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.

WHAT IS A ROBOT and MINI SCIENCE 3 sold to Turkey!

We are thrilled to announce two new children’s deals today! The nonfiction titles WHAT IS A ROBOT? and MINI SCIENCE 3: THE TRAVELING PLANTS have been sold to the publisher Yapi Kredi. Both deals were closed by Elsa Lindström at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This is the third territory for WHAT IS A ROBOT, while the MINI SCIENCE series have been sold to 5 territories so far! Rights for both titles are still available in eg. Germany, Denmark, Poland, France, Italy and Japan. 

 

WHAT IS A ROBOT?

Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Aapo Ravantti

The fact-packed title with delightful art is guaranteed to teach something new to the reader! 

Friends Ro and Bot take a look at where one might bump into robots both now and in the future in this entertaining illustrated book. What do robots and humans have in common, and how do they differ?  Do robots think, can they have a crush on someone or even get mad?
Everything becomes clear in this amazing book by award-winning, bestselling children’s non-fiction author Laura Ertimo.

Download the full English PDF for WHAT IS A ROBOT here!

 

MINI SCIENCE 3: THE TRAVELING PLANTS

Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Sanna Pelliccioni

In the third title of the Mini Science series, 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.

MINI SCIENCE 1: WHERE ARE YOU

Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Sanna Pelliccioni

Mini Science is a new nonfiction series for the smallest in the family. The series will tackle big science questions with lovely illustrations, and encourages kids to wonder and ask questions.

In Where Are You? 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. Zooming in all the way from the enormities of space to the minisculness of atoms, we learn a great deal in between.

MINI SCIENCE 2: INVISIBLE WORLD

Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Sanna Pelliccioni

In the second title of Mini Science series, the adorable Plop will discover the things one cannot see: electricity, garden in the fog, darkness, micro-organisms and other invisible things.

When Plop will get sick, he will learn 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 this makes you bored, so that soon you could go discovering the Dark Side of The Moon!

 

Download the full English PDFs for MINI SCIENCE here!

WHAT IS A ROBOT

Orig. Mikä on robotti
WSOY 2022, 61 pp

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
ESTONIA: Kirjastus Avita
TURKEY: Yapi Kredi

 

 

MINI SCIENCE 3: THE TRAVELING PLANTS

Orig. Pikkutieto – Kiivetään puuhun
Karisto 2022, 40 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Karisto (orig.)
ARABIC: Sefsafa Publishing
TURKEY: Yapi Kredi

MINI SCIENCE 1: WHERE ARE YOU

Orig. Pikkutieto – Missä sinä olet
Minerva 2020, 31pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Minerva (orig.)
ARABIC: Sefsafa Publishing
ESTONIA: Avita
GREECE: Klidarithmos
TURKEY: Yapi Kredi

MINI SCIENCE 2: INVISIBLE WORLD 

Orig. Pikkutieto – Mennään piiloon
Minerva 2021, 40pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Karisto (orig.)
ARABIC: Sefsafa Publishing
ESTONIA: Avita
TURKEY: Yapi Kredi

About author


Aapo Ravantti

Aapo Ravantti is a multi-talented artist from Lahti. In addition to illustrations for children’s books, he also works as a sound technician and musician. Ravantti’s educational background is in  visual art and music technology.

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.

Estonian rights sold for WHAT IS A ROBOT!

We are very excited to let you know that Estonian rights for WHAT IS A ROBOT were sold to Avita!

WHAT IS A ROBOT is a new non-fiction title by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Aapo Ravantti, for all children interested in technology and robots all around us.
The deal was closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Download the Full English pdf here!

 

WHAT IS A ROBOT
by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Aapo Ravantti

Friends Ro and Bot take a look at where one might bump into robots both now and in the future in this entertaining illustrated book. What do robots and humans have in common, and how do they differ?  Do robots think, can they have a crush on someone or even get mad?

Everything becomes clear in this amazing book by award-winning, bestselling children’s non-fiction author Laura Ertimo.

WHAT IS A ROBOT
Mikä on robotti?, WSOY, 2022

Reading material:
English PDF

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (Orig.)
ESTONIA: Avita

About author


Aapo Ravantti

Aapo Ravantti is a multi-talented artist from Lahti. In addition to illustrations for children’s books, he also works as a sound technician and musician. Ravantti’s educational background is in  visual art and music technology.

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!

WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO sold to Hungary!

We are very excited to let you know that the WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO written by Laura Ertimo and illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu has now been acquired in Hungary by the publisher Tessloff Babilon!
Rights have now been sold to Germany, Hungary and Estonia!
The deal was closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency

In WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO, two children, Lotta and Kasper, find clues about the great changes that life has undergone in the past and how life has continued after major catastrophes.

Through their journey, they come to see the roots of the current situation, understand why solving it is so tricky and learn how the human species has overcome previous crises to survive to this day.

Download the English sample and Finnish pdf for the book here

This amazing title won the Tieto-Lauri award for the Best Children’s Non-Fiction title of 2021!
Here’s what the award jury said:

Children today grow up among worldwide ecological crises. It presents a great challenge for nonfiction literature: how to tell children about the complex phenomena in an easily understandable way and give factually based hope that even the hardest crises can be solved. Ertimo and Ahokoivu have successfully taken on this challenge.

 

WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO: Traveling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper
by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu
Lotta and Kasper keep seeing new worrisome news: dying bees, endangered animals, plastic in the Mariana Trench and on the glaciers of Antarctica, rivers polluted by mines, forest fires…

The children realize that even if the problems of climate change were solved, Mother Nature would still be in trouble! Climate change is only one part of an escalating environmental crisis. How will we survive?

The fossil gremlin suggests that Lotta and Kasper set out on a grand journey through time in search of threads that may connect the past to the present and provide solutions for the future.

With the gremlin as their guide, the children find clues about the great changes that life has undergone in the past and how life has continued after major catastrophes. Through their journey, they come to see the roots of the current situation, understand why solving it is so tricky and learn how the human species has overcome previous crises to survive to this day.

WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?
Aika matka! Lotta, Kasper ja luontokadon arvoitus
Into, 2021, 48 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Into (orig.)

ESTONIA: Avita
GERMANY: Cross Cult
HUNGARY: Tessloff Babilon

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

Estonian rights sold for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO

We are very happy to announce that the Estonian rights to the award-winning WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO have now been acquired by Avita! The wonderful title won the Tieto-Lauri prize for Children’s and YA non-fiction 2021 and the German rights were sold just last week! The deal was closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

In WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO, two children, Lotta and Kasper, find clues about the great changes that life has undergone in the past and how life has continued after major catastrophes. Through their journey, they come to see the roots of the current situation, understand why solving it is so tricky and learn how the human species has overcome previous crises to survive to this day.

 

The rights are still available in Denmark, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Hungary, Norway, Lithuania, Czech Republic etc.

Download the English sample and Finnish pdf for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO

The book just last week received the Tieto-Lauri award for the Best Children’s Non-Fiction title of 2021!
Here’s what the award jury said:

Children today grow up among worldwide ecological crises. It presents a great challenge for nonfiction literature: how to tell children about the complex phenomena in an easily understandable way and give factually based hope that even the hardest crises can be solved. Ertimo and Ahokoivu have successfully taken on this challenge.

