Finland
188
Hjelt, Marjut (text)
Aalto, Jaana (illus.)
Taikametsä : tarinoita ja taikoja suomalaisesta metsästä
(The magic forest : tales and magic from the Finnish forest)
Helsinki : Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2000. – 95pp
(Totta ja tarua)
ISBN 951-746-143-7
Finland/Folktale - Folklore
This informative book introduces old and new stories, folktales as well as facts about the
Finnish mythology of the forest. The book tells of the origin of the forest and trees, how
the medical plants and flora can be helpful, and how to have luck in hunting. It also
contains Christfrid Ganander's facts on the guardian spirits and the mythic gods from the
18th century. Even the old Tapiola kingdom is introduced with mythic figures which belong
to the Scandinavian tradition. The book pays homage to the wisdom and knowledge of older
generations without forgetting the newest tales. The watercolour illustrations capture the
magical and fantastic spirit of the Finnish forests. (7+)
189
Itkonen, Jukka (text)
Keränen, Anssi (illus.)
Myydään mummo : tähdellinen kertomus (Grandmother for sale)
Helsingissä : Otava, 2000. – 80pp
ISBN 951-1-16890-8
Christmas - Grandmother - Friendship - Tolerance
In this absurd story, a boy has bought himself a grandma at a public sale. On a frosty
Christmas Eve, he hides Grandma, a wandering carpenter and a dog in his family's garage
because nobody wants to give them a shelter for the night. Holy Night, the Grandma gives
birth to a baby. The similarities with the Christmas story are obvious. The writer uses
absurd and comic elements, making the story both humorous and sad. The illustrator's
comical and emotional touch in cartoon-style skilfully captures the writer's visions. (9+)
190
Jaatinen, Eila (ed.)
Parikka, Salli (illus.)
Suomalaisten satujen helmiä (The pearls of the Finnish fairy tales)
Helsinki : Kirjapaja, 2000. – 303pp
ISBN 951-625-667-8
Literary fairy tale
This magnificent collection of Finnish literary fairy tales assembles both classical and
less known stories. The first fairy tale storyteller for children in Finland was Zacharias
Topelius (1818-98), who wrote in Swedish and published his first book in 1847. His tales
are didactic, often religious and patriotic. His influence can still be noticed even in
today's fairy tales. This collection presents mostly writers from around the turn of the
century, such as Anni Swan (1875-1958). She broke with the patriotic tradition by
fashioning the modern and active girl who masters all difficulties. Symbolist themes and
the motif of the protection of nature characterise her wondertales. The book includes
further tales by classical writers who are more famous for adult fiction. The
illustrations are colourful and pleasing. (7+)
191
Kivilaakso, Sirpa / Korhonen, Leena (ed.)
Runohattaroita Ruskeasuon taivaalla (Cloudlets of poems in the sky of Ruskeasuo)
Helsinki : Ruskeasuon Koulu, 2000. – 106pp
ISBN 952-91-2698-0
Search for identity - Tolerance
To celebrate its 110 anniversary, the Ruskeasuo school for handicapped children published
an anthology with 95 poems and eight illustrations by the children. These poems tell of
the real life of young people and their place in it. The subjects are varied: writing a
poem, friendship and love, Batman and Pippi Longstocking, Tarzan and Jane, the sun and the
wonders of nature. Some poems are skilful and imaginative: »It's raining cats and dogs /
so nobody is fishing / how the fishes are laughing.« The book is especially valuable
because it gives a voice to children. The illustrations are colourful and some figures,
like the snow leopard, are very imaginative and almost abstract. (10 +)
192
Kontio, Tomi
Keväällä isä sai siivet (The father got wings in the spring)
Helsinki : Tammi, 2000. – 261pp
ISBN 951-31-1947-5
Father - Disappearance - Penal colony - Magic - Good - Evil
This fantasy novel by the young writer Tomi Kontio was praised as a Finnish counterpart to
»Harry Potter«. In the beginning, an earthquake shatters the quiet family life, and the
twin-boys Tomi and Timo lose their father. He escapes through their well to another world.
