We are happy to announce that THE SECRET STAIRCASE by Salla Simukka and illustrated by JP Ahonen has won the Blogistania Kuopus prize for best children’s book of 2024! The Blogistania awards are prizes given by Finnish book influencers on social media for the best books of the year since 2012. 59 book influencers from book blogs, TikTok, Instagram and Youtube took part in the voting. The winners were announced in five different categories and the winners were awarded last Friday, 28th of February 2025.
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 SECRET STAIRCASE POIKA ULLAKOLLA, POIKA KELLARISSA, Tammi, 2024, 200 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
CZECHIA: Portál
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad
Reading materials: English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition
About author
JP Ahonen
JP Ahonen (1981) is a comic book artist, illustrator, and the author of several newspaper strips in his native Finland. He is best known for his graphic novel SING NO EVIL and the critically acclaimed strip series BELZEBUBS, which has evolved from a humble webcomic into a unique cross-media project, interweaving comics, music and animation.
Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 53 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013. Simukka has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award every year 2021–2024. Where It All Begins, published in 2022, is her first novel for adults and in 2024 she started a collaboration with JP Ahonen on a middle grade novel.
Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked as an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences. She has also been working on the programme of Turku Book Fair in 2017–2020.
We are happy to report that Czech rights to for THE SECRET STAIRCASE by Salla Simukka and illustrator JP Ahonen have been acquired by Portál! This deal was closed by Martti Berner.
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.
Salla Simukka is the multiple award-winning, internationally bestselling author of the Snow White trilogy, sold in 53 countries and Hollywood. JP Ahonen is a comic book artist and the illustrator of the cult classic Belzebubs project. THE SECRET STAIRCASE was nominated for 2024 Finlandia Award in Children’s & Youth literature.
The jury praised the title:
In this tantalisingly evocative fantasy, the text and vivid illustrations merge into a fine, polished whole. The story is about solving mysteries, making great friends and adapting to huge changes, whether it’s family or the vastness of dimensional boundaries. The narrative is engaging and the illustrations add delicious detail with a lightness of touch that encourages the novice reader to move forward.
And just recently the book won 2024 Kuopus Award by Blogistanian as the best Children’s book. The Blogistanian Literary Awards are prizes given by Finnish book influencers on social media for the best books of the year.
You can watch the book trailer below:
For fans of Michael Ende and Maria Gripe, THE SECRET STAIRCASE is 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?
Rights still available in the US/UK, France, Germany, Holland…
Publication Info: Poika ullakolla, poika kellarissa, Tammi 2024, 200 pp, b&w illustrations
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
CZECHIA: Portál
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad
Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition
About author
JP Ahonen
JP Ahonen (1981) is a comic book artist, illustrator, and the author of several newspaper strips in his native Finland. He is best known for his graphic novel SING NO EVIL and the critically acclaimed strip series BELZEBUBS, which has evolved from a humble webcomic into a unique cross-media project, interweaving comics, music and animation.
Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 53 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013. Simukka has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award every year 2021–2024. Where It All Begins, published in 2022, is her first novel for adults and in 2024 she started a collaboration with JP Ahonen on a middle grade novel.
Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked as an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences. She has also been working on the programme of Turku Book Fair in 2017–2020.
We are very thrilled to announce that THE SECRET STAIRCASE by award-winning and bestselling Salla Simukka and illustrator JP Ahonen has been nominated for the 2024 Finlandia Prize in Children’s and Youth Literature!
Salla Simukka is the multiple award-winning, internationally bestselling author of the Snow White trilogy, sold in 53 countries and Hollywood. JP Ahonen is a comic book artist and the illustrator of the cult classic Belzebubs project. A month ago, the Estonian rights for THE SECRET STAIRCASE were acquired by Ühinenud Ajakirjad.
Finlandia Prize is the most prestigious literary award in Finland, worth 30 000 euros. The winner will be announced on November 27.
The jury praised the title:
In this tantalisingly evocative fantasy, the text and vivid illustrations merge into a fine, polished whole. The story is about solving mysteries, making great friends and adapting to huge changes, whether it’s family or the vastness of dimensional boundaries. The narrative is engaging and the illustrations add delicious detail with a lightness of touch that encourages the novice reader to move forward.