 

 


WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO: Traveling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper
written by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu

Lotta and Kasper keep seeing new worrisome news: dying bees, endangered animals, plastic in the Mariana Trench and on the glaciers of Antarctica, rivers polluted by mines, forest fires…

The children realize that even if the problems of climate change were solved, Mother Nature would still be in trouble! Climate change is only one part of an escalating environmental crisis. How will we survive?

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Into (orig.)

GERMANY: Cross Cult
ESTONIA: Avita

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

German rights sold for the award-winning WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO

We are very excited to let you know that the WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO – Travelling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper written by Laura Ertimo and illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu has now been acquired in Germany by the publisher Cross Cult.
The deal was closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

In WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO, two children, Lotta and Kasper, find clues about the great changes that life has undergone in the past and how life has continued after major catastrophes.

Through their journey, they come to see the roots of the current situation, understand why solving it is so tricky and learn how the human species has overcome previous crises to survive to this day.

Download the English sample and Finnish pdf for the book here

The book just yesterday received the Tieto-Lauri award for the Best Children’s Non-Fiction title of 2021!
Here’s what the award jury said:

Children today grow up among worldwide ecological crises. It presents a great challenge for nonfiction literature: how to tell children about the complex phenomena in an easily understandable way and give factually based hope that even the hardest crises can be solved. Ertimo and Ahokoivu have successfully taken on this challenge.


WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO: Traveling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper
by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu
Lotta and Kasper keep seeing new worrisome news: dying bees, endangered animals, plastic in the Mariana Trench and on the glaciers of Antarctica, rivers polluted by mines, forest fires…

The children realize that even if the problems of climate change were solved, Mother Nature would still be in trouble! Climate change is only one part of an escalating environmental crisis. How will we survive?

The fossil gremlin suggests that Lotta and Kasper set out on a grand journey through time in search of threads that may connect the past to the present and provide solutions for the future.

With the gremlin as their guide, the children find clues about the great changes that life has undergone in the past and how life has continued after major catastrophes. Through their journey, they come to see the roots of the current situation, understand why solving it is so tricky and learn how the human species has overcome previous crises to survive to this day.

 

WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?
Aika matka! Lotta, Kasper ja luontokadon arvoitus
Into, 2021, 48 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Into (orig.)

GERMANY: Cross Cult

READING MATERIALS:

English synopsis,
Full English translation,
Finnish PDF

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

‘Where Did the Animals Go – Travelling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper’ wins the Tieto-Lauri prize for Children’s and YA nonfiction!

Prestigious award for the praised children’s nonfiction about environmental and ecological crises

We are very excited to announce that just this morning it was revealed that ‘WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO – Travelling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper’ written by Laura Ertimo and illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu won the Tieto-Lauri prize for the best Children’s and YA nonfiction title 2021! The original Finnish title is ’Aika matka! Lotta, Kasper ja luontokadon arvoitus’. The prestigious award is worth 15 000 €.

The jury states that: “Children today grow up among worldwide ecological crises. It presents a great challenge for nonfiction literature: how to tell children about the complex phenomena in an easily understandable way and give factually based hope that even the hardest crises can be solved. Ertimo and Ahokoivu have successfully taken on this challenge.” 

Download the materials from here

We are incredibly happy to see this stand-alone sequel to the best-selling WEIRD WEATHER continue its success after the Finlandia nomination last year!

Congrats to Laura Ertimo and Mari Ahokoivu!

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Into (orig.)

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

German rights for WEIRD WEATHER now pre-empted!

We are really happy to let you know that the German rights for WEIRD WEATHER have now been pre-empted by Cross Cult!

Weird Weather! is accurate but hopeful children’s title that explains how humans are responsible for climate change and what we can do to fight it.

Publisher Cross Cult is inspired:

Author Laura Ertimo and illustrator Mari Ahokoivu use text parts, comic style scenes and large illustrations to make an important and difficult topic accessible to younger readers. We are looking forward to publish the German edition of this great book that makes aware and explains one of the great problems of our time.
– Andreas Mergenthaler, Publisher, Cross Cult, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Rights are still available in: Russia, Czech Republic, Romania, Korea, Turkey, Albania, Netherlands, France, UK, Greece, Bulgaria, Iceland etc.

Download the Full English pdf for the title here!


WEIRD WEATHER

by Laura Ertimo, illustrations by Mari Ahokoivu

Climate changes, why don’t we? Weird Weather! answers children’s tough questions about climate change, and tells how we can all fight against it.

Two clever buddies, Lotta and Kasper get tired of their parents’ evasive answers about weird weather. They decide to research what climate change is really is
about!

Weird Weather! is accurate but hopeful children’s nonfiction that explains how humans are responsible for climate change
and what we can do to ensure a brighter future. It also gives tips on how everyone can make better choices and practice climate skills every day. But climate change won’t be beaten with tiny tricks, and this book also encourages talking to children about how to make changes in society, and how working together can change everything.

Author 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. Her latest title WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO? was nominated for Finlandia Prize for Children’s and Youth Literature in 2021.

Illustrator Mari Ahokoivu (b. 1984) is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante.  Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen.
Her illustrated title WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO? was nominated for Finlandia Prize for Children’s and Youth Literature in 2021.

WEIRD WEATHER
Ihme ilmat, Into 2019, 48pp

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Into (orig.)

DENMARK: Staarup & Co.
ESTONIA: Avita
GERMANY: Cross Cult
HUNGARY: Ciceró Könyvstúdió Kft.
ITALY: Edizioni Piemme S.p.a
LATVIA: Jumava
LITHUANIA: Obuolys
MACEDONIA: Feniks
MEXICO (Latin American Spanish rights): Ordinal
NORWAY: Aschehoug
POLAND: AMBER Sp. z o.o.
SERBIA: Odiseja
SLOVAKIA: Ikar
SPAIN: Norma Editorial
SWEDEN: Raben & Sjörgen
UNITED STATES: Skyhorse Publishing

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

‘Where Did the Animals Go – Travelling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper’ nominated for Finlandia Prize for Children’s and Youth Literature

‘Where Did the Animals Go – Travelling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper’ nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Prize for Children’s and Youth Literature

We are very excited about the news from this morning! ‘Where Did the Animals Go – Travelling Through Time With Lotta and Kasper’ written by Laura Ertimo and illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu has been nominated for the Finlandia Prize in Children and Youth Literature. The original Finnish title is ’Aika matka! Lotta, Kasper ja luontokadon arvoitus’.

The jury states that: “The journey into the enigma of the loss of biodiversity flows smoothly through the playful arrangement of imagery and writing. The text meanders from the smallest small to the greatest of matters, satisfying the thirst for knowledge of all age groups. The expressive illustration walks alongside the text, at times excitedly getting carried away into an independent cartoon adventure where future, present and history unite. The entity is a vivacious cornucopia that induces the reader to do research, to come back to the book and to take effect.”

