MINI SCIENCE series sold to China!

We are thrilled to announce that Chinese rights for our MINI SCIENCE series have been sold to 神秘岛 Mysterium, the children’s imprint of Guangxi Normal University Press in China! The deal was closed by Julia Bogen at Ahlback Agency in collaboration with Clare Chi at The Grayhawk Agency.

The MINI SCIENCE series is by author-illustrator duo Laura Ertimo and Sanna Pelliccioni who have each won multiple awards for their spectacular work.

Start the adventure with your little ones in MINI SCIENCE 1: WHERE ARE YOU?, in which we follow Plop, a little creature who guides us through space to the Earth and from there to the human DNA and finally to the world of atoms.

Who says you have to be “left-brained” or “right-brained”? MINI SCIENCE unabashedly combines creativity and imagination while bravely diving deep into the world of science.

For curious minds, we have the full English PDFs for books 1-3!

Download materials for the MINI SCIENCE series here.

 

ABOUT THE SERIES…

Mini Science series tackles big science questions with lovely illustrations and encourages kids to wonder and ask questions. It feeds curiosity and is designed to start conversations about different topics that children might not think about on their own.

Book 1: WHERE ARE YOU?
In Where Are You?, we follow Plop, a little creature who guides us through space to Earth and from there into human DNA and, finally, to the world of atoms. Zooming in all the way from the enormities of space to the minisculness of atoms, we learn a great deal in between.

Book 2: INVISIBLE WORLD
In this second title of the Mini Science series, the adorable character Plop will discover things one cannot see – electricity, a garden in the fog, darkness, microorganisms and other well-hidden things. When Plop gets sick, he learns about bacteria and viruses and how to avoid them. Vaccinations can seem scary, but they keep us healthy. Sometimes it’s better to stay home, even if it makes you bored, so that soon you can go off to discover the Dark Side of the Moon.

Book 3: THE TRAVELLING PLANTS
In The Travelling Plants our adventurer Plop ponders a tricky question: if rooted to the ground, how can one travel? Plants are the foundation of the Earth’s living network. But they are not here just for animals and humans – plants have their own mysterious life, which, in the end, is not so different from ours. They grow, reproduce and send off their offspring, and indeed, even travel around the world. The Travelling Plants shows how all of us are interconnected and need each other throughout life.

 

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Minerva (orig.); ARABIC: Sefsafa Publishing; CHINA: Guangxi Normal University Press/Mysterium; ESTONIA: Avita; GREECE: Klidarithmos; TURKEY: Yapi Kredi

About author


Laura Ertimo

Laura Ertimo is a geographer and author. She has previously worked in publishing of geography-related non-fiction and maps, and now she writes full time, specializing in children’s non-fiction. A recurring theme in her work is the holistic worldview, the interaction between phenomena, people and nature.

In 2020, she received the prestigious Tietopöllö Award for her work as a Non-Fiction writer. Her children's title WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu, was nominated for the 2021 Finlandia Award and has also won the Tieto-Lauri award!

About author


Sanna Pelliccioni

Sanna Pelliccioni is a Finnish illustrator, graphic designer and children’s author living in Helsinki with her Finnish-Italian family. An awarded illustrator, Pelliccioni has been e.g. honoured with being the only Finn named on the IBBY honour list 2022. Pelliccioni utilizes many different techniques in her illustrations, some of her favourites are collage and mixed techniques. She studied Arts and Illustration in Bologna and Macerata, Italy, and Graphic Design at the Pekka Halonen Institute in Finland.

She loves illustrating picture books and poems and making graphic design for book covers and her own books. She also writes for children and young people and concerning the themes of books she’s especially interested in equality, indigenous people, myths and taboos, forest and nature. Pelliccioni is mostly known for her Onni-poika picture book series which started in 2007 and contains 15 books so far.

​Pelliccioni collaborates with authors writing for children and young people and works with many Finnish editors. Some of her books have been translated to Chinese, Korean, Arabic, English and Swedish, Turkish and Estonian.