About THE SECRET STAIRCASE
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?
Publication Info: Poika ullakolla, poika kellarissa, Tammi 2024, 200 pp, b&w illustrations
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad
Rights still available in the US, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands…
Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition
About author
JP Ahonen
JP Ahonen (1981) is a comic book artist, illustrator, and the author of several newspaper strips in his native Finland. He is best known for his graphic novel SING NO EVIL and the critically acclaimed strip series BELZEBUBS, which has evolved from a humble webcomic into a unique cross-media project, interweaving comics, music and animation.
Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 53 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013. Simukka has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award every year 2021–2024. Where It All Begins, published in 2022, is her first novel for adults and in 2024 she started a collaboration with JP Ahonen on a middle grade novel.
Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked as an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences. She has also been working on the programme of Turku Book Fair in 2017–2020.
We are starting the week off by announcing that Estonian rights for THE SECRET STAIRCASE by Salla Simukka and illustrator JP Ahonen have been acquired by Ühinenud Ajakirjad! This deal was closed by Julia Bogen.
Salla Simukka is the multiple award-winning, internationally bestselling author of the Snow White trilogy, and JP Ahonen is a comic book artist and the illustrator of the cult classic Belzebubs project.
You can watch the book trailer below:
For fans of Michael Ende and Maria Gripe, THE SECRET STAIRCASE is 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?
Rights still available in France, Germany, Holland…
POIKA ULLAKOLLA, POIKA KELLARISSA
Tammi, March 2024, 200 pp., b&w illustrations
Reading material:
English sample with illustrations
Finnish edition
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad
About author
JP Ahonen
JP Ahonen (1981) is a comic book artist, illustrator, and the author of several newspaper strips in his native Finland. He is best known for his graphic novel SING NO EVIL and the critically acclaimed strip series BELZEBUBS, which has evolved from a humble webcomic into a unique cross-media project, interweaving comics, music and animation.
Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 53 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013. Simukka has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award every year 2021–2024. Where It All Begins, published in 2022, is her first novel for adults and in 2024 she started a collaboration with JP Ahonen on a middle grade novel.
Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked as an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences. She has also been working on the programme of Turku Book Fair in 2017–2020.
We are excited to share the English teaser trailer for THE SECRET STAIRCASE by Salla Simukka and JP Ahonen with you!
THE SECRET STAIRCASE is a grounded illustrated middle grade fantasy title with a classic feel for fans of Michael Ende and Maria Gripe.
“THE SECRET STAIRCASE is a stylish and fascinating children’s novel. [–] The cooperation of the author-illustrator duo works well: the illustrations by Ahonen bring a nice atmosphere to Simukka’s fascinating story. The two parallel worlds have small differences and there is a pleasant weirdness for the reader to ponder on.” –Mikko on kirjavinkit.fi
“Salla Simukka is a talented and sure writer, and therefore it wasn’t a surprise that her new children’s book The Secret Staircase was a great reading experience. The illustrations by JP Ahonen are also lovely and dynamic. [–] Simukka’s fairytale-like title is an enchanting one, the weird buzzing in your brain for 9+ children, but even an older reader will enjoy this one.” –Kirjakissa book blog
“The setting which slowly builds up to when the two boys meet, is an exciting one. Once Alexis and Max have met, the thrilling situations and every day take turns naturally and the story progresses at a good pace. The book also shortly addresses a few hard themes, such as bullying, at a child’s level.” –Järvenpää city library
POIKA ULLAKOLLA, POIKA KELLARISSA
Tammi, March 2024, 200 pp., b&w illustrations
Reading material:
English sample with illustrations
Finnish edition
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
About author
JP Ahonen
JP Ahonen (1981) is a comic book artist, illustrator, and the author of several newspaper strips in his native Finland. He is best known for his graphic novel SING NO EVIL and the critically acclaimed strip series BELZEBUBS, which has evolved from a humble webcomic into a unique cross-media project, interweaving comics, music and animation.
Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 53 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013. Simukka has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award every year 2021–2024. Where It All Begins, published in 2022, is her first novel for adults and in 2024 she started a collaboration with JP Ahonen on a middle grade novel.
Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked as an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences. She has also been working on the programme of Turku Book Fair in 2017–2020.
Loukko by 
