her kids. Boy and the Skirt is her debut picture book. In Jani Toivola’s story, she was drawn to its ability to raise different emotions as well as its diverse characters.

Boy in the Red Skirt (Poika ja hame) Age 5+ | 40 pages | Otava | 2021

Boy in the Red Skirt is a brave story about the importance of being true to yourself and celebrating individuality. Told from a child’s perspective with an autobiographical voice, the book tells a story about Ronnie who can’t resist the red skirt that glimmers in his mother’s cupboard. He is aware that the world is divided between girls’ and boys’ things but who is to say that it should be? Grandma always says that you shouldn’t worry what others think about you. The red skirt is Ronnie's very own happy secret, and as it is set free in the schoolyard joy overcomes fear. Boy in the Red Skirt is author Jani Toivola’s first children’s book. The uplifting story is brought to life by rising Nordic talent, debut illustrator Saara Obele’s lively and beautiful artwork.

Jani Toivola (b. 1977)

Veera Salmi and Elina Warsta / Picture Books

Veera Salmi (b. 1976) writes contemporary urban stories with a deep understanding of children’s world and imagination. She won the Kaarina Helakisa Prize in 2014 and was nominated for Finlandia Junior in 2015 for her children’s novel. Her books have been adapted for film, television, theatre and radio, and translated into Danish, Estonian, Korean and Swedish. Elina Warsta (b. 1979) is an illustrator of various acclaimed picture books. In 2016 she was granted with the State Prize for Children’s Culture in Finland and selected for the IBBY Honour List.

Heybuddy Nursery is a picture book series, that celebrates diversity and everyday nursery life, the mood swings, fears and dramas that children encounter every day, but with all the humour, friendship and care that makes them feel safe. Each title is set in a different season and features a different protagonist, but all the children become familiar in this multi- cultural nursery. The insightful stories by Veera Salmi are illustrated with humour and colourful details by Elina Warsta.

Heybuddy Nursery 1: Rebecca’s Moody Day (Päiväkoti Heippakamu: Rebekan rapupäivä) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2016

Rebecca is very grumpy and even her favourite plush toy Cloud struggles to cheer her up, but everyday tasks and games eventually lift her mood.

Heybuddy Nursery 2: Pablo and the Wobbly Tooth

Heybuddy Nursery 3: Isabella and the Glimmering Girl

Heybuddy Nursery 4: Hung and Runaway Panther

(Päiväkoti Heippakamu: Pablo ja heiluvat hampaat) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2017

(Päiväkoti Heippakamu: Isabella ja tuikkiva tyttö) Age 3+ | 40 pages | Otava | 2018

(Päiväkoti Heippakamu: Hung ja pantteripako) Age 3+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2020

Pablo does not want to make a show of himself, even if it is his birthday and he has a wobbly tooth. He prefers peace and quiet and playing with his skeleton, Lopez.

Stella is new to the nursery, she wears sparkly glasses and can count in two languages. Isabella is cautious but then wants to make friends with her – luckily both girls love sparkles.

Hung is the sunshine of the nursery but when he grows restless, his heart starts beating bam-bam and turns into a ferocious panther Bam-Bam, who is even able to open the nursery gate.

Katri Kirkkopelto (b. 1966) is an award-winning artist, illustrator and art teacher who has a special talent for tailoring serious content to appeal to young children. She works closely with schools on material on emotional development. Her books support the child’s emotional and self-regulating development, and they have been translated into Dutch, Estonian and Russian to date.

Blue and Mysterious Messy (Molli ja salaperäinen Suttu) Age 3+ | 40 pages | Lasten keskus | 2021

Blue and Mysterious Messy is a cheerful and touching story about the importance of privacy, different habits, the challenges of living together and the line between selfishness and selflessness. Blue loves his home, a place of his own, a safe haven. But now strange things have occurred in Blue’s home. The house feels odd, things are misplaced, objects are falling off the shelves, and messy little footprints appear here and there. And why on earth are there rosehip seeds all over the place? Who is trespassing into Blue’s home? Together with his friend Little Pluck, Blue bravely attempts to solve the mysterious events and ends up on a bit of an adventure.

Blue’s Bedtime Fit of Laughter (Mollin iltahepuli) Age 2+ | 24 pages | Lasten keskus | 2020

Blue and the Green Pea (Molli ja hirveä herne) Age 2+ | 24 pages | Lasten keskus | 2020

These two new books start a younger Blue (Molli) series for the smallest in the family that deals with familiar daily matters that families relate to. With less text and underlined message, these introduce the relatable character of Blue to little readers. By shaking, flipping, and gently patting the pages of the book, surprising things happen on the next page. First topics deal with bedtime tantrums and picky eating.

Katri Kirkkopelto / Picture Books

Blue (Molli) Age 4+ | 34 pages | Lasten keskus | 2016

Blue is a warm-hearted story about friendship and loneliness, longing and determination, told with compassion and humour.

Blue and the Strange One

Piki’s Stormy Day

(Molli ja Kumma) 4+ | 36 pages | Lasten Keskus | 2018

(Piki ja pöljä päivä) Age 4+ | 32 pages | Lasten Keskus | 2020

As Blue and her friend Little Sisu try to find the answer to The Strange One’s secret they are forced to reflect on fear, bravery and prejudice.