Download materials from here

WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO – TRAVELLING THROUGH TIME WITH LOTTA AND KASPER
by Laura Ertimo and illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu

Aika matka! Lotta, Kasper ja luontokadon arvoitus
Into, 2021, pp. 48

 

Rights sold
FINLAND: Into (orig.)

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

Estonian rights sold for ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH!

We are very glad to announce that Laura Ertimo and Satu Kontinen’s ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH has an Estonian publisher: Avita!

Avita is the largest educational publisher in Estonia.

Previously the title with amazing maps and stories has been sold to Alfa in Turkey,  AST in Russia and Eurograf in Poland.

Download the Full Finnish pdf and English sample for ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH here

ABOUT THE ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH:

There is a planet where plants plan world domination. Where beasts are good, and trees live for thousands of years, collecting memories in their bark. This enchanted place is Earth.
This book has 10 stories, and 10 maps. They may sound or look like they are out of a fairy-tale, but they are real, true maps of our planet. The Enchanted Planet Earth is a children’s non-fiction book that also engages adults. Through magical maps it teaches about nature, oceans and the history of continents. The stories also provide a context where adults and kids can discuss the environmental issues and how people’s actions affect nature. Through narratives the book explains the real processes that change our planet and make the Earth habitable.

The maps in the book include:

  • Hidden by Earth – Treasure Map
  • Invisible World – Underwater
  • Stormy Weathers – A different climate map
  • Meeting of Trees – The oldest forests and trees
  • Plant Love – Map of Flowers
  • Story of the Kind Wolf – Map of Extinct Animals
  • Travelling Animals – Migration map
  • Fairies and Goblins – Map of the Little Folk
  • Stories of Travel and Travelling Stories – Travel Map
  • Changes – Map of Disappeared Things
  • Visions from outer Space – Small maps of moving continents

Rights sold:

FINLAND (orig.):
Kustantamo S&S

ESTONIA: Avita
POLAND: Eurograf
RUSSIA: AST
TURKEY: Alfa

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


Satu Kontinen

Satu Kontinen is a graphic designer and illustrator obsessed with flowers. She is known for her detailed ink works as well as creating quirky creatures and imaginary worlds that spark the imagination of kids and adults alike. She has been awarded for designing and illustrating one of the most beautiful books/book covers in Finland (_Vuoden kaunein kirja_ by the Finnish Book Art Committee) in 2008, 2015, 2016 and in 2018. In 2004 she was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize and in 2017 she was one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious Rudolf Koivu illustration awards. In 2020 she was given a Merit Award in the Three x Three International Illustration Awards.

In her free time Satu enjoys designing floral fabrics and writing children's and YA fiction in secrecy. Maybe some day she will show them to a publisher.

Now 16 rights sold for WEIRD WEATHER!

We are very excited to let you know that WEIRD WEATHER has now sold to North Macedonian publisher Feniks! 

Publisher Feniks said:

Our Mother planet Earth needs our help! This wonderful book written by Laura Ertimo with beautiful illustrations by Mari Ahokoivu will help the readers (young and adults) to better understand why the climate is changing and how we can help and contribute towards a better future and save the planet for future generations.
– Nena Anastasovska, Publishing House Feniks, North Macedonia

Download the Full English pdf for the title here!

WEIRD WEATHER
by Laura Ertimo, illustrations by Mari Ahokoivu

Climate changes, why don’t we? Weird Weather! answers children’s tough questions about climate change, and tells how we can all fight against it.

Two clever buddies, Lotta and Kasper get tired of their parents’ evasive answers about weird weather. They decide to research what climate change is really is
about!

Weird Weather! is accurate but hopeful children’s nonfiction that explains how humans are responsible for climate change
and what we can do to ensure a brighter future. It also gives tips on how everyone can make better choices and practice climate skills every day. But climate change won’t be beaten with tiny tricks, and this book also encourages talking to children about how to make changes in society, and how working together can change everything.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Into (orig.),
DENMARK: Staarup & Co.,
ESTONIA: Avita,
HUNGARY: Ciceró Könyvstúdió Kft.,
ITALY: Edizioni Piemme S.p.a,
LATVIA: Jumava,
LITHUANIA: Obuolys,
MACEDONIA: Feniks
MEXICO (Latin American Spanish rights): Ordinal,
NORWAY: Aschehoug,
POLAND: AMBER Sp. z o.o.,
SERBIA: Odiseja,
SLOVAKIA: Ikar, SPAIN: Norma Editorial,
SWEDEN: Raben & Sjörgen,
UNITED STATES: Skyhorse Publishing

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

EALA Spring 2021 Children’s Rights Guide

We have wonderful new Children’s titles for you!

We are very proud to share our Spring 2021 Children’s Rights Guide and announce exciting titles from YA fantasy adventures to finding new friends with a pet pig, from teaching children about viruses to a wonderful wintertime story and everything in between!

Browse our full Spring 2021 Children’s Rights Guide here.


 

Stormseye
by Meri Luttinen

Nominated for Finlandia Prize for Children’s & YA literature 2020!

Topelius Prize Winner 2020!

A beautiful historical fantasy adventure set in the ancient Finnish fantasy world where a young woman finds her own place in the society

On a long midsummer night, when the sun never really sets, sixteen year-old Kainu stands at the edge of a series of red circles drawn in ochre on the ground.

All young girls in her village discover what their future role in life is going to be by taking part in this ancient and traditional “rite of the circles”. Girls usually find that they end up in one of the more common circles that points them in the direction of roles such as matrons, mothers, or craftswomen. No one even dreams about the five most unique and select innermost circles, usually reserved for shamans and sages. Not one single girl has ever found themselves directed to one of the special circles for hundreds of years.

However, when Kainu enters the very middle circle which is that of a Great Sage, heavy responsibilities fall on her, and she has to go on a long journey to find out who she really is.

Download English sample and synopsis here!

 

Annie the Friend Tamer
by Kaisa Paasto, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu

Shy people of the world, unite!
Annie is a 10-year-old girl. When her friend Miisa moves abroad, Annie has a chilling realization: she has never had to find a new friend. Is it too late to learn how to make friends? Obviously no-one can learn a skill this big when they’re 10. Can they?

At home Annie has a different sort of problem: her new pet pig is refusing to be trained. He just wants to stay in his safe place, under the table. Good thing that Annie’s brother has just had a major back operation, as this means he has lots of time to lie in bed and dole out great advice. Anni’es parents are also alright as far as parents go, even if they do laugh a bit too much at their own jokes. So it’s not all too bad – she just needs to become a ‘friend tamer’!

Download English book presentation and Full Finnish pdf from here

Full English text coming soon!

BOOK 2 coming in Fall 2021! 

 

Tales of Wintertide: The Snow Queen’s Spell
by Hannele Lampela

Nominated for Arvid Lydecken Prize 2020!

Imagine if all the bedtime stories were true! The Snow Queen’s Spell begins an enchantingly funny and fantastical series for middle-grade readers.

Greta’s little brother Kai has gone missing, but her parents act like he has never even existed. So, she embarks on a mission to find and save him, and ends up in the fairytale-like land of Wintertide, where she becomes a member of the Storytellers Guild. Before Greta can save Kai, she needs to learn to tell her own story.

