Slovak language deal for STELLA!

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to download reading materials!

Rights Sold:

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

About author


Åsa Lucander

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

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

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

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

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

About author


Ted Forsström

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

STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander nominated for the Finlandia Prize!

We are thrilled to announce that STELLA is nominated for this year’s FINLANDIA PRIZE in the category BEST CHILDREN’S & YA TITLE 2023!

STELLA is an interactive and humorous bedtime picturebook by Ted Forsström and illustrated by Åsa Lucander. Originally written in Finland-Swedish, the rights have already been sold into 7 languages.

Motivation of the Finlandia jury:
In the book, a storytime during a weekday evening derails when the family’s dog starts barking. The expressive illustrations and colour palette contribute nicely to the atmosphere of the story and the language is packed with inventive rhymes and details where imagination wins over everyday life. In the work, the cozy weekday evening is interrupted by chaos in a way that gives your laughing muscles a good workout. A guaranteed fun reading time in both Swedish and Finnish.”

Finlandia is the most prestigious literary award in Finland, worth 30 000 euros. The winner will be announced on November 29th.

Warmest congratulations to Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander!

Curious to find about more about the nominee? We have a full English translation for you to read!

Download the materials for STELLA here!

 

Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!
Förlaget, March 2023, 44 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish), Etana Editions (Finnish)
SWEDEN: Förlaget
DENMARK: Gads Förlag
ESTONIA: Tammerraamat
GERMANY: Mixtvision
HUNGARY: Cerkabella
NORTH MACEDONIA: Ars Lamina

Reading materials:
English PDF
Finland-Swedish PDF

About author


Åsa Lucander

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

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

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

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

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

About author


Ted Forsström

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

STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander sold to North Macedonia! Now 7 territories!

We are thrilled to announce that the Macedonian rights for STELLA (Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!) written by Ted Forsström and illustrated by Åsa Lucander have been acquired by Ars Lamina! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Ars Lamina is a North Macedonian publisher with a mission to create and disseminate knowledge by connecting readers to adult and children’s high-quality fiction and nonfiction works. Their authors include Colleen Hoover, Eva Lindström, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Mark Manson, Stephen King, Nancy Springer, Maggie O’Farrell, etc.

STELLA is a charming bedtime storybook – the key to a successful, quiet night!
Rights are now sold to 7 languages – could yours be next?

We have a full English translation for you to read – be quick to add this gem to your list!

Download the full English PDF of STELLA here!

Stella

Ted Forsström, illustrated by Åsa Lucander

An interactive and playful bedtime story for toddlers featuring a very loud dog with a big imagination!

“OFF! VOFF! GRR-VOFF!”

A father tries to put his child to bed, but keeps getting interrupted by Stella the dog, who starts barking hysterically. Something unexpected always happens, and the reader is treated to Stella’s lively imaginations: it may be a door opening or a car driving by, but Stella is strongly convinced it’s Grandma coming to give her food, or that squirrels have built a nest in the toaster.

Anyone who has ever tried to bring a child to bed knows how cozy yet fragile the situation is. It requires the right amount of patience and determination. The right bedtime story can be the key to a successful, quiet night.

There is a warm feeling, playful rhymes and an unusual mix of familiar ordinariness and fantastic antics. Clear recognition for anyone trying to combine cozy moments with a pet!

Stella is a book you can read again and again, night after night.

STELLA
SNÄLLA STELLA, SLUTA SKÄLLA!
Förlaget, 2023, 44 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English PDF
Finland-Swedish PDF

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish)
FINLAND: Etana Editions (Finnish)
DENMARK: Gads Forlag
ESTONIA: Tammerraamat
GERMANY: Mixtvision
HUNGARY: Cerkabella
NORTH MACEDONIA: Ars Lamina
SWEDEN: Förlaget

About author


Åsa Lucander

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

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

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

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

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

About author


Ted Forsström

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

Hungarian rights sold for STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander! Now 6 territories!

We are thrilled to announce that the Hungarian rights for STELLA (Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!) written by Ted Forsström and illustrated by Åsa Lucander have been acquired by Cerkabella! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Cerkabella is a member of the Móra Publishing Group and aims to publish children’s and YA books with high quality content, illustrated at an artistic level, and, if possible, to get little-known works and authors into the public consciousness.
They are intending to publish STELLA in spring 2024.

With the latest sale to Hungary, STELLA has now been sold to 6 territories!

Download the full English PDF of STELLA here!

Stella

Ted Forsström, illustrated by Åsa Lucander

An interactive and playful bedtime story for toddlers featuring a very loud dog with a big imagination!

“OFF! VOFF! GRR-VOFF!”

A father tries to put his child to bed, but keeps getting interrupted by Stella the dog, who starts barking hysterically. Something unexpected always happens, and the reader is treated to Stella’s lively imaginations: it may be a door opening or a car driving by, but Stella is strongly convinced it’s Grandma coming to give her food, or that squirrels have built a nest in the toaster.

Anyone who has ever tried to bring a child to bed knows how cozy yet fragile the situation is. It requires the right amount of patience and determination. The right bedtime story can be the key to a successful, quiet night.

There is a warm feeling, playful rhymes and an unusual mix of familiar ordinariness and fantastic antics. Clear recognition for anyone trying to combine cozy moments with a pet!

Stella is a book you can read again and again, night after night.