Blue and the Edge of the World

Piki feels small and lonely at nursery, and to hide it he decides to be Storm – the wildest superhero who is not afraid of anything. But as Storm, you don’t play smoothly with others, you have to quarrel, and your anger just gets worse. With cuddles, kind words and saying sorry, Storm disappears. The second book in Piki series is a moving story about group challenges, feelings, self-esteem, and friendship.

(Molli ja maan ääri) Age 4+ | 40 pages | Lasten Keskus | 2019

Blue’s world consists of her house and garden. Blue feels safe there but recently she has been drawn to the mysterious forest behind the stone wall.

Piki - Why can't I Join in? (Piki - Minäkin haluan mukaan) Age 4+ | 32 pages | Lasten Keskus | 2016

“Pyjamaclowns are not allowed inside!” Piki stands baffled outside the club-house with a superhero cape around his shoulders. His new-found nursery friends are not allowing him to join after all, but instead slam the door in front of his nose. At home the tears fall. Piki is a story about bullying, recurring in a group, building confidence, emotions and friendship. It was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize in 2016.

Johanna Lumme / Picture Books

Johanna Lumme (b.1990) is an artist and illustrator, who is recognised for her illustrations in Finnish primary school books in collaboration with Siri Kolu. The Jungle Crew is her debut picture book. Johanna is also an illustrator of a new middle-grade series Wild House (see page 32).

The Jungle Crew - Into the Deep Blue

The Jungle Crew – The Secret of the Garden

(Viidakon väki ja ihmeellinen sininen) Age 5+ | 40 pages | Otava | 2021

(Viidakon väki ja puutarhan salaisuus) Age 5+ | 40 pages | Otava | 2020

The third book in the series deals with themes of bullying and working together on nature preservation. Stripe the Zebra feels out of place as he is bullied at school. As Stripe escapes his bullies to the beach he encounters a troubled turtle stuck in plastic waste. Stripe realises that the ocean and its inhabitants need help. Together with his class and the rest of the Jungle Crew, Stripe launches a clean-up operation. Confidence and acceptance follow.

The Jungle Crew’s adventures in the big city continue in this captivatingly colourful sequel as the animal refugees adapt to a new life and encounter new acquaintances in the busy city streets.

The Jungle Crew – into the City! (Viidakon väki ja suuri muutto) Age 5+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2019

The pressing themes of climate change and migration are depicted gently in this debut picture book. The Madagascar style adventure leads into discussion about adapting into new surroundings and new beginnings. Zebra, Giraffe and Mama Hen have a good life in their home jungle until several natural disasters force them to leave their home and they end up in a big city with high buildings instead of tall trees. Working together they build a new house that will feel like home for all of them.

Meri and Aleksi Korpela / Picture Books

Aleksi Korpela (b. 1986) and Meri Korpela (b. 1990) are new to picture book publishing but the couple shares a background in art and design: they are artists, sculptors and graphic designers. Meri writes the stories and Aleksi illustrates but they share the creative process and work on the details together.

Fearless Field-mouse (Peloton peltohiiri)

5+ | 48 pages | Otava | 2019 A charming story about a fieldmouse who reads stories about great adventures and fearless knights but who in reality is a bit scared of everything. Universal themes of courage and self-belief with an unexpected but relatable main character are brought to life in the seemingly classic but quirky illustrations. This is the first of the stories about the fearless field-mouse.

Fearless Field-mouse raises to the challenge

Fearless Field-mouse and the Nut Whack

(Peloton peltohiiri - Kaksintaistelu) 5+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2020

(Peloton Peltohiiri ja pähkinätäräys) 5+ | 32 pages | Otava | 2021

The adventures of the charming and well-intentioned field-mouse continue in this sequel. He ventures along forest paths with a friend and they end up on the doorstep of the terrifying beetle who has terrorized the family of grasshoppers for centuries. But the question is who is the bravest hero of all: The one who is fearless or the one who overcomes his fears? This storybook offers gentle encouragement to young readers with themes of courage, selfknowledge, overcoming fears and standing up for others.

Fearless Field-mouse continues to adventure in the third book of the enchanting picture book series. This time the furry little hero faces the most difficult challenge of his life: how to stop the lizards fighting? Will our red-caped hero find the courage to complete a brave act? Universal themes of courage and self-belief with an unexpected but relatable main character are brought to life in the seemingly classic but quirky illustrations. The detailed artwork is a beautiful visual invite to the world of Van Gogh and Wes Andersen films, both inspirations reflected in the illustrations.

Linda Bondestam (b. 1977) is one of the most celebrated illustrators of her generation and she has collaborated with numerous authors in Finland and abroad, most notably with Ulf Stark. Linda has been sitting on chair number 11 in the Swedish Children’s Book Academy since 2019. She has been nominated for a number of prizes for her vivid and playful illustrations, including the ALMA and Finlandia Junior. She has won the Swedish Picture Book of the Year in 2016 and the Nordic Council Prize in 2017. Most recently, her works have been translated into Danish, English, Finnish, Italian, Latvian and Norwegian.

