Incredible news! STIVEN by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander has been awarded the Runeberg Junior Prize 2026!
The Runeberg Junior Prize, worth 15,000 EUR, is awarded annually by the city of Porvoo and the magazine Borgåbladet to an outstanding children’s book. Preschoolers and first- and second-grade students in Porvoo read the nominees and chose the winner. The winner was announced on February 5th, 2026, on Runeberg’s Day.
This is what the jury says about Stiven:
“A humorous and warm rhyming story about Stiven the cat, who rules the family with his constant need for food in his dish. The text and illustrations are playful, and it’s easy to relate to, especially for cat owners. A charming and witty book that leaves the reader with a smile.”
On top of this, MARSU AND THE ART OF FLOATING LIKE A WATER LILY by Tuutikki Tolonen, illustrated by Reetta Niemensivu, was given the honorable mention at the award ceremony.
“Well-written everyday realism, where even painful topics are conveyed in an understandable, gentle, sharp, and humorous way. The book portrays a child’s perspective on parental separation and rainbow families honestly and convincingly. It’s a warm-hearted story with real people and real life. The story draws the reader in.”
STIVEN has also been nominated for the Limmi Prize! In Liminka, an annual festival called LimmiFest is held to celebrate children’s and young people’s literature and culture. The Limmi Literary Prize is LimmiFest’s own award, and this year it will be given out for the second time. The prize is awarded to a new Finnish picture book for children that has been voted as a favorite by children from Liminka. The five nominated books are selected by a preliminary jury from the library. The winner will be announced in March.
Highly recommended for everyone, but especially families with young children, and particularly for those who share their lives with a cat – or perhaps, for those who are ruled by one.
The food is gone! Stiven roars. This is urgent! Come out!
Have you ever thought how frustrating life can be for a cat? When something as simple as getting fed turns into a daily battle? For Stiven, the logic is simple: an empty bowl must be filled immediately. How can an entire family have such a hard time understanding this?
The glutton Stiven is a stubborn drama queen, holding the whole family hostage with one mission: more food immediately! He’s a big personality, alternately majestic and pathetic, and neither mom, dad, the child, nor the baby escapes his constant demands for food and attention. This leads to comedic moments in the everyday life of a young family with a pet, brilliantly captured in Åsa Lucander’s lively illustrations.
Ted Forsström’s text is atmospheric and down-to-earth, with his characteristic playful rhymes occasionally shining through. It’s highly relatable for families with young children and especially for anyone who owns a cat—or is owned by one. The duo’s previous bedtime story, STELLA, was nominated for the Finlandia Prize.
From the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of Agnes and Monster Nanny comes a gently humorous children’s novel about Margo and her new family dynamics.
“Kids. Tomorrow we’re having a family meeting.”
Nine-year-old Marigold, nicknamed Marsu, has her ordinary life turned upside down when her parents call a family meeting. Soon, instead of one home, they have two. Dad suddenly has a strange new beard, Mom buys a car and is learning to park and secretly cries, and her little brother, of course, doesn’t understand a thing – he’s just thrilled to have two sets of toys in two homes. The true nature of things becomes clear to the children only gradually.
Marsu, on the other hand, sees everything with her new hawk-like vision. Marsu spots her dad marching alongside with a man, she doesn’t recognize. But even Marsu’s sharp gaze softens when she realizes that while her parents may be separating from each other, they’re not separating from their children.
STIVEN
Stivens fat är utan mat, Förlaget 2025, 44 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND, SWEDEN: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish)
FINLAND: Teos (Finnish)
GERMANY: dtv Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co.KG
HUNGARY: Cerkabella Könyvek
TURKEY: Doğan Kitap
USA: Spinning Wheel Stories
Reading Material:
Swedish edition, English PDF
MARSU AND THE ART OF FLOATING LIKE A WATER LILY
Marsu ja lumpeena kellumisen taito, WSOY 2025, 144 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
Reading Material:
Finnish Edition, English chapter by chapter synopsis
Loukko by 
