Loukko by 
We are thrilled to announce the first international sale for the bestselling DAD MAN series written by Arttu Unkari and illustrated by Kai Vaalio: the German rights have been pre-empted, in a two-book deal, by the prize-winning publisher Mixtvision! The deal was closed by Anna Kappauf and Elina Ahlback at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.
Publishing Director Lena Frenzel at Mixtvision loves the Dad Man Series:
“ A real firework of humour and absurdities! Our readers will love the Dad Man series, no doubt about that!”
DAD MAN is a hilarious series for the reluctant readers and for fans of Captain Underpants and David Walliams – with the comic-style illustrations and priceless plot lines, one just has to keep on turning pages. The series has sold over 100 000 copies in Finland and has been nominated for the Runeberg Prize and for Storytel Awards!
“A funny and engaging series [–] The series has such delightful characters, carefree school anarchy, and flight of imagination, and one is looking forward to the continuation.”
–Ilkka Valpasvuo on Kulttuuritoimitus magazine
“The duo smartly combines the narrative styles of comics and prose. Vaalio’s illustrations offer many visual jokes and almost accidentally urges one to read Unkari’s story.”
– Savon Sanomat newspaper
Download materials for the DAD MAN series here!
Dad Man and the Exploding Poop
Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio
Adults who think they know everything and children who are forced to clean up the messes – the Dad Man series offers hilarious adventures!
- Nominated for Storytel awards 2020 (Best children’s audiobook) and Best Newcomer of the Year 2020
- For fans of David Walliams and Captain Underpants
A horrific poop explosion flies the minister of education to the Moon in the middle of a regular evening. And even worse is yet to come: it turns out there’s a mad inventor behind it all, who is threatening more explosions if no one solves his twisted riddle.
The pride and role model of the police force, the heroic Dad Man, is not one to flinch and immediately sets out to solve the case. However, his nine-year-old daughter Oona knows that Dad Man’s investigations lead to nothing but disarray. Oona has no choice but to take matters into her own hands.
Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother
Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio
Little siblings are always up to no good – sometimes they even get tangled in thefts!
- Nominated for Storytel awards 2021 (Best children’s audiobook)
- For fans of David Walliams and Captain Underpants
Something odd is going on, because adults have started to behave stranger than usual – they are telling the truth!
At the same time, there’s a wave of mysterious gold thefts in the city – even goldfish go missing! Oona is sure that her cute little brother Veikka knows more than he lets on. But how to prove it? As usual, the totally incompetent policeman Dad Man is mishandling his robbery investigations, and Oona must rush to the rescue. But the evil little brother is always one step ahead.
Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis
Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio
If students act well-behaved and don’t cause trouble, something’s seriously wrong.
- Nominated for Storytel awards 2022 and for the Runeberg Prize 2023!
- For fans of David Walliams and Captain Underpants
When Oona and Eeli’s class gets a substitute teacher, strange things start to happen at school: the students become obedient, and at the same time get all excited about playing the recorder. Meanwhile, a strange series of factory fires keep policeman Dad Man busy, who, as usual, is vigorously chasing a false lead.
The appearance of the new teacher at the crime scenes makes Oona suspicious. Even the adults start to become obedient as the weird flute playing trend is spreading like wildfire and this time Eeli is of no help to Oona. Will Oona succeed on her own in stopping the substitute teacher from taking over the world?
Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp
Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio
The quirkiest cop in town! The Dad Man Series offers fast-paced adventures and humour for all ages – especially lower middle grade.
- Series sold over 100 000 copies in Finland!
- For fans of David Walliams and Captain Underpants
Oona and her friends find out that Dad Man would never have gotten into police school without help – from them! How is that possible? The friends have no choice but to jump into a time machine and go back to Dad Man’s police academy years to find out.
The four friends find themselves at the centre of a mysterious series of art theft. The case is being investigated by the police academy’s quirkiest cadets, including, of course, Dad Man. Luckily, Oona and friends have a clue of their own. There is a criminal in the police school who they have already caught once.
Isämies ja räjähtävä kakka
Otava, 2020, 176 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
GERMANY: Mixtvision
Reading materials:
English synopsis, Series presentation, Finnish pdf
Isämies ja paha pikkuveli
Otava, 2021, 176 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
GERMANY: Mixtvision
Reading materials:
English synopsis, Series presentation, Finnish pdf
Isämies ja hyytävä hypnoosi
Otava, 2022, 192 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
Reading materials:
English synopsis, Series presentation, Finnish pdf
Isämies ja mahdoton aikasolmu
Otava, 2023, 174 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
Reading materials:
English sample & synopsis, Series presentation, Finnish pdf