Soon, their mother and sister also disappear. The two orphaned boys manage to escape but
are taken to a penal colony. The writer explores the questions of freedom, desire and
individuality. The plot unfolds against the struggle of Good and Evil. Kontio's metaphoric
language is visual and fresh, holding the reader in suspense. (12+) (Finlandia Junior
Award; 2000)
193
Kunnas, Kirsi (text)
Louhi, Kristiina (illus.)
Tiitiäisen tuluskukkaro (The purse of Tiitiäinen)
Helsinki : Söderström, 2000. – 105pp
ISBN 951-0-24980-7
Alphabet - Nature - Travelling
Kirsi Kunnas has started the children's nursery ryhme tradition in Finland. She is a
popular poet ever since her first title »Tiitiäisen satupuu« (The fairy tale tree of
Tiitiäinen), which started the series of children lyrics, published in 1956. Kunnas has
received several prizes for her life's work. First and foremost, she is a virtuoso of
children's lyrics, but she has also written for adults. In this title, the poems go hand
in hand with the alphabet. In the fantastic world of the poems, life and nature are
present as well as joy and sadness. Motifs ranging from the fable tradition, the circus,
travelling to surfing on the internet make the book both traditional and fresh. The
illustrator, inspired by the poems, has added her own humorous touch. (7+)
Special Mention
194
Levanto, Marjatta
Hugo Simbergs värld : 1873 Fredrikshamn - 1917 Etseri (Hugo Simberg's world)
[Helsinki] : Statens Konstmuseum, 2000. – 39pp
(Valtion Taidemuseo <Helsinki>: Museopedagogisen yksikön julkaisuja ; 16)
ISBN 951-53-2196-4
Simberg, Hugo - Finland - Visual Arts
This volume was conceived as a companion to the big retrospective exhibition of Hugo
Simberg's work (1873-1917) in spring 2000 at the Atheneum in Helsinki. It features some of
his naive, grotesque miniatures. The selection will certainly raise the interest of
children: »The Sleeping King of Dwarfs«, »The Old Woman and the She-Devil with Twins«,
»Devil with Cauldron« and others, amongst them the most famous and mysterious painting:
»The Wounded Angel«. Each painting comes along with short, explanatory annotations.
Children are at leisure to contemplate the paintings in the book. They will be drawn in by
their peculiar atmosphere so excitingly different from today's common everyday
surroundings. This little book familiarises children with Simberg's œuvre in an
especially welcoming way. Furthermore, it will give the opportunity to get acquainted with
one of the most remarkable artists from the productive period of Finnish painting between
1850-1920. (8+)
195
Majaluoma, Markus (text/illus.)
Sairaan siisti kipsi (The sick and tidy plaster cast)
Helsinki : Lasten Keskus, 2000. – [32pp]
ISBN 951-627-313-0
Hospital - Fear - Adventure
This picture book is based on children's experiences in hospital. The aim of the story is
to familiarise children with the strange and often frightening atmosphere of hospitals by
letting them follow a cat's first visit to hospital. The poor cat had broken his foot in a
bike accident. He has to cope with the fears and pains all by himself. Finally, he
overcomes his fears by going on adventures in his dreams. Markus Majaluoma has told and
illustrated this story about the powers of the imagination with skill and humour. The
illustrations feature a light and harmonious palette of colours. His grotesque caricatures
of cats and of the hopital staff are graphically fascinating – not only in comparison
with Finnish children's book. (7+)
196
Surojegin, Pirkko-Liisa (ed./illus.)
Suomen lasten hölmöläissadut (Finnish children's folktales of foolish people)
Helsingissä : Otava, 2000. – 138pp
ISBN 951-1-16302-7
Finland/Folktales Finland/Folklore - Foolish people
This collection of Finnish folktales offers a new perspective on the tradition of
folklore. Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin's caricaturesque illustrations succeed in rendering the
life of the peasantry. The poor are represented as a somewhat stupid, but happy,
warm-hearted and hardworking lot. The humorous tales come from the tradition of oral
storytelling. They stage the peasants' attempts to improve their working skills. Of
course, they fail most of the time, but the peasants are endowed with an innate ability to
make the best of things – even unfortunate events are turned into positive
experiences. The illustrator has created characters of old Finnish peasants, animals and
rural life with great skill. (12+)