Nadja Sarell

Estonian rights sold for HILJA AND THE OPERATION CHRISTMAS MAGIC

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We are glad to let you know that the 4th title of Heidi Viherjuuri’s HILJA-series – HILJA AND THE OPERATION CHRISTMAS MAGIC – will be published in Estonia by Eesti Raamat!
The deal was closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency

The Hilja-series show the charm of simplicity and the magic of everyday situations. Together with the colorful characters, it results in captivating and humorous reading.
– Reet Trummal, head of Children’s & YA, Eesti Raamat, Estonia

Hilja is an energetic, curious and cheeky seven-year-old girl who lives in the countryside in a wooden house that always needs some fixing. She loves to climb trees, run around, go fishing and make new friends.
Hilja has only seen her grandma in an old photograph. However, there are three ladies in the neighborhood who are making sure that Hilja doesn’t have just one grandma but three!

Download the English materials for Hilja-series here!

HILJA AND THE OPERATION CHRISTMAS MAGIC
by Heidi Viherjuuri, illustrated by Nadja Sarell
Chapter Books (6-9 Years)

Hilja’s sister Veini claims that Christmas is just a publicity trick, but Hilja decides to prove that Christmas is real and magical. A secret operation begins, and it involves making an elf trap, lots of secret notes and spying on neighbors. Even Santa is not having it easy – he has to take part to Hilja’s lie detection test.

Many, many miscommunications are ahead before the family of the Green house can finally calm down for Christmas.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Mäkelä (orig.)

ESTONIA: Eesti Raamat
GERMANY: WooW Books
RUSSIA: Strecoza

About author


Heidi Viherjuuri

Heidi Viherjuuri lives in Cologne, Germany, where she writes about things big and small and also everyday life situations. She loves green tea, weekdays, history, traveling by train and having silly laughs with her son. Heidi´s works have rich language and are straight-to-the-point at the same time and one of her favorite books is the Finnish thesaurus.

Read more Author's page

About author


Nadja Sarell

Nadja Sarell is an illustrator living in Helsinki, Finland. She graduated with MA in Dance from Theatre Academy Helsinki. Soon after that she moved to a small town in North Wales to study children’s book illustration. She graduated from North Wales School of Art and Design with BA in Illustration for Children’s Publishing in 2004.

Since then she has worked as a freelance illustrator for children’s publishing in Finland and abroad. She loves to teach art, illustration and dance for both children and adults. She is also passionate about surface pattern design and enjoys creating charismatic, expressive book characters.
If Nadja was an animal, she would be a cat living in an old mansion with a large fireplace and a comfy sofa. Her favourite things are her family, music, dancing, black coffee and chocolate.

Read more Author's page

HILJA-series sold to RUSSIA!

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We have very exciting news today! Russian rights for all 5 titles of Hilja-series have now been sold to Russian publisher Strecoza!

This wonderful series written by Heidi Viherjuuri and illustrated by Nadja Sarell has previously been sold to Estonia and Germany.

Strecoza were really happy to introduce this new character to Russian children:

It is always so curious and fun to get a look at the big families somewhere in other countries! Do they have the same problems and how do they act in different everyday situations? Wonderfully funny and cozy stories about the most stubborn little girl who does not like boredom! A splendid mix of full-page illustrations and small-format pictures! You won’t be bored, for sure!
– Larisa Mavrina, chief editor of Strecoza publishing house, Russia

Download the English materials for the Hilja-series here.

Read more about the titles, author and illustrator below!

 

HILJA-SERIES
by Heidi Viherjuuri, illustrated by Nadja Sarell

Meet Hilja, an energetic and curious little girl, and her three granny friends! For the fans of Astrid Lindgren!

1st book, Hilja’s Summer in The Green House: Hilja is 7 years old, and she loves the summer! There’s nothing better than the freedom to climb trees, run around, go fishing and make new friends. Prone to adventures, she also gets a chance to catch a thief!

2nd book, Hello, Hilja here: Hilja is starting the first grade. Things are going well: she has practiced reading with the cows at the farm, and new friends are nice. But Hilja’s big mouth gets her into troubles every now and then.

3rd book, Adventure calls, Hilja: The long-awaited fall break is here. Hilja and the neighborhood grannies all squeeze into a tiny car and take a trip to the big city. The city is full of things to do, but are the grannies taking care of Hilja – or the other way around?

4th book, Hilja and the operation Christmas magic Hilja’s sister Veini claims that Christmas is just a publicity trick, but Hilja decides to prove that Christmas is real and magical. A secret operation begins

5th book, Hilja and the Perfect Winter Day Snowball fights, skiing trips, ice-fishing competition and other winter adventures become so wild that Mom needs to put an end to it. But Hilja knows how to make even the most boring day fun!

 

Don’t forget to apply for FILI Grants for translations from Finnish/Finland Swedish!

Apply now:
The Spring application period started on 1st of April and will be closed on 1st of May.
Please note that only translations from Finnish or Finnish-Swedish to foreign languages will be supported.

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/

Translators:
We will advise 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/

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Mäkelä (orig.)

ESTONIA: Eesti Raamat
GERMANY: WooW Books
RUSSIA: Strecoza

About author


Heidi Viherjuuri

Heidi Viherjuuri lives in Cologne, Germany, where she writes about things big and small and also everyday life situations. She loves green tea, weekdays, history, traveling by train and having silly laughs with her son. Heidi´s works have rich language and are straight-to-the-point at the same time and one of her favorite books is the Finnish thesaurus.

Read more Author's page

About author


Nadja Sarell

Nadja Sarell is an illustrator living in Helsinki, Finland. She graduated with MA in Dance from Theatre Academy Helsinki. Soon after that she moved to a small town in North Wales to study children’s book illustration. She graduated from North Wales School of Art and Design with BA in Illustration for Children’s Publishing in 2004.