My Life at the Bottom

Good Night Earth

(Mitt bottenliv) Age 4+ | 42 pages | Förlaget M | 2020

(God natt på jorden) Age 3+ | 40 pages | Förlaget M | 2018

An enchanting, surprising and touching story about climate change told by the voice of an astonishing and rare axolotl, how the environment is affected, and changed. Beautifully detailed illustrations depict the wonders of the underworld. An axolotl is a small smiling amphibian that lives its entire life at the larval stage, which means that it never really grows up. In this picture book we possibly meet the last of its kind as he thrives in his own pool enjoying his life beneath the waves. But as it gets hotter, the pool gets cloudy, and everyone moves on. Poor axolotl is left all alone. One day a giant wave sweeps away everything, and the axolotl embarks on a journey to the great unknown.

From the savanna to the city to outer space, this book offers a charming peek at the many ways we settle in for sleep, with gorgeous, dreamlike illustrations full of offbeat humor. Linda Bondestam’s debut as a picture book author is a beautiful bedtime story that stands out with its visual storytelling, illustrations full of wit and tenderness, distinctive choice of colour, a dash of humour, varied landscape, and surprising species. Die-cut pages invite little ones to discover how all kinds of creatures find peaceful and playful ways to end the day. English edition comes out at spring 2021.

Linda Bondestam / Picture Books

Malin Kivelä, Martin Glaz Serup and Linda Bondestam / Picture Books

Malin Kivelä © Niklas Sandström and Mathias Olander

(b. 1974) has written novels, children’s books and plays, and her writing has been published in several languages, including Vogue Italia. She has studied journalism and theatre. Her special interests include space, television series and dance.

Martin Glaz Serup (b. 1978) is an awarded Danish author who lives in Copenhagen where he works as a teacher of literary studies at the University of CopenhagenHe has published several children’s books, poetry collections, chapbooks-essays and prose work and also works as a literary critique for different publications.

If You Meet a Bear (Om du Möter en Björn) 40 pages | Förlaget M | 2021

A quirky field guide on what to do if you encounter a bear in the forest that encourages to talk about the relationship between humans and animals. A must-read for every aspiring outdoor adventurer! Are you prepared for a bear encounter? This amusing picture book attempts to offer advice about what to do and not do if you come upon a bear while venturing into the forest. Should one run away, climb high or maybe just offer your honey jar to the bear as soon as possible? Several facts to remember about this furry creature. This laugh-out-loud, how-to guide is brought to life by awarded illustrator Linda Bondestam’s expressive artwork that captures the contrast between the dangers of the dark forest and exuberant storytelling. Published simultaneously in In Swedish by Förlaget M, in Danish by Jensen & Dalgaard and in Finnish by Teos.

Illustrated by Linda Bondestam

Frank Furu (b. 1984) is based in Pietarsaari. You Are Not My Mother is his debut book, created together with illustrator Linda Bondestam. The touching story was inspired by his personal experiences and emotional encounters while working with refugee children for almost a decade.

Illustrated by Linda Bondestam

You Are Not My Mother (Ni är inte min mamma) Age 4+ | 32 pages | Förlaget M | 2021

A wistful picture book depicting a little refugee girl’s emotional journey. Aysha is on her own in a strange new place, Finland. Together with others she lives at a reception centre and goes to school. Everyone around her do their best to look after and comfort her. They are friendly, they cook and eat together with Aysha, talk to her and stroke her hair. But they are not her mother, heartbroken Aysha thinks to herself as she longs for her loved ones and familiar village life. Some days are good and some are gloomy, but there is always someone to comfort her and a lap to sit on, Aysha is not alone. This is an important and stopping story based on real events – a touching narrative by Frank Furu combined with Linda Bondestam’s delicate colour palette.

Frank Furu and Linda Bondestam / Picture Books

Tove Appelgren and Salla Savolainen / Picture Books

Tove Appelgren (b. 1969) © Pette Rissanen, © Jari Riihimäki

is an author, a director and a playwright. The story about the headstrong young girl with a stressed-out mum gained international interest. Vesta-Linnéa books have been translated into 13 different languages and nominated for several prizes, including the Finlandia prize.

Salla Savolainen (b. 1962) is a celebrated and productive illustrator, who excels in children’s books and is known for her varied styles and successful collaboration with many authors. She won the Kukko award in 2013 for non-fiction.

Popular Vesta-Linnéa books centre around the headstrong, creative and curious VestaLinnéa, her ideas and issues with not wanting to sleep, the dream of her own dog, having dark thoughts and feeling lonely. These books address common emotions and issues, that many readers will recognise and connect with. The TV rights have been optioned for Swedish language live-action series set to go into production in 2021.

Vesta-Linnéa and Friends

Vesta-Linnéa in the Moonlight

(Vesta-Linnéa och vännerna) Age 4+ | 32 pages | 2019

(Vesta-Linnéa i månskenet) 38 pages | 2013

Vesta-Linnéa’s Darkest Thought

Go to Sleep, Vesta-Linnéa

Vesta-Linnéa and the Monster Mum

(Vesta-Linnéa svartaste tanke) 38 pages | 2008

(Sov nu, Vesta-Linnéa) 36 pages | 2003

(Vesta-Linnéa och monstermamman) 34 pages |2001

Vesta-Linnéa’s Dog (Vesta-Linnéa och gosnosen) 34 pages | 2005

Lena Frölander-Ulf (b. 1976) is a Helsinki-based author and illustrator, who writes in Swedish. Her works have been presented in multiple exhibitions in Finland and internationally and she has been nominated for numerous awards, including Finlandia Junior twice. Nelson Tigertass is her first novel.

