Kristiina Louhi
Kristiina Louhi (born 1950) is an artist and an awarded freelance 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.
Louhi’s own Aino-book 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.
Written by Riitta Jalonen | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Aidan and Frostylocks
The sequel to the much-loved Aidan and Sophie is a bright, cheery story about Aidan and Sophie’s shared winter moments.
The snow crunches with every footfall. The braids poking out from under Sophie’s wool cap are silver with frost. Aidan and Sophie light candles in the snow and climb up on a flat stone to gaze at them. The illuminated ring glows against the whiteness with a soft light.
”The way we see those candles is the way the treetops see us,” Aidan says, sliding his snow-crusted mitten into Sophie’s. Something new quivers beneath his coat. And Aidan knows what it is: his heart. Then Sophie invites Aidan over, and his feet suddenly feel shy and heavy. He has to lift them over the threshold one by one. What will things be like inside Sophie’s home?
A sensitive picture book about Aidan and Sophie’s shimmering, magical winter moments by a prize-winning duo. Aidan finds stories everywhere he looks, and gets Sophie to see the world in a new way, too. Adventures are always better together.
Written by Riitta Jalonen | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Aidan and Sophie
Rights sold: Chinese (Simplified)
An enchanting picture book from the beloved and award-winning team Riitta Jalonen and Kristiina Louhi!
Aidan and Sophie are 8- and 9-year-old friends. This book is a sweet story of summer, closeness, games, adventures – and of first love, from a boy’s perspective. Through small, delicate details Riitta Jalonen communicates the strong emotions of childhood. Kristiina Louhi’s warm and inventive illustrations bring the magical realm of childhood handy.
”Sophie bounces up and down like she was on a trampoline. Her patent leather shoes are not shiny at all anymore, and her white socks are stained.
- Those are dangerous, Aidan says and points at the high walls that flow around them.
- I know we’re not allowed to go there, Sophie replies, and shakes her hair so that the bobble finally falls of. Aidan picks up the wooden, round thing.
- Can I take this? – Sure. I have plenty of those at home. Aidan slips the gift into his pocket. He can hide it in his desk drawer at home.”
Praises:
“Jalonen describes the child’s private experi- ences with respect. Louhi’s clear, beautiful illustrations draw the reader to the text.” – Helsingin Sanomat
Written by Hannele Huovi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
The Giant Girl and Her Tiny Friend
The giant maiden’s tears flow and a river bursts its banks but the tale has a happy ending.
The Giant Girl and Her Tiny Friend is a lively story about the world’s last giant girl Tina Higgins, who suffers from loneliness. Peter Perkins, on the other hand, is an exceptionally small boy but he is not afraid of big things. He likes to think of stars, planets and other big and distant things. One day the giant girl and Peter meet…
‘I’ve always admired big women,’ Peter said.
‘I think everything small is beautiful,’ said the giant girl.
‘That means we’re well matched! he said.
‘True!’ The giant sounded happy, lifted Peter to her lips and gave him a kiss.
The giant girl’s kiss was like a rainstorm. Peter nearly fainted with happiness. His life with Tina the giant maiden would be grand.
Girl under the Jackdaw Tree trilogy
Written by Riitta Jalonen | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Northern Lights on Snow
Rights sold: Chinese (Simplified), French, Swedish (Finland)
The little girl is skiing in the middle of a snowy forest until she reaches a lake. There she remembers an earlier trip to the lake, when she was very little. She had been ice-skating with both her parents. With that beautiful memory on her mind, the little girl can see many enchanting things in the forest. The treetops seem to be painting the sky with the colours of the Northern Lights.
Praises:
“The illustrations, drawing inspiration from the 1960s, are in perfect harmony with each other. This is one of the most inspiring children’s books I’ve ever read.”
– Vantaan Lauri
Written by Riitta Jalonen | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tundra Mouse Mountain
Rights sold: English (UK), Chinese (Simplified), French, Bangla, Swedish (Finland)
The little girl and her mother embark on an epic journey to the North Sea. The drive is long, the skies are high and the North Sea seems endless. This is a beautiful reflection of time spent together and the close bond between a parent and a child.
Written by Riitta Jalonen | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Girl Under the Jackdaw Tree
Rights sold: Chinese (simplified), Korean, German, French, Polish, Lithuanian, Swedish (Finland), Japanese, Estonian
Little girl’s thoughts are brought to life in these three wonderful books with an ethereal atmosphere and mesmerising illustrations.
A story describing a turning point in a little girl’s life caused by her father’s death. In Kristiina Louhi’s illustrations the girl’s memories fly. They glow with the same intensity as Riitta Jalonen’s storyline – revealing a child’s magic world in which joy and sadness intermingle.
Winner of the 2004 Finlandia Junior Award!
Written by Katri Tapola | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Mauno’s Fort
Sometimes you just have to run away from home. At least until the pancakes are ready. Especially if your friends call you to come out and play, and you get a brilliant idea: let’s move into a fort! It’s the summer holidays, but Mauno and his friends are still in the city. Mum and dad are taking a nap. Even the pancake batter is resting. Only the pet lizard Tauno winks at him as Mauno sets off to the nearby forest with his friends Topi, Aapo, Otso and Aleksi.