But just what is her story? Is it a fairy tale about the Snow Queen? At least it seems as if it is;  Greta must now become a member of the Guild to break the enchanted spell cast by the Queen of Coldness. It’s clear that the Queen is definitely not going to let Kai go without a fight.

Download English sample and synopsis here

 

Mini Science: Invisible World
by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Sanna Pelliccioni

In the second title of Mini Science series – INVISIBLE WORLD – the adorable character Plop will discover the things one cannot see: electricity, garden in the fog, darkness, micro-organisms and other invisible things.

When Plop will get sick, he will learn 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 this makes you bored, so that soon you could go discovering the Dark Side of The Moon!

Download full English pdf here

 

Weird Weather: Why Does Climate Change
Weird Weather Activity Book for Climate Heroes

by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu
Now the bestselling children’s non-fiction title about climate change got even better!
Let us introduce the Weird Weather Activity Book that compliments the original bestselling title and can turn anyone into a Climate Hero!

Weird Weather is an original title about climate change, sold already to 16 territories!

Two clever buddies, Lotta and Kasper get tired of their parents’ evasive answers about weird weather. They decide to research what climate change is really about. Weird Weather! is an accurate but hopeful children’s nonfiction title that explains how humans are responsible for climate change and what we can do to ensure a brighter future. It also gives tips on how everyone can make better choices and practice climate-positive skills every day.

But climate change won’t be beaten with tiny tricks, and that’s why this book also encourages talking to children about how to make societal changes, and how working together can change everything. Stay also tuned for the upcoming sequel!

Download full English pdf here

Weird Weather, the Activity Book provides fun pastimes for environment lovers. Fun tasks, brain-teasers and inspiring ideas unleash children’s creative powers. Through the activities, they will learn more about the world including both past and current changes happening everywhere in nature – as well as what can be done for a better future!

Some of the tasks can be done directly in the book, others encourage the children to explore their home environment or the surrounding areas. Get busy with a friend, call your grandparents to learn about the climate, and why not write a letter to the people who can make a difference, whether it’s your favorite YouTuber – or the President!

Download full Finnish pdf here

About author


Hannele Lampela

Hannele Lampela's lovable works have been praised above all for their rich humor and ability to truly show the world from a child's perspective. She has the ability to enchant her readers, and that is why both children and adults love her stories. Lampela's works have been dramatized for example by the Finnish National Theater, Kuopio City Theater and YLE's radio plays. She has been awarded the prestigious Kaarina Helakisa Prize for her work and she has been nominated for Runeberg Junior award in 2019 and for Storytel Award, and Arvid Lydecken Award four times, most recently in 2023.

In addition to her fictional works, Lampela has written and created  a world of stories for the next national ABC book of Finnish schools. First graders across the country will learn to read through Hannele’s texts. Lampela lives in a small wooden house in the middle of apple trees with her family, and spends her days not only writing, but also pampering herself and others on a regular basis.

About author


Kaisa Paasto

Kaisa Paasto spent her childhood in the north of Finland and now lives in Espoo with her husband, two children and Saku the dog. Kaisa has a master’s degree in Comparative Literature and has previously worked as translator, content specialist and entrepreneur. Apart from the Anni books she has published psychological thrillers for adults by Storytel Original.

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

About author


Meri Luttinen

Meri Luttinen is an award-winning Finnish debut writer from Tampere. Her debut Stormseye won the Topelius prize and was nominated for both Kuvastaja Award and Finlandia Prize for Children's & YA literature in 2020.

She has a Master's degree in Finnish language and literature and has worked teaching Finnish and creating study materials. Luttinen is fascinated by everyday life in different eras and wants to transport readers to other worlds with her texts.

LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series sold to Lithuania, WEIRD WEATHER to Denmark!

We are very excited to start the week with 2 new children’s translation rights sales!

The LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series by Magdalena Hai has now been acquired by Lithuanian publisher Briedis.

The wonderful younger middle-grade series illustrated by Teemu Juhani will be published in 15 countries, but rights are still available in: France, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Slovenia, China, Bulgaria, Greece etc.

Thematically, it hit well in the 6-9 age group. A perfectly illustrated and exiting book series!
Indrė Polimaitienė, editor, publishing house “Briedis”

Download the Full English pdfs for all 3 titles in the series here.

The translation of the second book of the series is also nominated for the best children’s book of the year in Norway. The winners will be announced in May!


We are also very happy to announce that a Danish publisher Staarup & Co has acquired the non-fiction bestseller WEIRD WEATHER by Laura Ertimo with illustrations by Mari Ahokoivu.
The very important title about climate change for children and their parents has sold to 14 territories, but rights are still available in Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, France, Turkey, Netherlands, etc.

Download the English pdf for WEIRD WEATHER by using this link.


THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES
by Magdalena Hai, illustrated by Teemu Juhani

Nina is a is a clever, 9-year-old girl who goes to work in the Little Shop of Nightmares. During the course of the trilogy, she has to solve a mystery with tickling powder, find the lost teeth of a vampire and discover the reason why suddenly it just doesn’t stop snowing. The Little Shop of Nightmares is a mystery full of fascinating and fun characters that make young readers both wonder and laugh!

 #1  THE TERRIBLE TICKLING POWDER
When Nina, 9 years old, enters The Little Shop of Nightmares in hopes of getting a job, she is
greeted by an odd sight: shopkeeper Mr. Kook is rolling on the floor, unable to stop laughing.
With a little help from a ghost called Paddy, they start looking for the untickling powder to help
him, but things are certainly not made easier by Mr. Kook’s world-domination-planning pet octopus
Squishy McGoo, who is a bit too quick about getting into trouble with rollerblades on its tentacles.

 #2  MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TEETH
Nina goes to buy ice cream after her first work day at The Little Shop of Nightmares.
But at the ice cream shop she discovers a vampire – without teeth! Nina decides to help
vampire Lucas to find his teeth from Mr. Kook’s shop. But for some reason all the vampire
teeth seem to have disappeared. It seems like somebody has hidden them on purpose…

 #3  STICKY THE TERRIBLE SNOWMAN
Same awesome monsters. New blizzardy trouble. The Little Shop of Nightmares is
getting buried in snow! Nina and Paddy are trying to find the cause of the snowstorm,
but that’s easier said than done. A well-meaning but horribly clumsy snowman keeps
getting in their way and stopping their every effort to stop the snowing inside.


WEIRD WEATHER
by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu

Weird Weather! is accurate but hopeful children’s nonfiction that explains how humans are responsible for climate change and what we can do to ensure a brighter future. It also gives tips on how everyone can make better choices and practice climate skills every day. But climate change won’t be beaten with tiny tricks, and this book also encourages talking to children about how to make changes in society, and how working together can change everything.

LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES SERIES:

#1 Kamala kutituspulveri, WSOY 2019, 60pp
#2 Hampaat hukassa, WSOY 2019, 60pp
#3 Hirmuinen Jumimies WSOY 2021, 60pp

Rights sold

FINLAND:
WSOY (orig.)

