Salla Savolainen
Salla Savolainen (born in 1962) is an acclaimed and versatile illustrator who has been working on tens of Children’s picture books. She has a Master of Arts degree from the Helsinki University of Art and Design.
In 2005 she won the prestigious Rudolf Koivu Prize for her brilliant illustrations for the children’s book Pikku Xing (Little Xing). In fact, the main character of the book is a little girl, whom Mr. Zhu finds on a foggy morning in front of a food store in a Chinese city. She then gets new parents in Finland!
Salla was nominated for the H.C. Andersen medal in 2010.
Written by Karo Hämäläinen | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Hooray for Helsinki – Our Very Own City
Hooray for Helsinki – Our Very Own City is a rich, fully illustrated picture book created in honor of Helsinki’s role as World Design Capital 2012.
A story about a family spending a summer day together in Helsinki provides a frame for introducing children to design, Finnish design in particular. Written for 5-10-year-olds, child-friendly Hooray for Helsinki approaches its subject from a practical point of view – design is part of our daily lives; it flourishes in the tiny details and everyday objects that surround us. Hooray for Helsinki is a cheerful, exciting journey through the city of Helsinki.
Helsinki, together with Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti, is the World Design Capital of 2012. The theme for the Design Capital year is “Open Helsinki – Embedding Design in Life”.
Produced in co-operation with WDC Helsinki 2012.
Full English text available!
Vesta-Linnea books
The four existing books in this delightful series feature Vesta-Linnea and her family as they cope with situations and feelings which are very common in all families with children. The successful storylines, as well as the inventive and colourful illustrations, appeal to readers around the world.
Vesta-Linnea books can be read in: Finnish, Swedish, Chinese (Simplified), Danish, Estonian, German, Hindi, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Urdu
Written by Tove Appelgren | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Vesta-Linnea’s Darkest Thought
Rights sold: Chinese (Simplified), Danish, German, Norwegian, Russian
Vesta-Linnea feels like her mother always takes her little sister’s side over hers, and she is suddenly very certain that no one in the family even really loves her. Will anything disperse her darkest thoughts?
Nominated for Finlandia Junior Award 2008.
Written by Tove Appelgren | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Vesta-Linnea and the Velvet-Nosed Puppy
Rights sold: Chinese (Simplified), Danish, English (India only), Estonian, German, Hindi, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian Urdu
Vesta-Linnea’s dream comes true: she gets a dog of her own! Everyone in the family falls in love with the sweet, velvet-nosed puppy. So what could possibly go wrong?
Written by Tove Appelgren | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
It’s time to sleep now, Vesta-Linnea
Rights sold: Chinese (Simplified), Danish, English (India only), Estonian, German, Hindi, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Urdu
Vesta-Linnea is having trouble going to sleep in the evenings, and nothings seems to work. She keeps having nightmares, and goes to sleep in Mom’s bed, which in turn disrupts Mom’s sleep. Something must be done soon!
Written by Tove Appelgren | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Vesta-Linnea and Monster Mom
Rights sold: Chinese (Simplified), Danish, Estonian, German, Norwegian, Russian
Both Vesta-Linnea and her Mom are having a bad day and they manage to argue over anything and everything. Surely no-one can be in a good mood all the time, everyday. Although it would be quite lovely.
Bud and Bella books, Tammenterho (Acorn) -series
Written by Tapani Bagge | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Bud and Bella in a Peasouper
to be completed soon
Written by Tapani Bagge | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Bud and Bella in the Whirlwind
to be completed soon
Xing books
Written by Leena Virtanen | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Xing’s Family
The little Xing picture books are insightful stories about the experiences of a child adopted from another country. The playful illustrations of Salla Savolainen were honoured with the Rudolf Koivu Award in 2005. The author, Leena Virtanen, is a freelance journalist and mother of Minni, who was adopted from China in 2002.
When Xing was a little girl, she moved from China to Finland and got her very own parents. Now she’s a big girl going to school. When Xing’s supposed to tell about her family in class, she is perplexed. She realises her story is different from the others’. At home she has many questions: “Do I look like my Chinese mother?”, “Do I have relatives in China?” Mum and Dad try to answer her questions the best they can. It’s not always easy, but one thing’s for sure: Xing does have relatives in Finland.
Written by Leena Virtanen | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Xing and Her Remarkable Friends
to be completed soon
Written by Leena Virtanen | Illustrated by Salla Savolainen
Little Xing
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