Nelson Tigerpaw (Nelson Tigertass) Age 7+ | 282 pages | Förlaget M | 2019

Nelson Mareng stands alone at the train station in Berlurenstad, a city where most are in too much of a hurry to help a stranger. But not everyone. Suddenly, Nelson is involved in a world full of dangerous secrets, fake news and grand adventures. Embark on a trip beyond Berlurenstad's tidy facades in Frölander-Ulf’s tender and humoristic book about friendship and daring to stand up for what feels right. The novel was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize and the Runeberg Prize in 2019, and it won the Arvid Lydecken Prize in 2020.

lf lander-U Lena Frö

”Fruktansvärt! För skymmare är ingenting heligt.”

"A wide and impressive children's book with echoes of a classic adventure novel and traditional fairytales. The undertones of modern society are presented in a moving yet hopeful way: the rootlessness and wrong-doing are won by friendship and bravery, when life is not restricted by prejudice.” Finlandia Jury

Lena Frölander-Ulf / Fiction 7+

Lena Frölander-Ulf / Picture Books

Fidel-series by Lena Frölander-Ulf is showered with glowing reviews and award nominations, including Finlandia prize. Through the years and the titles, she has refined the scraping technique used creating these books. The text and image create a fine whole and the message that fears can be overcome is important. For many children, this ability is one of the biggest challenges to overcome on the journey to adulthood.

"The trilogy about the child who meets the forest, the sea and the big city with the dog Fidel is reminiscent of a box of English sweets. With her adorable scraping technique, Lena Frölander-Ulf has conquered a very own corner in contemporary, Nordic picture book art."

Lena Frölander-Ulf JAG, FIDEL OCH SKOGEN SCHILDTS & SÖDER STRÖMS

LENA FRÖLANDER-ULF

Dagens Nyheter newspaper, Sweden

Me Fidel and the Forest (Jag, Fidel och skogen) Age 3+ | 40 pages | S&S | 2016

Lena Frölander-Ulf Lena Frölander-Ulf

Pappa älskar havet. Han älskar vågorna. Han älskar fisken som gömmer sig i tången. Allra mest älskar han att köra båt. Då vill han åka omkring hela dagen och hälsa på folk vi inte känner.

Jag tycker inte om att hälsa på folk vi inte känner. Dessutom är jag rädd! För vågorna. För tången.

PA PPA, JAG OCH H AV ET

FIDEL OCH JAG I STORSTA N

Fidel JAG STORSTAN

För slemmiga gäddor med gula ögon och vassa tänder.

Man kan ha en pappa som är social fast man själv är blyg. Då kanske man hellre leker med sin hund och sin leksaksbåt. Letar efter vackra stenar. Och hittar en egen fest! Med undervattensmusik. Ett party man går på bara om man vill. Det slemmiga kanske inte är så farligt ändå?

ISBN 978-952-333-108-2

LENA FRÖLANDER-ULF

Lena Frölander-Ulf har illustrerat boken i skrapkartong och akvarell. Hennes senaste bilderbok i samma anda, ”Jag, Fidel och skogen” (S&S, 2016), nominerades till Finlandia Junior, Toisinkoinen och Runeberg Junior.

www.forlaget.com

Me Dad and the Sea

Me, Fidel and the Big City

(Pappa, jag och havet) Age 3+ | 40 pages | Förlaget M | 2021

(Fidel och jag i storstan) Age 3+ | 40 pages | Förlaget M | 2021

Pete Leppänen (b. 1975) is a Helsinki-based author. With his 30 years of experience from the underground world of rock’n’roll and a touch of imagination, Pete came upon the story about Rock the Rabbit, an underdog and daydreamer and Rolla the Owl, his howling companion, the budding rock stars of the village of Trickythicket. Leppänen works as a publishing manager in the field of translated literature and music books. After business hours, he continues to create new rock tunes with his guitar to inspire the adventures of Rock and Rolla.

Rock the Rabbit and Rolla the Owl (Rokki-pupu ja Rolli-pöllö Keikkakuumetta) Age 7+ | appx 180 pages | Lasten keskus | 2021

A story for little rock fans and parents who want to tune up storytime. When word goes out, and students at the Trickythicket School learn that the local world-famous rock band the Ghastly Gulls will be performing at their school disco, Rolla the Owl sparks an idea: her and Rock the Rabbit’s band would be the perfect opening act. As the idea takes flight, the duo finds themselves in front of a chance of a lifetime as they prepare for the upcoming performance. Not all are excited about the duo’s upcoming show, especially class bully Snit the Squirrel. Luckily Old Man Owl and "Magic" Mitts the Mole have their back and guide them towards their dreams. The book includes a rock-themed vocabulary at the end, allowing readers to familiarise themselves with the world of rock.