Slovak language deal for STELLA!

Our most boisterous canine character is traveling to Slovakia! We’re pleased to announce that Slovak language rights for STELLA have been acquired by Arkus in a deal closed by Anna Kappauf at Ahlback Agency.

STELLA is an exciting collaboration for our littlest readers between comedian Ted Forsström and Aardman Animations director Åsa Lucander, and was nominated for the Finlandia Prize in 2023. Playful rhymes and interactive storytelling combine to create a cozy picture book kids can read night after night, over and over again.

Praise from Maria Lassén-Seger at Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper (5 star review):

“Children’s books about bedtime are a classic theme, but Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander create something new by presenting STELLA from the dog’s perspective. […] Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander create a nice variation of the durable theme by letting the chaos-at-bedtime-story be about something different than the expected parent-child fight. In STELLA (2023), it is in fact the dog Stella who creates troubles at bedtime.”

We have the full PDF for STELLA in both English and Swedish available.

Click here to download reading materials!

Rights Sold:

FINLAND, SWEDEN: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish); FINLAND: Etana Editions (Finnish); DENMARK: Gads Forlag; ESTONIA: Tammerraamat; GERMANY: Mixtvision; HUNGARY: Cerkabella; NORTH MACEDONIA: Ars Lamina; POLAND: Widnokrag; SLOVAKIA: Arkus

About author


Åsa Lucander

Åsa Lucander is a director and designer, working in illustration and animation both in the UK as well as Scandinavia.

Originally from Finland, she moved to London in 2001 where she was introduced to animation while studying illustration. After graduating she joined the animation studio 12foot6 where she stayed until 2014.

In 2015 she joined Aardman Animations in Bristol, where she is now based.

With multi-faceted strengths in storytelling, design and animation she loves exploring various creative styles, be it in 2d, stop motion or CGI. Åsa has a passion for hand rendered drawings and explores many different textures and mediums in all areas of her work. She loves mixing humour with melancholy and thrills in bringing characters of every shape and form to life with compelling scripts and inventive visions. She nimbly blends music, authentic dialogue, film segments, hand drawn characters and dolls in innovative ways.

Åsa has directed multiple shorts, including her award-winning film Lost Property, as well as many heart-warming commercial films for clients including Blue Peter, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Project Every- one and Childline, and a VR documentary film for BBC. Most recently she directed the music video for Coldplay’s track Daddy that has won numerous awards.

About author


Ted Forsström

Ted Forsström is a Finnish-Swedish media personality living in Ostrobothnia. He has worked as a comedian, actor, radio host and author, often as part of the duo Ted & Kaj. Today he works with children's programs on Svenska Yle and talks once a week in Finland’s biggest Swedish podcast, Ted & Kaj, together with Kaj Korkea-aho.

10th Little Mouse title sold to Poland!

We are thrilled to announce a new deal for the 10th Little Mouse book LITTLE MOUSE GOES ON A CRUISE by Riikka Jäntti, which has sold to Filia in Poland. The deal was closed by Anna Kappauf at Ahlback Agency.

The Little Mouse series is an international bestseller with rights sold in over 20 territories. The stories focus on the toddler Little Mouse, who lives with Mummy Mouse and has fun and exciting adventures, whether they go camping, playing in the park, or cleaning up the house in preparation for guests.

In this latest adventure, Little Mouse is excited for his first trip abroad! Little Mouse packs his backpack, sets off to the port with Mummy Mouse and aunt Lizzie, and walks through a big pipe to get on board.

Rights still available in Greece, Japan, the USA, etc.

Download English materials here!

 

PIKKU HIIRI -sarja
Tammi, 2015-, 48 pp.