CZECH REPUBLIC:
Euromedia
DENMARK:
Vild Maskine
ESTONIA:
Postimees Publishing
GERMANY:
Egmont Schneiderbuch
HUNGARY:
Cerkabella
ITALY:
Terre di Mezzo
LATVIA:
Latvijas Mediji
LITHUANIA:
Briedis
NETHERLANDS:
De Vier Windstreken
NORWAY:
Fontini
RUSSIA:
KompasGuide
ROMANIA:
Editura Univers
SWEDEN:
Hegas
TURKEY:
Epsilon

 

WEIRD WEATHER
Ihme ilmat, Into 2019, 48pp

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Into (orig.),
DENMARK: Staarup & Co.,
ESTONIA: Avita,
HUNGARY: Ciceró Könyvstúdió Kft.,
ITALY: Edizioni Piemme S.p.a,
LATVIA: Jumava,
LITHUANIA: Obuolys,
MEXICO (Latin American Spanish rights): Ordinal,
NORWAY: Aschehoug,
POLAND: AMBER Sp. z o.o.,
SERBIA: Odiseja,
SLOVAKIA: Ikar, SPAIN: Norma Editorial,
SWEDEN: Raben & Sjörgen,
UNITED STATES: Skyhorse Publishing

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


Magdalena Hai

Magdalena Hai is an award-winning author, lover of cross-genre fiction and all things strange. Her fiction often combines elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

Her Little Shop of Nightmares series has been sold to 30 territories around the world. Among Hai's many accolades are winning the Finlandia Prize for children's and YA literature and the Finnish Literary Export Prize, and being nominated  the Nordic Council Children & Young People's Literature Prize.

Besides being an author, Hai teaches writing and is an active member and editor in the publishing co-operative Osuuskumma.

About author


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. 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, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

Happy New Year 2021: Full English manuscripts available for many EALA books

We wish you a Happy New Year 2021 and hope you had relaxing holidays!

English manuscripts:
To begin this fresh new year, you will have a chance to read and download full English manuscripts of many of our excellent books, in order to make publishing decisions. These books listed here will soon be published in English or have recently been published in English. What a perfect time to pick your next bestseller now!

Grants to foreign publishers:
The unique translation grant system in Finland gives you an opportunity to finance your translation costs up to 70% and even cover part of your printing costs – read more here:  https://fili.fi/en/grants/

Apply now:
The new FILI grant application period is now open starting January 1st, until February 1st. Please note that only translations from Finnish or Finnish-Swedish to foreign language will be supported.

Translators:
We will advice you to find the best possible translators, and in some cases you can also translate from English.  Find more information about translators here: https://kaantopiiri.fi/en/search-translators/

My Friend Natalia by Laura Lindstedt
W.W. Norton 2021, translated by David HackstonThe long-awaited new novel by Finlandia-prize winner! A bold, and brave novel about young woman’s sexuality, the power of narration, and identity. Right sold to 12 territories.“I read a galley of Laura Lindstedt’s “My Friend Natalia” (the translation, obviously) yesterday and I cannot stop thinking about how masterful the craft is,” writes Marissa Higgins in her review of Finnish author Laura Lindstedt’s novel “My Friend Natalia.” “Totally original, enthralling. Totally weird. 10/10, do recommend.” – Marissa Higgins, AuthorDownload the English PDF here. 


The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta

The Moonday Letters is an eco-thriller and a love story, taking place in the future where the Earth has become almost inhabitable. Hauntingly beautiful, with highly literary style, it tells a story of individuals in a world that is lost because of our actions.

“Itäranta’s language is beautiful, and depictions almost poetic. The story grows, as emotions, clues, past, secrets and truth open like flowers. The plot flows forward and the mystery keeps readers hooked up. And it is a pleasure to read.” – Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

Download the English PDF here.

 


The Women I Think About at Night by Mia Kankimäki
Simon & Schuster 2020, translated by Douglas Robinson

Hop on a plane with Mia Kankimäki and follow the footsteps of 12 historical female figures: fearless explorers, gifted writers and passionate artists! Rights sold to 16 territories.

“A fantastic book that every woman can enjoy. The book is a confidence-booster for all women seeking to build a life based on finding a path out of the beaten track, to find inspiration from “night women” who overcame all odds to make brave choices and seek better lives for themselves. These travels were as much travels of the soul than of the physical world.” —Beauty News NYC

Download the English PDF here.

 


A Wonderful Life by Frank Martela
HarperCollins 2020

In this engagingly insightful book, Frank Martela takes you on a voyage through the history, philosophy, and psychology of happiness and worthy living to answer the questions about meaning of life. Rights sold to 25 territories!
“A brilliant and charming book that tackles the grandest questions of life in plain terms, with humor and insight…full of anecdotes, history, thoughtfulness, perspective, and entertaining discourse. If you have any curiosity about the meaning of life—and who doesn’t?—this book is a refreshing and important resource.” — Roy F. Baumeister, Author of New York Times bestseller

Download the English PDF here.

 


Future Skills by Perttu Pölönen
Start Publishing 2021, translated by Owen Witesman

The next revolution is a human revolution, according to Perttu Pölönen, a futurist, inventor and an inspirational speaker. We should develop courage, adaptability, compassion, storytelling, patience and curiosity, to name a few, in order to succeed in the era of machines, robots and artificial intelligence

“This book provides insights for the younger generation to prepare for an uncertain future. It is a must-read to prepare for an era of new competition.”
– Yoonjoo Park, Director, BP Publisher, Korea

Download the English PDF here.

 


Sisterland by Salla Simukka
Crown Books 2019, translated by Owen Witesman

That winter it starts snowing and it never seems to end. Eleven-year-old Alice falls through the snow and lands in the summery world of Sisterland – in a much awaited adventure!
“This book is gorgeous, lush, and dreamy with the atmosphere of fairy tales we all know and love. It’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, but for this generation. It’s a beautiful exploration of friendship and the way children forget, of bravery and the beauty of remembering.” – Megan Szmyd, Book Shop of Fort Collins

Download the English PDF here.

 


Weird Weather by Laura Ertimo & Mari Ahokoivu
Skyhorse Publishing 2021, translated by Owen Witesman
Weird Weather! answers children’s tough questions about climate change, and tells how we can all fight against it.

We follow two clever children, Lotta and Kasper, who get tired of their parents’ evasive answers about weird weather like snowless winters, heat-waves, and tropical storms. They decide to research what climate change is really is about.

“Weird Weather is ambitiously done, but it looks beautiful and fresh. The spreads are spacious and there is not too much text. The content has been carefully written based on the facts but skillfully popularized so that even children can read and listen to them.” – Kirsin kirjanurkka blog

Download the English PDF here.

 

About author


Emmi Itäranta

Emmi Itäranta (b.1976) holds two MA degrees, one in Drama and another in Creative Writing. Her award-winning debut novel Memory of Water (Teemestarin kirja) was published in Finland in 2012 to great accolades, followed by The Weaver (Kudottujen kujien kaupunki) in 2015. Her latest novel The Moonday Letters (Kuunpäivän kirjeet) was published in September 2020.