Since then she has worked as a freelance illustrator for children’s publishing in Finland and abroad. She loves to teach art, illustration and dance for both children and adults. She is also passionate about surface pattern design and enjoys creating charismatic, expressive book characters.
If Nadja was an animal, she would be a cat living in an old mansion with a large fireplace and a comfy sofa. Her favourite things are her family, music, dancing, black coffee and chocolate.

Read more Author's page

Estonian rights sold to HILJA’S SUMMER AT THE GREEN HOUSE

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We cannot be happier to announce that Hilja-series has now a publisher in Estonia!

Eesti Raamat acquired the rights for the first book in the series: HILJA’S SUMMER AT THE GREEN HOUSE.
Previously, the series has been published in Finland and Germany.

“We love that children can easily relate to “Hilja´s Summer in The Green House”. Stories of Hilja are heartfelt and funny, with a twist of irony.
Who needs superpowers or fairy godmothers when you have two sisters, grannies and aunties!”
– Reet Trummal, editor, Eesti Raamat, Estonia

 

HILJA’S SUMMER IN THE GREEN HOUSE (#1 in Hilja-series)
by Heidi Viherjuuri, illustrated by Nadja Sarell

Hilja is a seven-year-old girl who lives in a wooden house that always needs some fixing. Her family consists of her mother, father, little sister Taimi and big sister Veini. Grandpa is also closely involved in the life of the Green House. He helps Dad with the renovation, takes the kids to fish, and tells jokes.  Hilja has only seen her grandma in an old photograph. However, there are three ladies in the neighborhood who are making sure that Hilja doesn’t have just one grandma but three!

The late summer is full of hustle and bustle. Weather they are celebrating something, catching fish or making Midsummer magic it is never boring! When cousin Martti comes to visit, Agent H and Agent M begin a spy mission to Aunt Strawberry’s house. The excursion ends up in the aunt’s vegetable garden, where secret agents are assigned the task K – weeding.

The idyllic countryside scenery provides room for imagination. These stories are not full of action and crime., but life in the Green house is never too smooth, and the story is spiced with just the right touch of anarchist humor.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Mäkelä (orig.)
ESTONIA: Eesti Raamat
GERMANY: WooW Books

About author


Heidi Viherjuuri

Heidi Viherjuuri lives in Cologne, Germany, where she writes about things big and small and also everyday life situations. She loves green tea, weekdays, history, traveling by train and having silly laughs with her son. Heidi´s works have rich language and are straight-to-the-point at the same time and one of her favorite books is the Finnish thesaurus.

Read more Author's page

About author


Nadja Sarell

Nadja Sarell is an illustrator living in Helsinki, Finland. She graduated with MA in Dance from Theatre Academy Helsinki. Soon after that she moved to a small town in North Wales to study children’s book illustration. She graduated from North Wales School of Art and Design with BA in Illustration for Children’s Publishing in 2004.

Since then she has worked as a freelance illustrator for children’s publishing in Finland and abroad. She loves to teach art, illustration and dance for both children and adults. She is also passionate about surface pattern design and enjoys creating charismatic, expressive book characters.
If Nadja was an animal, she would be a cat living in an old mansion with a large fireplace and a comfy sofa. Her favourite things are her family, music, dancing, black coffee and chocolate.

Read more Author's page

Watch Elina Hirvonen talk about Julia & P.A.L// Introducing – Enchanted Planet Earth

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Introducing: Julia & P.A.L. by Elina Hirvonen

Toy Story meets The Avengers! The first part of the new exciting middle-grade series where plush animals have super powers.

More than anything else, Julia, 10 years, wishes that somebody would like her. She can explain the structure of the universe, but has no idea how to talk to her classmates. What she doesn’t know is that she already has her very own best friend – her toy bunny Buck, who in reality is a top secret agent of the Plush Animal League (P.A.L.).

See the author reading from the book by clicking on the video below.

Ask for the English sample for Julia & P.A.L here.

 

Introducing: Enchanted Planet Earth by Laura Ertimo

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.

Ask for the English sample and full Finnish pdf for Enchanted Planet Earth here.

Map of migratory birds and animals.

About author


Elina Hirvonen

Elina Hirvonen is an award-winning author and documentary filmmaker whose works have been translated into many languages. Hirvonen’s debut novel, When I Forgot, made the front page of The New York Times Book Review, and received rave reviews from the Independent, Guardian, Financial Times and Globe and Mail.

Hirvonen has won the Kalevi Jäntti Prize, the Young Aleksis Prize, has been nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Prize. She has received the prestigious 2023 Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö Literary Foundation Award, recognizing the artistic independence and high standard of her writing.

Her new novel, The Logbook of Love, was published in Finland in August 2023. The Logbook of Love is the first part of a trilogy of novels that create their world through conversations.

Read more

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!

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About author


Nadja Sarell

Nadja Sarell is an illustrator living in Helsinki, Finland. She graduated with MA in Dance from Theatre Academy Helsinki. Soon after that she moved to a small town in North Wales to study children’s book illustration. She graduated from North Wales School of Art and Design with BA in Illustration for Children’s Publishing in 2004.

Since then she has worked as a freelance illustrator for children’s publishing in Finland and abroad. She loves to teach art, illustration and dance for both children and adults. She is also passionate about surface pattern design and enjoys creating charismatic, expressive book characters.
If Nadja was an animal, she would be a cat living in an old mansion with a large fireplace and a comfy sofa. Her favourite things are her family, music, dancing, black coffee and chocolate.

Read more Author's page

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.

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