STELLA
SNÄLLA STELLA, SLUTA SKÄLLA!
Förlaget, 2023, 44 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English PDF
Finland-Swedish PDF

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish)
FINLAND: Etana Editions (Finnish)
DENMARK: Gads Forlag
ESTONIA: Tammerraamat
GERMANY: Mixtvision
HUNGARY: Cerkabella
SWEDEN: Förlaget

About author


Åsa Lucander

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

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

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

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

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

About author


Ted Forsström

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

STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander sold to Germany

STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander sold to Germany

STELLA is conquering the world, one bark at a time! We are happy to announce that the German rights for the lovely picture book by Finlandia Junior nominated author Ted Forsström and Aardman Animations director and illustrator Åsa Lucander have been sold to German publishing house Mixtvision! They are planning on making it their lead picture book title for fall 2024! The deal was closed by Anna Kappauf at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Finnish media is also already raving about STELLA:

Ted Forsström wrote a funny and inventive picture book STELLA. A great goodnight story where the eyelids of the young reader become increasingly heavy the more detailed spreads illustrator Åsa Lucander creates. (…). This book has the potential to become a bedtime favourite.”
–  Lotta Green, Svenska YLE newspaper

Children’s books about bedtime are a classic theme, but Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander create something new by presenting STELLA from the dog’s perspective. (…) Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander create a nice variation of the durable theme by letting the chaos-at-bedtime-story be about something different than the expected parent-child fight. In STELLA (2023), it is in fact the dog Stella who creates troubles at bedtime.
– Maria Lassén-Seger, Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper (5 star review)

STELLA is a charming bedtime storybook – the key to a successful, quiet night! Rights are now sold to 5 languages – could yours be next?

We have a full English translation for you to read – be quick to add this gem to your list!

Download the materials for STELLA here!

Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!
Förlaget, March 2023, 44 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish), Etana Editions (Finnish)
SWEDEN: Förlaget
DENMARK: Gads Forlag
ESTONIA: Tammerraamat
GERMANY: Mixtvision

Reading materials:
English PDF
Finland-Swedish PDF

About author


Åsa Lucander

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

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

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

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

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

About author


Ted Forsström

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

Estonian rights to the playful bedtime storybook STELLA sold! Now conquering the world!

We are thrilled to announce that the Estonian rights for STELLA (Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!) written by Ted Forsström and illustrated by Åsa Lucander have been acquired by Tammerraamat! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

STELLA is a charming bedtime storybook – the key to a successful, quiet night!
With the Danish rights sold to Gads Forlag last week, STELLA is gearing up to conquer the world!

Tammerraamat, founded in 2005, publishes titles on a wide range of subjects, including history, social and political issues, biographies, gift books, health, humour and children’s literature. Their children’s authors include Beatrix Potter, Julian Clary, Klaus Hagerup, Katherine Rundell, Corrinne Averiss, Chris Riddell, etc.

They praised the title for being a relatable and enjoyable read:
Every dog owner knows how annoying a barking dog can be. Why does the dog bark for no reason whatsoever? This book proves conclusively that no dog barks for nothing, there is always is a reason for it. Whether it is a snap, a crackle or a pop, a good friend is always alert and ready to make their existence known. In addition to its witty plot, the book also features delightful illustrations.
– Tiina Tammer, director, Tammerraamat, Estonia

Download the full English PDF of STELLA here!

Stella

Ted Forsström, illustrated by Åsa Lucander

An interactive and playful bedtime story for toddlers featuring a very loud dog with a big imagination!

“OFF! VOFF! GRR-VOFF!”

A father tries to put his child to bed, but keeps getting interrupted by Stella the dog, who starts barking hysterically. Something unexpected always happens, and the reader is treated to Stella’s lively imaginations: it may be a door opening or a car driving by, but Stella is strongly convinced it’s Grandma coming to give her food, or that squirrels have built a nest in the toaster.

Anyone who has ever tried to bring a child to bed knows how cozy yet fragile the situation is. It requires the right amount of patience and determination. The right bedtime story can be the key to a successful, quiet night.

There is a warm feeling, playful rhymes and an unusual mix of familiar ordinariness and fantastic antics. Clear recognition for anyone trying to combine cozy moments with a pet!

Stella is a book you can read again and again, night after night.

STELLA
SNÄLLA STELLA, SLUTA SKÄLLA!
Förlaget, 2023, 44 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English PDF
Finland-Swedish PDF

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish)
FINLAND: Etana Editions (Finnish)
DENMARK: Gads Forlag
ESTONIA: Tammerraamat
SWEDEN: Förlaget

About author


Åsa Lucander

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

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

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

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

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

About author


Ted Forsström

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

Danish rights to Stella sold in a pre-empt!

We are thrilled to announced that one of our picture book highlights this season, the utterly charming STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander has been sold to Denmark. Gads Forlag bought the Danish rights in a pre-empt. The deal was closed by Anna Kappauf at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency. STELLA will be published in Finland next week by Förlaget and Etana Editions simultaneously.

STELLA is an original bedtime story picture book featuring a very loud dog with lively imagination, mimicing the creative excuses toddlers come up with when it is time to go to bed. It’s a new, exciting collaboration between comedian and Finlandia Junior nominated author Ted Forsström and Aardman Animations director and illustrator Åsa Lucander.

The book was hugely popular during Bologna book fair last week and we expect more offers soon – be quick and secure the rights for your language now!

Download the materials for STELLA here! 

Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!
Förlaget, March 2023, 44pp

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish), Etana (Finnish)
SWEDEN: Förlaget
DENMARK: Gads Forlag

Reading materials:
Finland-Swedish original
full English pdf

About author


Åsa Lucander

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

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

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

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

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

About author


Ted Forsström

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