Itäranta’s writing has been compared to that of Ursula K. Le Guin. Her honours include the Young Aleksis Kivi Prize 2013, the Kalevi Jäntti Literary Prize 2012 and first place in the Teos Fantasy and Sci-Fi Literary Contest 2011.

Memory of Water has sold to over 25 languages to date, and it has also been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award recognizing the best science fiction novel published in the UK in 2014, and the Golden Tentacle award. In addition, Itäranta has been included on the Honor List of the Otherwise Award (formerly James Tiptree, Jr. Award).

Itäranta’s CV is an eclectic mix of writing-related activities, including stints as a columnist, theatre critic, press officer and dramaturge. Her poems, short stories, articles and essays have appeared in anthologies, film magazines and science fiction magazines in the UK and Finland. She now lives in Finland after 14 years in the United Kingdom.

About author


Frank Martela

Professor Frank Martela, PhD, is a philosopher and researcher of psychology specializing in the question of meaning in life. His articles have appeared in Scientific American Mind, Harvard Business Review, Salon, CNBC and his work has been featured on Quartz and on the BBC. His research has been published extensively in numerous academic journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal of Personality, Metaphilosophy, Southern Journal of Philosophy, and Academy of Management Review. He has spoken to more than one hundred audiences worldwide, including invited lectures in universities on five continents, including Stanford University and Harvard University. He’s been interviewed by the New York Times, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Vice News, Fox News,and Monocle Observer among others. He is Assistant Professor at Aalto University in Finland. Outside of work, Frank is a father to three lovely children, an amateur-level soccer player, with an occasional skiing trip in the winters. He is made in Green Bay, so Packers holds a special place in his heart.

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


Laura Lindstedt

Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015), a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death, earned her the coveted Finlandia Prize of 2015 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2017. Lindstedt’s success has continued with My Friend Natalia (Teos 2019) which has earned critical acclaim and has been sold to 12 territories. Together with author Sinikka Vuola, she has authored 101 tapaa tappaa aviomies (101 Ways to Kill Your Husband, Siltala 2022) which has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize of 2024.

She is currently completing her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute.

About author


Mia Kankimäki

Mia Kankimäki is the author of two best-selling books which blend travelogue, memoir, biography, and women’s history. After taking a master’s degree in comparative literature at the University of Helsinki and working diligently in Finnish publishing, in 2010 she left her job and traveled to Japan to write her first book. Her books have received several literary awards, for example the Best Travel Book of the Year 2013, the HelMet Award 2015, and Otava Book Foundation’s Non-Fiction Award 2020. She currently lives in Helsinki, Finland, whenever she’s not traveling for her next book project.

Mia has been enthusiastic about Japanese culture for years and is a qualified ikebana teacher of the Sogetsu school. Her first book Things That Make One’s Hear Beat Faster took her to Kyoto where she has spent long periods of writing and making research ever since. Kankimäki’s second book The Women I Think About at Night has sold over 55,000 copies in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to 21 territories, including USA and China.

Mia's both books have been aqcuired by Japanese publisher Soshisha:

"I am delighted to share that Mia Kankimäki’s debut title, THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER, is embraced and loved by many Japanese readers. A cross between an autobiography and a travelogue, the author finds an emotional connection with a woman geographically far apart and from a different era and tries to discover who she really was. I believe this style is reflected in THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT as well. Though some of the female figures in this second book might not be well-known locally, I am looking forward to seeing how our readers will react to their lifestyles." - Daisuke Watanabe, Editor, Soshisha

About author


Perttu Pölönen

Perttu Pölönen is a futurist, inventor and an inspirational speaker. In the Finnish media, Perttu has been called a gentle highbrow and fearless inventor. Future Skills has been an instant bestseller in Finland – where Perttu has become one of the most sought-after speakers inspiring thousands of people in his lectures.

About author


Salla Simukka

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.

Second rights sale for MINI SCIENCE: INVISIBLE WORLD

Already 2 pre-publication rights sold for INVISIBLE WORLD!

Today we are very glad to announce that Laura Ertimo and Sanna Pelliccioni’s INVISIBLE WORLD has now sold to Estonia’s biggest educational publisher Avita, previously the title was also picked up by Yapi Kredi publishing in Turkey.

The book teaches small children about invisible things – imaginary friends, bacteria and viruses. It also covers the very important topic of vaccinations and how to behave when you are sick.

The book is the second part of Mini Science series but can work as a standalone as well. If timed right, this could be published already in Spring/Summer 2021, when the vaccinations reach most people that are not in risk groups.

Download the full English pdf for this very timely title here.

ABOUT MINI SCIENCE SERIES:

Mini Science is a new nonfiction series for the smallest in the family. The series will tackle 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.
In #1 Where Are You? 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. Zooming in all the way from the enormities of space to the minisculness of atoms, we learn a great deal in between.

In #2 Invisible World  Plop will discover the things one cannot see: electricity, garden in the fog, darkness, micro-organisms and other invisible things.

When Plop will get sick, he will learn 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 this makes you bored, so that soon you could go discovering the Dark Side of The Moon!

Rights sold for the series:

FINLAND:
#1 Minerva (orig.)
#2 Karisto (orig.)

ESTONIA: Avita
GREECE: Klidarithmos
TURKEY: Yapi Kredi Publishing

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.

Latvian rights sold for WEIRD WEATHER! Turkish for ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH!

Today we are very glad to announce that Laura Ertimo and Mari Ahokoivu’s WEIRD WEATHER has now sold to Latvia – the happy publishing house is Jumava!

This paramount title about climate change has now already sold to 15 territories!

Download the full English pdf for WEIRD WEATHER here

Also, Laura Ertimo and Satu Kontinen’s ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH now has a Turkish publisher: Alfa publishing house! Previously the title with amazing maps and stories has been sold to AST in Russia and just last week to Eurograf in Poland.

Download the Full Finnish pdf and English sample for ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH here

We are also excited to share for the first time full English pdf for very timely MINI SCIENCE 2: INVISIBLE WORLD – another very important title by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Sanna Pellicioni.

The book teaches small children about invisible things – imaginary friends, bacteria and viruses. It also covers the very important topic of vaccinations and how to behave when you are sick.

Download the full English pdf for this timely title here.


ABOUT WEIRD WEATHER:

Climate changes, why don’t we?

Weird Weather! is accurate but hopeful children’s nonfiction that explains how humans are responsible for climate change and what we can do to ensure a brighter future. It also gives tips on how everyone can make better choices and practice climate skills every day. But climate change won’t be beaten with tiny tricks, and this book also encourages talking to children about how to make changes in society, and how working together can change everything.

ABOUT THE ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH:

There is a planet where plants plan world domination. Where beasts are good, and trees live for thousands of years, collecting memories in their bark. This enchanted place is Earth.
This book has 10 stories, and 10 maps. They may sound or look like they are out of a fairy-tale, but they are real, true maps of our planet. The Enchanted Planet Earth is a children’s non-fiction book that also engages adults. Through magical maps it teaches about nature, oceans and the history of continents. The stories also provide a context where adults and kids can discuss the environmental issues and how people’s actions affect nature. Through narratives the book explains the real processes that change our planet and make the Earth habitable.