Pete Leppänen / Fiction 7+

Martin Widmark and Helena Willis / Comics 6+

Martin Widmark (b. 1961) is a Swedish writer and teacher. He is considered one of the most prominent writers of children’s fiction today. LasseMajas Detektivbyrå, (The Whodunit Detective Agency) has been translated into more than 35 languages. Widmark's books are constantly on the best-seller lists, on the libraries’ most popular lists and together with Helena Willis, he has been awarded the children’s own book award 11 times for the LasseMaja titles. Helena Willis (b. 1964)

is a Swedish illustrator and author. Helena claims to have the best job in the world – “I play all day and every day”. Together with Martin Widmark, she has been creating the book series of LasseMajas Detektivbyrå, “The Whodunit Detective Agency” since 2002.

Nr 2 • 2021

Nr 1 • 2021

SAMLADE SERIER

Book rights sold to Poland, Norway and Finland to date.

nya r mysterie

SAMLADE SERIER

This brand-new comic magazine was launched by Egmont in Sweden in 2020, with six issues planned yearly. All material sold by Rights & Brands for magazine, album or omnibus releases. Each magazine contains two new stories and a total of 28 pages of comics.

LasseMajas detektivbyrå

Whodunit Detective Agency Comic Magazines

C1 Samlingsalbum 1.indd 3

Spår i snön Klurigt och lurigt: Träna med Uno!

Sid 11

2020-11-17 11:22

Whodunit Detective Agency Comic 2020 Omnibus edition

Whodunit Detective Agency Comic Magazine #1

170 pages | 2020

36 pages | 2021

Nr 3 • 2021

Nr 4 • 2021

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VALLEBY-

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kanelbullen Klurigt & lurigt: Gör ett hemligt alfabet!

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Whodunit Detective Agency Comic Magazine #2

Whodunit Detective Agency Comic Magazine #3

Whodunit Detective Agency Comic Magazine #4

36 pages | 2021

Coming soon! Activity & colouring books!

Siri Kolu (b. 1972) is a writer, dramatist, director and theatre instructor among many other duties in the Finnish cultural field. She is a Finlandia Junior Prize winner and her works have been translated into 21 languages. She has been awarded the Laivakello Prize by the Finnish Institute for Children's Literature and in the Netherlands, Siri Kolu won the Silver Slate Pencil. Me and the Robbersons received an honour mention in British Book Trust's In Other Words competition in 2018. Siri Kolu is a front-line author with a strong voice and a broad range from humourous middle grade to edgy YA, cross-over.

Wild House trilogy A house so full of secrets that it runs away! An action-packed contemporary adventure trilogy with speedy chasing scenes, secretive characters, Cluedolike problem solving – and a house that grows legs. Bravery, imagination, tolerance and the ability to co-operate are the key to figure out the hidden secrets about the house that itself is a living creature. With many twists and turns throughout the books, the main character TomTom and his new friends experience an adventure of a lifetime as they set on a quest to solve the mystery of the wild house, discover the existence of Roof Riders and eventually encounter the wild house of nightmares in the finale of the popular trilogy. Combined with illustrator Johanna Lumme’s black and white illustration the story embraces freedom, childhood, diversity and creativity.

Wild House Book 1: The Amazing Villa Van Böök 224 pages | 2019

Wild House book 2: Roof Riders 254 pages | 2020

Wild House Book 3: The Battle of The Black House 294 pages | 2021

" Siri Kolu has evolved into a modern day Astrid Lindgren.” Hämeen Sanomat

Siri Kolu / Middle Grade Fiction

Siri Kolu / YA Fiction

Stories from the Edge of The World (Iltasatuja maailmanpalosta) Age 14+ | 334 pages | Otava | 2021

An impactful novel about the power of stories, family and love, hope and war. How stories we tell shape our history and our destiny. An exclamation mark of human rights and life after a pandemic. With the entire world against Pilvi and others alike infected by the virus, it is the stories that give hope for survival. Pilvi and Julian have both change when infected by the T flu virus. T people are a persecuted minority in their society, seen as a threat to humans. Life is a continuous struggle as they are on a constant run, finding shelter from abandoned factories and metro stations. Pilvi begins to tell stories to Julian, who she has rescued so he can sleep at night. T people must decide if they want to claim a place in the world by war. Pilvi also discovers that survival among her own depends on the stories – they can either keep one alive or lead to destruction. The novel builds on the stories of the books The Terror Inside and Strangers Outside as an independent sequel. Chillingly, these novels were imagined before the current pandemic and that makes Stories from the Edge of the World an uncanny read - how imagination has reflected future events of our current reality.

Terror Inside (PI Pelko ihmisessä) Age 14+ | 286 pages | Otava | 2021

Strangers Outside (IP Ihmisen puolella) Age 14+ | 318 pages | Otava | 2021

Helena Waris (b. 1970) writes atmospheric fantasy novels for young adults, where the stories are based in a world that draws inspiration from Finnish folklore. The Machine-trilogy present a new side of the author: mystery adventure writer, whose page-turners can be compared to those of Veronica Roth. Helena Waris has won the Kuvastaja price, awarded by the Finnish Tolkien Society, for an unrivalled four times.