Age group: 2+ years

Reading material:
Full English PDFs books #1-#9
Finnish PDF #10

Rights Sold:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran
AUSTRALIA: Scribble/Scribe
BULGARIA: Uniscorp
CHINA: Beijing Yuntu Tech
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat
FRANCE: Cambourakis
GERMANY: Cross Cult
ITALY: Sinnos
NEPAL: Kathalaya
NEW ZEALAND: Scribble/Scribe
POLAND: Filia
PORTUGAL: Harper Collins Iberica
ROMANIA: Editura Paralela 45
RUSSIA: Strecoza
SLOVAKIA: Fortuna
SPAIN (Spanish): Harper Collins Iberica
SPAIN (Catalan): Harper Collins Iberica
SWEDEN: Epix Bokförlag AB
UK: Scribble/Scribe

About author


Riikka Jäntti

Riikka Jäntti, a 2003 graduate of University of Industrial Art of Helsinki, now part of Aalto University, is a Helsinki-based illustrator and author who has created art for both nonfiction and fairy tale books for children. Her first children’s book was published in 2005. Jäntti is best known for the adorable Little Mouse series that has publishers in 20 territories, including Australia, Nepal, and China!

In her illustrations, she uses pen and ink as well as watercolor and gouache. In 2009 Jäntti won the first-ever Tieto-Lauri, an award for children’s and juvenile non-fiction, for her illustrations in Viidakkotanssi (Jungle Dance). The book was written by Markku Löytönen about the explorer Rafael Karsten in Ecuador.

Bibliography


2024, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes on a Cruise

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Welcomes Spring

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes to the Museum

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Fables

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse and the Birthday Present

Riikka Jäntti


2021, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes Camping

Riikka Jäntti


2020, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Summer

Riikka Jäntti


2019, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Winter

Riikka Jäntti


2018, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Holiday

Riikka Jäntti


2017, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Christmas

Riikka Jäntti


2016, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Helps Out

Riikka Jäntti


2015, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse

Riikka Jäntti

THE SECRET ONES sold to Czechia!

We are happy to report that the Czech rights for the stunning picture book THE SECRET ONES by Tuutikki Tolonen and illustrated by Anne Vasko have been acquired by publishing house Portál in a deal closed by Anna Kappauf at Elina Ahlback Agency.

Portál was founded in 1990 and belongs among the 20 largest publishing houses in the Czech Republic. Portál publish books by Anja Portin, Suzanne Lang, Hervé Tullet and many more and they are the Czech publisher of Tuutikki Tolonen’s Monster Nanny and Agnes series.

THE SECRET ONES is a picture book encouraging children’s creativity and inviting them to see their home with new eyes. Rights are still available for Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, etc.

And we have a full English pdf for you to read!

Download the English materials for THE SECRET ONES here!

 

 

SALAISET
WSOY, March 2024, 40 pp

Reading material:
Full English translation
Finnish edition

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
Czechia: Portál

About author


Anne Vasko

Anne Vasko is an internationally known Finnish children's author and illustrator who has created visual worlds for numerous children's books, both her own and written by others. She is the recipient of the Rudolf Koivu illustration award 2011 and has been nominated for the Finlandia Junior, and also for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2017 and 2021. Vasko graduated with a master's degree in art from the Aalto Arts Helsinki.

About author


Tuutikki Tolonen

Tuutikki Tolonen is the author of several acclaimed children’s books, plays and academic articles. She teaches creative writing and has worked as an editor and reporter at Vinski, a Finnish literary magazine for children. For Monster Nanny she received the Arvid Lydecken award.  Her inspiration for the Monster Nanny trilogy 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.

Her other bestselling series is the Agnes-series, of which the first book "Agnes and the Garden of Dreams" was in 2021 nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Award, received an honorable mention for the Runeberg Junior Award, and won the Luku Varkaus Award. Tolonen tells that the inspiration for Agnes comes for her interest for weird and inexpicable tales, ghost stories and mysteries: "I wanted to write a book my daughter Aili, then nine, would like to read - not too long, not too scary, but very curious."

The Ahlback Agency CHILDREN’S & YA Spring 2024 Rights Guide!

We are thrilled to present our Children’s & YA Catalogue for Spring 2024: creative picture books about secret creatures, middle-grade novels about pranks and friendship, and stories about outsiderness.