The maps in the book include: Hidden by Earth – Treasure Map, Invisible World – Underwater,  Stormy Weathers – A different climate map, Meeting of Trees – The oldest forests and trees, Plant Love – Map of Flowers, Story of the Kind Wolf – Map of Extinct Animals, Travelling Animals – Migration map, Fairies and Goblins – Map of the Little Folk, Stories of Travel and Travelling Stories – Travel Map, Changes – Map of Disappeared Things, Visions from outer Space – Small maps of moving continents

ABOUT MINI SCIENCE SERIES:

Mini Science is a new nonfiction series for the smallest in the family. The series will tackle 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.
In #1 Where Are You? 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. Zooming in all the way from the enormities of space to the minisculness of atoms, we learn a great deal in between.

In #2 Invisible World  Plop will discover the things one cannot see: electricity, garden in the fog, darkness, micro-organisms and other invisible things.

When Plop will get sick, he will learn 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 this makes you bored, so that soon you could go discovering the Dark Side of The Moon!

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

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.

About author


Satu Kontinen

Satu Kontinen is a graphic designer and illustrator obsessed with flowers. She is known for her detailed ink works as well as creating quirky creatures and imaginary worlds that spark the imagination of kids and adults alike. She has been awarded for designing and illustrating one of the most beautiful books/book covers in Finland (_Vuoden kaunein kirja_ by the Finnish Book Art Committee) in 2008, 2015, 2016 and in 2018. In 2004 she was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize and in 2017 she was one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious Rudolf Koivu illustration awards. In 2020 she was given a Merit Award in the Three x Three International Illustration Awards.

In her free time Satu enjoys designing floral fabrics and writing children's and YA fiction in secrecy. Maybe some day she will show them to a publisher.

Polish rights sold for ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH!

Today we are extremely happy to announce that Laura Ertimo and Satu Kontinen’s ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH now has a Polish publisher.
The happy publishing house is Eurograf. Previously the rights for this wonderful children’s atlas have also been sold to AST in Russia.We are happy to be the future publisher of this beautiful book. Those maps of the enchanted planet Earth will help children learn a lot more about our planet and will fascinate the adults, too. We feel that such wonderful books may become even more important in this time of uncertainty to show us that life on the planet Earth still goes on and on.

– Anastasia Filippova, AST Publishing Group, Russia

Ask the Full Finnish pdf and English sample by clicking here

The maps in the book include: Hidden by Earth – Treasure Map, Invisible World – Underwater,  Stormy Weathers – A different climate map, Meeting of Trees – The oldest forests and trees, Plant Love – Map of Flowers, Story of the Kind Wolf – Map of Extinct Animals, Travelling Animals – Migration map, Fairies and Goblins – Map of the Little Folk, Stories of Travel and Travelling Stories – Travel Map, Changes – Map of Disappeared Things, Visions from outer Space – Small maps of moving continents

ABOUT THE BOOK:

There is a planet where plants plan world domination. Where beasts are good, and trees live for thousands of years, collecting memories in their bark. This enchanted place is Earth.
This book has 10 stories, and 10 maps. They may sound or look like they are out of a fairy-tale, but they are real, true maps of our planet. The Enchanted Planet Earth is a children’s non-fiction book that also engages adults. Through magical maps it teaches about nature, oceans and the history of continents. The stories also provide a context where adults and kids can discuss the environmental issues and how people’s actions affect nature. Through narratives the book explains the real processes that change our planet and make the Earth habitable.

Stories of Travel and Travelling Stories
a map from ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: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.

Satu Kontinen is a graphic designer and illustrator obsessed with little animals and Instagram photography. She is known for using bold colours and creating quirky creatures and worlds of cuteness that spark the imagination of kids and adults. In 2008 she was given an award for designing and illustrating one of the most beautiful book covers in Finland (Vuoden kaunein kirja) by the Finnish Book Art Committee, and in 2004 she was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize.

Rights sold:

FINLAND (orig.):
Kustantamo S&S

POLAND: Eurograf
RUSSIA: AST

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


Satu Kontinen

Satu Kontinen is a graphic designer and illustrator obsessed with flowers. She is known for her detailed ink works as well as creating quirky creatures and imaginary worlds that spark the imagination of kids and adults alike. She has been awarded for designing and illustrating one of the most beautiful books/book covers in Finland (_Vuoden kaunein kirja_ by the Finnish Book Art Committee) in 2008, 2015, 2016 and in 2018. In 2004 she was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize and in 2017 she was one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious Rudolf Koivu illustration awards. In 2020 she was given a Merit Award in the Three x Three International Illustration Awards.

In her free time Satu enjoys designing floral fabrics and writing children's and YA fiction in secrecy. Maybe some day she will show them to a publisher.

MINI SCIENCE series sold to Turkey! Announcing the 2nd title in the series: MINI SCIENCE: INVISIBLE WORLD!

We are very happy to announce that Yapi Kredi Publishing has acquired the Turkish rights for the first 2 titles in the MINI SCIENCE non-fiction picture book series: WHERE ARE YOU and INVISIBLE WORLD!


MINI SCIENCE is a new nonfiction series for the smallest in the family. It feeds curiosity and is designed to start conversations about different topics that children might not think about on their own.


Introducing: MINI SCIENCE #2: INVISIBLE WORLD

In the second title of Mini Science series – INVISIBLE WORLD – the adorable Plop will discover the things one cannot see: electricity, garden in the fog, darkness, micro-organisms and other invisible things.

When Plop will get sick, he will learn 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 this makes you bored, so that soon you could go discovering the Dark Side of The Moon!

We have full English text for the second title and also some illustration samples and a cover.

Ask for the Full English materials for both MINI SCIENCE titles by clicking here.


MINI SCIENCE: WHERE ARE YOU?

This picture book has already been recently acquired by Klidarithmos in Greece and Avita in Estonia and soon will be published in 4 territories!

In Where Are You? 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. Zooming in all the way from the enormities of space to the minisculness of atoms, we learn a great deal in between.

MINI SCIENCE #1: WHERE ARE YOU

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Minerva (orig.)
ESTONIA: Avita
GREECE: Klidarithmos
TURKEY: Yapi Kredi Publishing

 

MINI SCIENCE #2: INVISIBLE WORLD

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Karisto (orig.)
TURKEY: Yapi Kredi Publishing

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.

2 new children’s deals: WHERE ARE YOU to Greece and HOW TO GREET AN ALIEN to Latvia!

We are very happy to announce 2 new children’s deals this week!

 

WHERE ARE YOU – the adorable 1st title from MINI SCIENCE series by Laura Ertimo has been acquired by Klidarithmos in Greece. The title has previously been acquired by Avita in Estonia.

WHERE ARE YOU is an exceptional picture book for very small children showing the fundamental meanings of the natural world beginning from the gigantic planet earth and reaching the tiny atoms. Plop is such a lovable character! Children can relate to the hand-made illustrations.
 – Asimina Giannopoulou, Editor-In-Chief, Klidarithmos Publications, Greece

Ask for the Full English pdf for WHERE ARE YOU by clicking here.