Machine trilogy is an atmospheric dystopian adventure set in a world damaged by climate crisis, where overpowering machines have taken over. How will humans survive in the world ruled by Machines?

Machine trilogy book 1: Bird Binder

Machine trilogy book 2: Waterspinner

Machine trilogy book 3: Icewarden

(Linnunsitoja) Age 13+ | 170 pages | Otava | 2017

(Vedenkehrääjä) Age 13+ | 157 pages | Otava | 2018

(Jäänvartija) Age 13+ | 218 pages | Otava | 2019

As the beginning of a trilogy, Bird Binder is an ingeniously woven mystery set in a world ruled by the omniscient Machines where freedom hangs on the delicate wings of the birds. The helicopter takes Zemi out to sea, to a lighthouse island beyond the watchful eyes of the State, the Chasms and the Machines. The island forms the base of the resistance movement. A dovecote sits atop the lighthouse. The birds carry messages across the sea; the only method of communication not governed by the Machine. The birds are the only way the Resistance can survive.

Waterspinner is set in a postecocatastrophe world ruled by all-knowing machines. After a crisis on the remote lighthouse island where the resistance group was based, their leader, Saz, ends up on the other side of the ocean. While searching for a friend, he travels through a devastated land where water resources are evaporating. In the midst of refugee floods and cities buried in sand, Saz has to choose which future he wants to fight for.

After the resistance was wiped out by the Machines, Thom has lived low key in Mahar, but when he catches an encrypted radio message with unexpected information, secrets are revealed. Thom finds out that the continents are in turmoil. With chaos spreading, Thom and his friends head north, where no humans are known to live. The book that ends the ingeniously threaded mystery of Machine-trilogy turns everything we have learned so far on its head.

Helena Waris / Young Adult Fiction

Nonna Wasiljeff / Young Adult Fiction

Nonna Wasiljeff (b. 1983) is a debut author with a mature voice. Her writing is inspired by computer games and classic adventure stories with a hint of fantasy and horror. Her themes include fear of otherness, testing one’s boundaries and facing the unknown. Grim Boy was nominated for Topelius Prize in 2019 and Russian rights have been sold to date.

A debut novelist's creative mix of timely totalitarian world of horror, classic fantasy adventure and gripping suspense with elements of cautionary tales and coming of age story.

Grim Boy

Dust Boy

(Loukkupoika) Age 14+ | 336 pages | Otava | 2018

(Tomupoika) Age 14+ | 300 pages | Otava | 2019

15-year-old Aaron has always lived in the imprisonment camp – Grim. It is dominated by the ruthless, mysterious Dusts. To survive, the best strategy is to keep your head down and obey the rules. Otherwise, the Dusts will drag you to the Second Level – where unimaginable horrors take place and from where only a few return. But the Second Level is also the only way out. Courage and innocence are Aaron’s only weapons until he discovers his dormant powers.

In the second book, the imprisonment camp Grim does not let Aaron out of its grip. Aaron has fled from the Grim, only to end up living among the fearsome Dusts, as one of them. His newly discovered powers rave fear and attract strange characters to him. He is relentlessly followed by a shadowy nocturna Lazar, who is watching Aaron’s every move. Aaron struggles to get through the novice Dust training but when a new friend of his is captured by the Dusts, he is forced to face once again the terrors of Grim.

Dess Terentyeva / Young Adult Fiction

is an author of Russian origin who lives in the vibrant city of Tampere in Finland. As a migrant author, both Russian and Finnish cultural aspects reflect in her works. Her writing also carries strong LGBTQ themes. Terentyeva has a Master of Arts from the University of Jyväskylä. With Lovely (Ihana) Terentyeva won WSOY's new voices YA writing competition in 2021.

Dess Terentyeva (b. 1992)

Lovely (Ihana) 14+ | 128 pages | WSOY | 2021

A fresh and cohesive verse novel with a narrative that resembles the spoken word. How does one live in a world filled with assumptions and prejudices? What to do when you assume yourself? Lilja is a pansexual in 9th grade who constantly has a crush. Lilja has nicknamed her latest social media crush as Lovely. It turns out that Lovely is the child of Lilja’s single dad’s latest girlfriend, quite the game-changer. Lovely appears to be a confident and conscious nonbinary on social media, but Lovely’s conservative mother has no clue about her child’s true identity. Can Lilja come to terms with the fact that dad is dating a woman who seems to be transphobic? And can one force another to show their true colours? In 2021 Lovely won Finnish publishing house WSOY’s writing contest that discovers new voices.

Susanna Hynynen & Dess Terentyeva / Cross-over Fiction

Susanna Hynynen (b. 1987) has studied creative writing at the Viita Academy in Tampere. She lives in Southern Finland and spends her leisure time with her two dogs, reading confessional poetry and obsessing over movies from the 80’s.

