Finlandia Junior Prize nominations for Hannele Huovi, Kristiina Louhi, Hannu Hirvonen and Pia Sakki

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The Giant Girl and Her Tiny Friend (Jättityttö ja Pirhonen, Tammi 2011), written by Hannele Huovi and illustrated by Kristiina Louhi, and The Crododile in Love (Rakastunut krokotiili, Tammi 2011), written by Hannu Hirvonen and illustrated by Pia Sakki, have been nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize. The winner of the prestigious award is announced on 23 November 2011. The Finlandia Junior Prize is awarded by the Finnish Book Foundation in recognition of the best Finnish book for children and young people. The award sum is 30,000 euros.

Congratulatios to Hannele Huovi, Kristiina Louhi, Hannu Hirvonen and Pia Sakki!

About author


Hannele Huovi

Hannele Huovi (born 1949) is an acclaimed Finnish author who wrote her first children’s radio play while studying for her university degree. In addition to being known as a versatile creator of children’s and juvenile literature, she also writes poetry and prose for adults.

Huovi has received several awards and nominations for her work; among these is the Topelius Prize for the best Finnish youth novel in 2002 (for The Feather Chain), a Finlandia Junior nomination in 2011 (for The Giant Girl and her Tiny Friend), and a nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

During her career Hannele Huovi has collaborated with a variety of illustrators and artists, namely with Kristiina Louhi (Jättityttö ja Pirhonen) and Jukka Lemmetty (Urpo ja Turpo). Hannele Huovi is also an accomplished translator into the Finnish language, having translated more than 50 children’s books.

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About author


Kristiina Louhi

Kristiina Louhi is an artist and an awarded graphic designer, illustrator and author. She has illustrated dozens of children’s books over the years including illustrations for the texts by Hannele Huovi, Hannu Mäkelä, Leena Laulajainen, Katri Tapola and Riitta Jalonen.

Kristiina Louhi’s Aino series has been published since 1984 and Tomppa series since 1993. Books illustrated by Kristiina Louhi have been published in over ten languages all around the world.

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