HOW TO GREET AN ALIEN by Petri Tamminen now has the first international publisher  – Latvijas Mediji in Latvia. The picture book helps children overcome anxiety and make new friends.

HOW TO GREET AN ALIEN is a fun, unusual and at the same time clever book for both children and their parents. With a humorous attitude it teaches how to overcome fears from strangers, how to accept the difference, cope with unpleasant feelings and uncomfortable situations. It is a great pleasure that this book will now be published in Latvia.
– Gunta Apse, Editor, Latvijas Mediji publishing, Latvia

Ask for the Full English pdf for HOW TO GREET AN ALIEN by clicking here.

WHERE ARE YOU

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Minerva (orig.)
ESTONIA: Avita
GREECE: Klidarithmos

 

HOW TO GREET AN ALIEN

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Karisto (orig.)
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji

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


Petri Tamminen

Petri Tamminen is a Finnish author best known for his laconic humor and short stories, and 6 novels. How to greet an alien is his first book for children. Tamminen often writes about shame and shyness, and he isn’t afraid to use his own life as an example.

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.

About author


Valpuri Kerttula

Valpuri Kerttula is a Finnish illustrator and designer based in Lahti, Finland. In addition to diverse domestic work, her art is also being published internationally. Valpuri is known for her quirky and humorous characters of oddball humans and animals.

Russian rights sold for ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH

Today we are very happy to announce that Laura Ertimo and Satu Kontinen’s ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH now has a Russian publisher.
The publishing house is AST – one of the biggest publishers in Russia.

Here is what they said about the title:

“We are happy to be the future publisher of this beautiful book. Those maps of the enchanted planet Earth will help children learn a lot more about our planet and will fascinate the adults, too. We feel that such wonderful books may become even more important in this time of uncertainty to show us that life on the planet Earth still goes on and on.”

– Anastasia Filippova, AST Publishing Group, Russia


About the book:

ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH
by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Satu Kontinen

There is a planet where plants plan world domination. Where beasts are good, and trees live for thousands of years, collecting memories in their bark. This enchanted place is Earth.

This book has 10 stories and 10 maps. They may sound or look like they are out of a fairy-tale, but they are real, true maps of our planet. The Enchanted Planet Earth is a children’s non-fiction book that also engages adults. Through magical maps, it teaches about nature, oceans and the history of continents. The stories also provide a context where adults and kids can discuss environmental issues and how people’s actions affect nature. Through narratives, the book explains the real processes that change our planet and make the Earth habitable.

Rights sold:

FINLAND (orig.): Kustantamo S&S
RUSSIA: AST

 

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


Satu Kontinen

Satu Kontinen is a graphic designer and illustrator obsessed with flowers. She is known for her detailed ink works as well as creating quirky creatures and imaginary worlds that spark the imagination of kids and adults alike. She has been awarded for designing and illustrating one of the most beautiful books/book covers in Finland (_Vuoden kaunein kirja_ by the Finnish Book Art Committee) in 2008, 2015, 2016 and in 2018. In 2004 she was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize and in 2017 she was one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious Rudolf Koivu illustration awards. In 2020 she was given a Merit Award in the Three x Three International Illustration Awards.

In her free time Satu enjoys designing floral fabrics and writing children's and YA fiction in secrecy. Maybe some day she will show them to a publisher.

MARESI is now sold to 24 territories! Excellent reviews for LITTLE MOUSE’S SUMMER, AGNES and ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH!

MARESI is now sold to 24 territories!
Excellent reviews for LITTLE MOUSE’S SUMMER, AGNES and ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH!

We are very happy to announce that MARESI by Maria Turtschaninoff has now been sold to 24 territories!
The Azerbaijani rights were bought today by Alatoran. Rights were also recently acquired in Bulgaria by Izida.
This bestselling YA title has sold to already 24 territories, but the rights are still available in Russia, Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania, Slovenia,  Japan, Portugal, Croatia and in many other countries. See the rights sold list.

MARESI is the first title in The Red Abbey Chronicles and an international feature film is under development by Film4/The Bureau.
MARESI RED MANTLE, book 3 in the trilogy,  was awarded earlier this month the 2020 Global Literature in Libraries Translated Book Prize, as the best translated book of the year!

Request the full English PDFs for the trilogy by clicking here.

About THE RED ABBEY CHRONICLES: The Red Abbey is a refuge for women and girls, where everyone pursues their own areas of interest. Maresi prefers to spend her time reading and learning. Everything changes when the frightened Jai arrives on the island. She has seen her sister get buried alive for speaking to a young man, and her father and a crew of thugs are after her. Maresi and her friends have to fight to defend both Jai and their community.


Meanwhile, Finland’s biggest daily Helsingin Sanomat has reviews for just-published children’s titles LITTLE MOUSE’S SUMMER, AGNES AND THE GARDEN OF DREAMS and ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH.


LITTLE MOUSE’S SUMMER

“Good-mood book for children and adults!”
– Helsingin Sanomat

The 6th title of Little Mouse picture book series deals with summer.
Summer holiday is full of fun: going to the amusement park, playing by the beach and visiting the art museum. Buying strawberries and ice cream, and going to the cinema when the weather is too hot. Little Mouse knows that one must enjoy the summer, because it doesn’t last forever.

Ask for English materials here


ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH

“Text is flowy and interesting, but the illustrations make this surprising, almost lyrical!”
– Helsingin Sanomat

This book has 10 stories, and 10 maps. They may sound or look like they are out of a fairy-tale, but they are real, true maps of our planet. THE ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH is a children’s non-fiction book that also engages adults. Through magical maps it teaches about nature, oceans and the history of continents.

Ask for English materials here.


AGNES AND THE GARDEN OF DREAMS 

“Fast-paced mystery plot and relatable strong characters.”
– Helsingin Sanomat

11-years-old Agnes has to move to a small countryside town with her mother. Her parents are divorced, and Agnes doesn’t know anyone
from her new hometown. She is not having the best summer of her life.

But then something weird happens. Agnes finds an old tombstone that has her name and birthday engraved on it – only the birth year is different. Whose grave is it?

Ask for English materials here.

RED ABBEY CHRONICLES
Rights sold: for the series:

FINLAND (orig.)

AZERBAIJAN
BELGIUM
BRAZIL
BULGARIA
CANADA
CHINA (Simplified)
DENMARK
ESTONIA
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
HUNGARY
ITALY
LATVIA
NETHERLANDS
NORWAY
POLAND
ROMANIA
WORLD SPANISH
SWEDEN
TURKEY
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
FILM RIGHTS

LITTLE MOUSE’S SUMMER
Rights sold for the series:

FINLAND (orig.)

AUSTRALIA
CATALAN
CHINA
DENMARK
ESTONIA,
FRANCE
NEPAL
NEW ZEALAND
PORTUGAL,
RUSSIA
SPAIN
UNITED KINGDOM

ENCHANTED PLANET EARTH
Rights sold:

FINLAND (orig.)

 

AGNES AND THE GARDEN OF DREAMS
Rights sold:

FINLAND (orig.)

CZECH REPUBLIC
DENMARK
ESTONIA
RUSSIA

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


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!