Mervi Lindman
Mervi Lindman (b.1971) is a much-loved illustrator whose cheerful artworks have been published in 10 different countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Thailand, Czech Republic, Russia, France, China and Korea) so far. Her professional works include two Memmuli books, Ingrid books in Swedish with Katerina Janousch, Siiri books with Tiina Nopola, Ella books with Timo Parvela, and many more. Lindman’s illustrations have been regularly appraised by critics and public alike, and she has received several grants to support her art work.
Praises:
“Mervi Lindman conjures up breathtakingly beautiful, gentle, big-hearted double page il- lustrations that make you want to linger over them. The text draws you in with the same qualities. When you put them together, what you get is a warm, compassionate story”.
– Keskisuomalainen
Written by Mervi Lindman | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Memmuli Runs Away to the Circus
Rights sold: Lithuanian, Norwegian
It is raining and Memmuli is bored. Mum and Dad are washing up, reading the paper and doing other grown-up stuff. They would not even be aware of Memmuli if she did not raise her voice a bit. When dad tells Memmuli to be quiet, Memmuli loses it. She packs her bag and runs away to a circus. At least she will never be bored!
At the circus, Memmuli mounts a galloping horse and sticks her head into a lion’s jaws, and she is not scared one little bit. But when brave little Memmuli climbs on to the trapeze and stumbles, it is rather nice to fall safely straight into Mum’s arms. Especially, as Dad has made a great big pancake, which is large enough for everyone to have a feast.
Memmuli Runs Away to the Circus is illustrator Mervi Lindman’s second picture book for children. Memmuli has been featured earlier in Brave Little Memmuli (2005). Mervi Lindman’s enchanting illustrations are familiar from, for example, katerina Janouch’s Ingrid books and Tiina Nopola’s Siiri series.
Written by Mervi Lindman | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Brave Little Memmuli
Rights sold: Korean, Lithuanian, Russian, Danish, Norwegian
Siri Series
Siri is a charming little girl whose three best friends are Little Otto, Middle Otto and Big Otto. Vividly portraying the emotional life of little girls, the Siri books represent children in a very genuine way. These lovely books deal with friendship and other familiar but important themes.
Rights to the Siri Series have been sold to seven languages so far and one the books has been converted into a successful children’s theatre play.
The series is illustrated by the prize-winning illustrator Mervi Lindman. Her illustrations are full of humour and interesting details that bring the story to life and catch the attention of even the youngest readers.
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri Makes a Goal
English sample translation
Can a little girl make a goal at the last minute?
Little Otto, Middle Otto, and Big Otto have started playing football. Siri would also like to kick the ball, but the Ottos think Siri is a terrible player. The Ottos make fun of Siri, saying that she belongs to the little league and showing off their fancy playing skills.
Siri screws up her courage and decides to show the Ottos: she joins the girls’ football team.
Siri’s career in the ladies’ league does not begin very promisingly. She is the youngest and smallest person on the team and ends up under foot on the playing field. Middle Otto and Big Otto think that Siri should forget playing football and focus on something more sensible like paper dolls. The boys’ words make Siri angry and she continues playing, even though the star player on the team, Karoliina, thinks that iiri’s arrival is a serious setback to the team’s striking ability. “Who’s the little girl?” Karoliina asks.
When Little Otto hears about Siri’s difficulties, he tries to encourage her. “Little people are nimble,” Little Otto tells Siri. Then Siri’s team comes up against the Lightning, a team that hasn’t lost a single match. Little Otto teaches Siri a few tricks to surprise an opponent . . .
The ninth installment in this beloved series will appeal to both girls and boys.
Praise for Siri Makes a Goal
”The newest Siri book deals with familiar but important themes” –Elina Keskitalo, Länsi-Savo newspaper
“[Siri Makes a Goal] revels in the spirit of football; the illustrator has even worked a large number of cheerful ball motifs into the internals of the house . . . it propagandizes equality without being obtrusive, both within the team and between the boys and the girls.” –Kaisa Neimala, Suomen Kuvalehti current affair magazine
”Tiina Nopola knows the emotional life of little girls. Siri’s football hobby has room for everyday drama, the tit-for-tat between girls and deep emotional distress . . . but also the joy of success and the creation of team spirit. – – The success of the Siri series lies not only in the good writing, but also in Mervi Lindman’s humorous illustration.” –Päivi Heikkilä-Halttunen, Tuesday, September, 27, 2011
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri and the Scary Ghost
Rights sold: Korea
Who is afraid of ghosts?
