Frankfurt is around the corner and we’re gearing up for the biggest and the most beautiful book fair of the year. We’ve got a lot of fantastic children’s books to introduce to you.
The highlights include the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize nominee 2018 The Grumblebelly Cat by Magdalena Hai, the Monster Nanny series by Tuutikki Tolonen and the new title in Maria Turtschaninoff’s Red Abbey Chronicles: Letters from Maresi.
We’re thrilled to announce the 22nd foreign rights deal for our hit series Monster Nanny written by Tuutikki Tolonen and illustrated by Pasi Pitkänen. The novel was sold to Vesper in Poland, and they are glad about the acquisition of this novel, which is being developed into a Hollywood feature film by Scott Free Productions:
“Well written, imaginative, warm and addictive. One of the best children novels we have ever read!” said Jakub Kozłowski, rights manager of Vesper, Poland.
The new titles by our children’s & YA authors have been receiving great reviews in the press:
Turn On the Lights! Turn Off the Lights! by Salla Simukka
“The dark side of the book can be a frightening experience for readers of all ages. The light side is pure joy!” – Etelä-Suomen Sanomat newspaper
Letters from Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff
“Turtschaninoff’s literary universe can be compared to that of the biggest names in the genre. The Letters from Maresi is a rich, skilfully written epistolary novel that shows that Maria Turtschaninoff gets better and better with each novel. She is an incomparable narrator.” – Yle broadcaster
The Third Sister by Magdalena Hai
“The world of the first installment of the Royaume Chronicles is abundant and filled with meanings. […] This fantasy world can be enjoyed by youngsters and adults alike” – Aamulehti newspaper ****
Rights sold: Monster Nanny
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
BOSNIA, Šahinpašić
BRAZIL, DarkSide Books
CHINA, Beijing Children’s Publishing House
CZECH REPUBLIC, Portál
ESTONIA, Tiritamm
FRANCE, Editions Robert Laffont
GERMANY, Carl Hanser Verlag
HUNGARY, Tessloff Babilon
ITALY, Salani/Mauri Spagnol
LATVIA, Zvaigzne
NETHERLANDS, Luitingh-Sijthoff
NORWAY, Gyldendal Norsk
POLAND, Vesper
ROMANIA, Editura Univers
RUSSIA, Rosman
SLOVENIA, Mladinska knjiga
SPAIN (Spanish), La Galera
SPAIN (Catalan), La Galera
SWEDEN, Rabén & Sjögren
TURKEY, SEV Redhouse Kidz
VIETNAM, Nha Nam
WORLD ENGLISH, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
FILM RIGHTS, Scott Free Productions
Magdalena Hai is a lover of cross genre fiction and all things strange, and her fiction often combines elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. Besides writing Hai teaches writing and is an active member and editor in the publishing co-operative Osuuskumma.
Maria Turtschaninoff is known for crafting lyrical, historically inspired fantasy stories starring strong female protagonists. In addition to J.R.R. Tolkien, she counts Philip Pullman, Ursula K. Le Guin and C.S. Lewis among her favorite authors. She is a two-time winner of the Society of Swedish Literature Prize, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and winner of the 2014 Finlandia Junior Prize. Maria has a Master of Arts in human ecology and works full-time as a writer.
Pasi Pitkänen has become known for his richly detailed illustrative work on several children’s books such as the Monster Nanny duology by Tuutikki Tolonen. He has also worked at Rovio Entertainment as an illustrator, character designer and graphic designer; Angry Birds: Bad Piggies’ Egg Recipes (Rovio Books 2012), illustrated by Pitkänen, was named Best First Cookbook of the Year at 2012’s Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Among Pitkänen’s hobbies are quantum physics, people-watching, B-movies, insects and baking.
Teemu Juhani (born 1987) is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and graphic designer whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in 20 countries, including Finland, UK, US, Germany and China. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives and works in Helsinki. He grew up reading comics, holding pencil in his hand and dreaming of superhuman powers. Teemu has studied graphic design and illustration at Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Finland and Academie Minerva in the Netherlands
Tuutikki Tolonen is the author of several acclaimed children’s books, plays and academic articles. For Monster Nanny she received the Arvid Lydecken award. She teaches creative writing and has worked as an editor and reporter at Vinski, Finland’s only literary journal for children. Her inspiration for the Monster Nanny duology sparked during a family breakfast. “My son Leo, then six, said: ‘I heard on the radio yesterday that all moms have to go on vacation and monsters will take their places,” she says.
Tolonen is currently writing Agnes series, of which the first book "Agnes and the Garden of Dreams" won the honorary award in Runeberg Prize 2020.