Nothing is better than roaming free in a forest and building a fort. The ground shakes and their swords sway in time as the boys march ahead. They find the best possible place for a fort in an old trench, and Otso’s grandma even gives them a tarpaulin to cover the rafters with.
A genuine, old-fashioned picture book for boys full of outdoor adventures, fencing and playing tricks on parents. A great antidote for staying in to play computer games and watch TV!
Tommy books
The series of fourteen beautiful Tommy books created by the award-winning illustrator and author Kristiina Louhi. The adorable little boy Tommy and his development – from early baby days into toddlerhood and beyond – is followed with vivid images and a textual storyline of text. Tommy was first introduced to the public in the book Our Tommy in 1993, and the books have since gained a classic status amongst children’s books.
Rights sold: Hungarian, Dutch, Japanese, Swedish, Danish
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy’s New House
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy and Apricot’s Milk
In this new, joyful Tommy book, we are introduced to life on the farm with Tommy’s relatives: Uncle Terrence, Auntie Kay and the cousins Gertie, Artie and Willie the baby. Tommy is no longer the smallest of the bunch!
When Tommy wakes up in the morning, he knows right away he’s in an unfamiliar place. He can hear strange noises from outside: a baby crying, a cow mooing and a big engine running. Tommy is visiting his cousins Gertie, Artie and Willie the baby.
The world looks very different at his cousins’ place compared to Tommy’s home in the city. You can see fields, cows, woods, a huge blue silo and on top of it all a real tractor chugging in the middle of the yard!
The breakfast porridge tastes familiar, but the milk is different. It’s thick, yellow and sweet.
“It’s our Apricot’s milk,” explains Gertie, and later Tommy gets to know Apricot the cow, along with her friends Rosemary, Marjoram and Thyme.
Tommy, Artie and Gertie like Apricot’s milk, but Willie the baby gets milk from Tommy’s aunt, and the little kittens in a brown cardboard box get theirs from their cat mother.
“This house is a regular dairy farm,” laughs Tommy’s mother while Tommy is petting the kittens.
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy in Wonderland
Original title: Tomppa ja kummaa | Published: 2009 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy and the Cat’s Paws
Original title: Tomppa ja Kissantassut | Published: 2003 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy is Big
Original title: Tomppa on iso | Published: 2002 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Where is Tommy?
Original title: Missä Tomppa ?| Published: 2000 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy’s Christmas
Original title: Tompan joulu | Published: 1999 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy at High Speed
Original title: Tomppa vauhdissa | Published: 1998 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy Goes Fishing
Original title: Tomppa kalastaa | Published: 1997 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy’s better Day
Original title: Tompan parempi päivä | Published: 1996 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Rights sold: Swedish
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Tommy’s Night at granny’s
Original title: Tomppa ja mummolan yö | Published: 1995 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Rights sold: Hungarian, Dutch, Swedish, Danish
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
What Tommy Wants
Original title: Tomppa tahtoo | Published: 1994 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Rights sold: Hungarian
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Hello Tommy!
Original title: Terve Tomppa! | Published: 1994 | Publisher: Tammi
Class: Picture book 0+ | Format 210 x 200 mm | Pages: 32 | Binding: Hardcover
Colours: Full colour illustrations
Rights sold: Hungarian, Japanese, Swedish
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Our Tommy
Rights sold: Hungarian, Dutch, Japanese, Swedish, Danish
Annie books
The much-beloved Annie books by Kristiina Louhi have been translated into nearly 10 languages already. The first Annie book was published in 1984, and now the first generation of Annie fans is reading stories about little Annie’s everyday life to their children. The beautiful illustrations are fancied both by parents and their children.
Rights sold: English (UK), German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie Travels
Rights sold: German, Swedish, Norwegian
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie, Mum’s Little helper
Rights sold: Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie and Tiger
Rights sold: German, Swedish, Norwegian, Faroese
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie’s Room can’t be Entered
Rights sold: German, Swedish, Norwegian
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie Wants to come Along
Rights sold: German, Swedish, Danish, Faroese
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie’s Naughty Skates
Rights sold: German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie’s Year 1984
Rights sold: German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie Is Nearly Three
Rights sold: English (UK), German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie and the New baby
Rights sold: English (UK), German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese
Written by Kristiina Louhi | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Annie’s Year 1984
Rights sold: English (UK), German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic
Anna books
Written by Arto Virtanen | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Anna and the White Bird
Anna is in the second form at the kalevala School, and sometimes she has so much to think about that her head feels like it weighs almost as much as her school bag. Instead of one home, Anna has two, and Anna’s little brother Alexander the Small already knows how to talk, but prefers imitating animals and the sounds of engines. Anna’s best friend Vaula is deaf, and they tell stories to each other soundlessly. Other people that are important to Anna are her grandpa, her godmother Sohvi Kankaanpala and the florist, Ansa Ripatti.
Between classes they play Toadstool, and Anna makes up such a good hiding place that no one can find her. Thankfully a small white bird keeps Anna company…
Arto Virtanen’s atmospheric novel for children includes refined illustration by Kristiina Louhi.
Written by Arto Virtanen | Illustrated by Kristiina Louhi
Anna Doesn’t believe in Fairytales
to be completed soon
Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency Oy Ltd.
info(at)ahlbackagency.com | +358 400 512 101 | www.ahlbackagency.com | Korkeavuorenkatu 37, FI-00130 Helsinki, Finland