We’ve picked some of the hottest titles from the catalogue for you – check them out below!

View the Spring 2024 Children’s Catalogue here!

The Secret Ones

Tuutikki Tolonen, illustrated by Anne Vasko

Unleash your creativity and discover the creatures who live right next to you in secret! 

This charming picture book invites its readers to play a game: could there be secret creatures, living side by side with humans in ordinary homes? They leave signs to those who know where and how to look.

Why are there crumbs on the kitchen floor? Perhaps you have a crumbscraper living with you! The creature itself is so shy, you can rarely see it. How about the holes in your socks; did you know they might be the result of a lintbug?
And when the remote control is lost again, maybe the amnesianos have stolen it.

PRANKENSTEIN

Kaisa Paasto, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu

If you could become a prank legend at school, is it worth going for it at any costs? This highly illustrated, bold story encourages even the most reluctant reader to keep on turning the pages!

✓  For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The fifth grader Elmeri has never seriously considered a career as a prankster. But he manages to do a superbly great prank – completely accidentally. Elmeri’s cousin Robin thinks his chance has come and becomes Elmeri’s Personal Prankster Trainer. With his coaching, Elmeri will be the amazing Prankenstein and his best prank will be remembered by future generations!

Elmeri realizes that pranks may be a good opportunity to impress Mima, who lives on the same street and is quite OK. The pranks also help when Leo, the bully at school, needs to be dealt with. But when a planned prank involves a famous magician and the president of Finland, Elmeri has to ask himself: can you take it too far?

The Secret Staircase

Salla Simukka, illustrated by JP Ahonen

What would you do if you found a secret room in your house? 

✓  Grounded fantasy with a classic feel for fans of Michael Ende and Maria Gripe

An exciting and touching novel about two boys, who live in the same house but in different realities. Can their friendship cross the border separating two worlds?

10-year-old Alexis’ family moves to a house where he gets the attic room. Another 10-year-old-boy, Max, moves to a house, where a great basement room is waiting for him. Soon the boys notice something weird in their houses: Alexis hears voices under the floor, even though they don’t have a basement. Max’s ears pick up someone playing an instrument from the attic, even though no one is there.

When the two boys finally meet, they realize that they can visit each other’s worlds at night time. But will their friendship endanger everything when the worlds start to blur into each other?

The Invisibles

Sanna Isto

A haunted house. An Invisible boy. A summer of mystery and self-discovery.

✓  Nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2023 and Topelius Prize 2024

Spending her vacation away from the city and her friends was not what Pii had in mind for the summer. And then even the holiday house turns out to be strange and peculiar. Who is the boy who moves around the house as if it were his own, and why can’t anyone else see him?

Pii’s experience of being an outsider turns into a strength, because she sees things that others don’t notice. Soon she finds herself in the middle of a secret that overshadows the sunny idyll of the small village. Are the thefts of vacation homes and the unsolved death that happened half a year ago related? And what does the mysterious boy in the green cap have to do with all this?

Pii has to look for answers deep below the surface, and while diving for them, she also has to face herself. A vacation Pii expected to be boring turns into a journey of self-discovery, and in the end nothing – not even the ghosts – is what it seemed at first.

SALAISET
WSOY, March 2024, 40 pp.
Age group: 3+
Reading materials: Full English text, Finnish edition

Rights sold: FINLAND: WSOY(orig.)

 

PRANKENSTEIN
Tammi, March 2024, 112 pp., b&w illustrations
Age group: 7+
Reading materials: Full English text, Finnish edition

Rights sold: FINLAND: Tammi(orig.)

 

POIKA ULLAKOLLA, POIKA KELLARISSA
Tammi, March 2024, 200 pp., b&W illustrations
Age group: 9+ years
Reading materials: English sample and synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold: FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

 

NÄKYMÄTTÖMÄT
Tammi, April 2023, 293 pp.
Age group: 12+ years
Reading materials: English smaple & synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold: 
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)