Dess Terentyeva see page 36. Neon City (Neon kaupunki) Age 16+ | 426 pages | Like | 2020

Neon City is the debut of the urban dark fantasy series of the same name. Inspired by Slavic mythology and the 80’s movies and music culture, the series is set in an imaginary Russian underworld of gangs, drugs, violence and lust. Finnish youngster Vera Maksimovna with Russian roots struggles to find the balance between two cultures and national identities. The only person who accepts her is her best friend Tarkkis who has vanished. While searching the streets of the restless suburbs, Vera encounters Slava, a young and attractive guy who promises to lead her to the lost friend. Suddenly, Vera is swiped away and finds herself under the neon lights of Elm, an odd parallel world with its eternal night. Vera discovers that her best friend is a member of the local gang Gorky, lead by dreadful witch Baba Yaga who gobbles up naughty children. Vera has no choice but to join the gang and fight for her life against other gangs and beings of the dark world. Neon City is nominated for the 2021 Kuvastaja award.

Book Cover The Spiral Road The Spiral Road (Spiraalitie) Age 16+ | 426 pages | Like | 2021

It is all about victory or death in the hectic and grim sequel of the fantasy trilogy! One can’t escape a nightmare. The city of Elm is even more chaotic and dangerous when the trio returns. Vera, her friend Tarkkis and Slava return to the familiar parallel world of Elm, where nothing is the same. There’s almost no trace of the former gang, and a new cast attempts to survive in the ruins of the city of nightmares, with its new and even more brutal laws and hosts. To make things worst, Koschei The Deathless has returned to the streets of Elm and is determined that Vera is his bride to be. Also, another tsar is in search of a bride. Alongside the enemy gangs and dangers lurking in the dark, Vera and her friend Tarkkis must face their old sins eye to eye.

Jenni Pääskysaari (b. 1975) is a TV and radio journalist, a producer and an author of five inspirational books. Matti Pikkujämsä (b. 1976) is an award-winning Finnish artist and illustrator, who won the first Illustrator of the Year award in 2019.

Moments Before the World Changed (Hetki ennen kuin maailma muuttui) Age 6+ | 80 pages | Otava | 2019

What happened when a boy with stage fright received a guitar and overcame his fears? How did a disobedient girl on a bus start a battle for human rights? Who were the first creatures on the dark side of the Moon? It turns out we didn’t know all about Elvis. Rosa Parks’ story is familiar to us, but who has heard about Claudette Colvin? Laika the Dog has gone down in history but not the turtles who paved the way for the Moon landing. The familiar format of Rebel stories introduces us carefully researched, less-known moments in history that changed the course of events, in bedtime size bites for everyone.

Jenni Pääskysaari and Matti Pikkujämsä / Non-fiction

Salla Savolainen / Non-fiction

Salla Savolainen (b. 1962) is a celebrated and productive illustrator, who excels in children’s book and is known for her varied styles and successful collaboration with many authors, including Star Hill Stables (Tikkumäki) series with Reetta Niemelä and VestaLinnéa -series with Tove Appelgren. She has also written four picture books herself. Savolainen’s drawings have been shortlisted and awarded several prizes including the Kukko award in 2013 for non-fiction. She has also been nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize three times. Her works have been translated in more than ten languages to date.

The next books in the series introduce readers to the busy and noisy daily life at a cement plant and a wrecking yard. The series is to be published in Estonian, Czech, Russian, Swedish and Thai to date.

Mastermind illustrator Salla Savolainen rolls out with Asphalt!, the first part of the new Construction trilogy. Welcome to the world of cement mixers, diggers, bulldozers, dump trucks, rumbling rollers, graders and pavers, fascination gizmos, loads of know-how and action. The noise, sights, and constant activity of the construction site make each day interesting. Learning about building roads and how they are constructed has never been so much fun.

Construction series: Asphalt! 2021 Concrete! 2022 Junk! 2023

Asphalt!

Concrete!

(Asfalttia!) Age 5+ | 46 pages | WSOY | 2021

(Betonia!)) Age 5+ | 46 pages | WSOY | 2022

Linda Liukas / Non-fiction

Linda Liukas (b. 1986) is a children’s book author and illustrator who travels the world as a keynote speaker and shares the message of embracing coding and computing at technology conferences, teacher training sessions and even at United Nations. In 2018 she was selected on the Forbes list of top 50 women in tech. In 2019 she launched Love Letters to a Computer teacher training programme on YouTube. Hello Ruby books have been translated into 33 languages.

"Linda Liukas wants kids to understand and embrace basic computer logic, so that they later formulate code in the same effortless and creative way they build structures with LEGO." —The Wall Street Journal

Hello Ruby – The Magnificent Computer Adventure (Hello Ruby. Mahtava tietokoneseikkailu) Age 5+ | 256 pages | Otava | 2021

The world-famous Hello Ruby series is now available in one volume! A collection of the four original books, seasoned with new exercises on each topic. Welcome to the whimsical world of computing and learn about computers, programming and technology together with Ruby. This bind-up comprises four different stories from the world of computers that teach how the Internet works and how machines act and learn. Combined with up to 100 updated exercises and a new teacher's guide at the end of the book. Hello Ruby books have been translated in 33 languages and they have taken the author and coding ambassador Linda Liukas, loved by teachers and tech world, all around the world.

Linda Liukas / Non-fiction

Hello Ruby 1: Adventures in Coding Age 5+ | 112 pages | Feiwel & Friends | 2015

In Ruby’s world, anything is possible if you set your mind to it. As Ruby embarks on her adventure, children will be introduced through storytelling to the basic concepts of coding and programming.