Little Otto tells Siri that he saw a ghost in his attic. Siri doesn’t think that ghosts exist, and when they see something white flash in the attic window, Siri thinks it looks more like a curtain than a ghost. When Siri and the three Ottos organize a sleepover, Siri brings her flashlight and plans to scare the boys. But who gets scared in the end?
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri’s Christmas Surprise
Is Christmas cancelled this year?
Right before Christmas, Siri’s mother catches the flu. Now who will make the gingerbread house and get the Christmas tree? Siri is afraid that there won’t be Christmas at their house this year. Little Otto, Middle Otto and Big Otto hear that Siri’s Christmas might get cancelled. What happens when they decide to bring Christmas to Siri’s house? And what is Siri’s Christmas surprise?
Praise for Siri’s Christmas Surprise:
“Mervi Lindman’s gentle yet humoristic illustrations complement wonderfully Tiina Nopola’s brisk and flowing narration.” – Risto Löf, Savon Sanomat
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri and the Perky Puppy
Rights sold: China, Korea
Happy Birthday Siri!
Siri receives a wonderful, if a little bit lively gift from her parents: a little puppy of her own. Siri quickly invites all three Ottos to the name-giving ceremony, and Little Otto has the honour of holding the puppy when it receives its name.
The puppy is so sweet but terribly wild. Thankfully a dog daycare has a place for it – but will Siri’s new puppy fit in and calm down?
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri and the Little Flea
English sample translation
Rights sold: China, Korea
Gretel is visiting Siri’s friend Otto again. She proudly explains to the other children that she has a new pet: a flea.
And of course Siri and the three boys, Little Otto, Middle Otto and Big Otto want to see it. Gretel promises to introduce them once she has had some fun! And so she gets to play all the other children’s musical instruments: the trumpet and drums, the maracas and even a harmonica.
Gretel plays to her heart’s content out on the yard and the noise is deafening! But it seems that the grown-ups can’t stop her since they are too scared of the flea. After a while it is finally time for everyone to meet Gretel’s flea. But to their disappointment it has disappeared!
Little Otto suggests that maybe the flea has gone to a nearby flea market to do some shopping.
Will Siri and her friends ever meet Gretel’s new pet?
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri and the Horrid Pig
English sample translation
Rights sold: China, Korea, Russia, Sweden
One day Siri notices a hole in her precious stuffed-toy, Bunny. “Bunny must be hurting. She needs help”, Siri pleads. And so Siri’s friends, the three Ottos, go with her to take Bunny to a toy hospital. And since Siri is finding life so very difficult without Bunny, the hospital sends her a replacement toy, a little piglet, to keep her company. But Siri wishes they hadn’t because she thinks Piggy looks mean and horrible
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri and Messy Gretel
English sample translation
Rights sold: China, Germany, Korea, Russia, Sweden
Siri meets Otto’s messy cousin Gretel. Otto plays with Gretel in mud puddles, but Siri isn’t into that. Otto doesn’t want to play with Siri anymore – he prefers to play with Gretel. Siri gets jealous and decides to become messy too, just to win back Otto’s friendship. But what happens when Otto and Siri meet again? Gretel has finally taken a bath when Siri comes in all messy and covered in mud. Can Siri win over Gretel’s friendship? And what does Otto think of all this?
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri and the Upstairs Neighbour
Rights sold: China, Denmark, Korea, Russia, Sweden
Siri’s day as a dog sitter
Siri is minding Mr. Cloudy’s pocket-sized dog, Happy, for one day. Siri takes Happy out, but all of a sudden Happy disappears. Little Otto, Middle Otto and Big Otto help Siri look for the dog, but Happy is nowhere to be seen. He has wandered off looking for adventure. Finally they find Happy, but he has become a changed dog. Why doesn’t he want to stay in a pocket anymore?
Written by Tiina Nopola | Illustrated by Mervi Lindman
Siri and Her New Friends
English sample translation
Rights sold: China, Denmark, Germany, Korea, Russia
Siri’s out to find some new friends!
Siri wants to have someone to play with. She looks at her mother’s belly and asks if there is a baby in there. But there isn’t. So Siri decides that a dog will do. But mother and father are too busy to even talk about it, and so Siri decides to go out and find herself a dog. On the way she meets Little Otto, Middle Otto and big Otto. Will they find a dog for Siri?
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