Hello Ruby 2: Journey Inside the Computer Age 5+ | 96 pages | Feiwel & Friends | 2016

A journey inside the machine that powers our world. The computers around us work tirelessly, but what if there was a way to peek inside? Part storybook, part workbook, the book even includes a DIY paper computer.

Hello Ruby 3: Expedition to the Internet

Hello Ruby 4: Robot’s First Day at School

Age 5+ | 96 pages | Otava | 2017

Age 5+ | 96 pages | Otava | 2018

Join Ruby and her friends in their quest to build the most amazing Snow Internet ever. Future kid coders can put their knowledge and imagination to the test with the fun and creative exercises included in the activity book section.

Are people and computers the same or different from each other? Do robots have feelings? Emotionfilled narrative and mind-bending activities explain the difference between how humans and machines act and learn. Dive into the world of artificial intelligence.

Laura Ruohonen (b. 1960) is one of the most prominent Finnish playwrights, a poet and director whose works have been translated into 27 different languages. She has been granted several awards, including Kordelin’s literary award and Pro Finlandia 2010. Erika Kallasmaa (b. 1969) Erika Kallasmaa is an award-winning artist, illustrator and graphic designer. She is a master of visual story-telling and her medium expands beyond the means of books and printed matters to theatre, television, architecture, performance arts and installations. Kallasmaa was awarded the Finnish state prize of visual arts in 2013.

CRAYFISH Astacus astacus They say only a gloomy doomster dwells alone, backwards in backwaters, loves muck and pees from his neck. But for the Crayfish, the way to be is to live your life family-free: Just me! – that´s pure luxury!

Otus Opus – Zoology Poetry (Otus Opus, Zoologipoesi) Age 5+ | 64 pages | Otava & Förlaget M | 2020

An enclyclopedia in verse about strange and wonderful insects and small animals. A thrilling collection of fact-based animal poems featuring over 30 catsized creatures and smaller: meercats, flying squirrels, sea snake, hedgehogs and bumblebees. The factual texts are accompanied by exhilarating animal art. This stunningly different fact book has notions of Eric Carle’s illustration style and delicious madcap poems. The book has been published simultaneously in Finnish and in Swedish.

Laura Ruohonen and Erika Kallasmaa / Non-fiction and Poetry

Copyright © Laura Ruohonen & Erika Kallasmaa 2019 This work was supported by The National Museum of Finland, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Alfred Kordelin Foundation & The Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Laura Ruohonen and Erika Kallasmaa are an internationally acclaimed team. Their illustrated poetry books Allakka pullakka, Yökyöpelit and Tippukivitapaus are loved by children and adults alike. Their Sea Monsters exhibition at The Maritime Museum of Finland in 2019–2021 inspired this book.

Laura Ruohonen and Erika Kallasmaa / Non-fiction and Poetry

Long ago when the Earth was f l a t and much smaller than now, the seas were swarming with monsters. Even an ordinary dog or a lion on a swimming trip could turn into a Cold-Blooded Holothurian or a Ghastly Kraken! This book will take you to the birthplace of sea monsters. They keep on emerging! Now you can assemble the most magnificent of monsters!

POT BELLY COMB JELLY Plutius plotius Belly like a pot, jelly-like – and not a single bone in this lot!?

Sea Monsters (Merihirviöt, Havsodjur) Age 5+ | 22 pages | Into Kustannus & Förlaget M | 2020

Create your own creatures in this clever novelty format by the awardwinning creative duo. How would a Cold-blooded Holothurian, a slobbish sea sausage look like? And how about a Simplicissimus felix, with no eyes, no brain, no love, no pain? Or a combination of both? Illustrated imaginary Sea Monsters with sharp and witty poems for all ages. The clever mix-and-match novelty format gives endless possibilities of combining new creatures and mockLatin names for them. Creative reading, play and poems inspired by a sea-themes exhibition is published simultaneously in Finland in Finnish, Swedish and English.

The previous illustrated poetry books by an internationally known and awarded team of Laura Ruohonen and illustrator Erika Kallasmaa, Allakka Pullakka, Yökyöpelit and Tippukivitapaus, are loved by children and adults alike and have become modern classics that have inspired an award-winning television series, theatre plays and music.

Merja Kalm (b. 1976)

is a teacher, an expert on pedagogy and an author of text books and non-fiction. A Good Guy! is her first non-fiction book for children.

Mira Mallius (b. 1981) is an illustrator and a designer who has illustrated several children’s books. She is known for her charming animal print stationary.

A Handbook of Superpowers for Cool Kids (Hyvä tyyppi) Age 7+ | 80 pages | Lasten Keskus | 2020

What are good guys made of? Bravery, honesty, kindness, generosity, and many other attributes that can be thought of as superpowers in everyday life. These qualities help us navigate at home, school, hobbies, in new situations and they can be practiced to make us more confident and supportive. Ten stories present cases of different ethical questions. The creative layout, facts, tips and activities inspire to put these skills into practice. Perfect for primary schoolers and up, this guide book based on positivity and mindfulness helps us to recognise these empathic skills, to bring out the good guy in us.

Merja Kalm and Mira Mallius / Non-fiction

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