bologna 2012 rights guide - elina ahlback literary agency · lindberg is nowhere to be seen. who is...

Bologna 2012 Rights Guide

2 Rights enquiries: Elina Ahlback Literary Agency | [email protected] | www.ahlbackagency.com

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3Rights enquiries: Elina Ahlback Literary Agency | [email protected] | www.ahlbackagency.com Rights enquiries: Elina Ahlback Literary Agency | [email protected] | www.ahlbackagency.com

5+

Sinikka and Tiina Nopola write their books side by side. “We have great fun conjuring up the most amazing plots,” the sisters say. “We feel that we double our ideas when working together.”

The sisters’ bestselling book series feature the number one characters in Finnish children’s literature: Ricky Rapper, Hayflower and Quiltshoe, Even-Tempered Eric and Gecko and Puupponen.

The Nopolas have received numer-ous Finnish children’s literature awards for their works. In 2005, the Nopola sisters were chosen as the H.C. Andersen Good-will Ambassadors of Finland, and in 2011, the sister received the prestigious State Award for Children’s Culture.

Nice boy seeks father figure. Good reward.

Aunt Fran is worried about Ricky not having a father figure. She urges Aunt Rita to find someone who can teach Ricky how to be a man. Aunt Rita puts an ad in a newspaper, and soon an ice hockey player, Mr.

Hill replies. He and Ricky seem to get along fine, but then Aunt Rita notices that whenever Mr. Hill is visiting, their neighbour Mr.

Lindberg is nowhere to be seen. Who is this man? And is Ricky really into ice hockey?

SINIKKA NOPOLA & TIINA NOPOLA, AINO HAVUKAINEN & SAMI TOIVONEN

Ricky Rapper Gets a DadRisto Räppääjä saa isän

Ricky Rapper series stars a young boy who loves playing drums and rapping. Ricky lives with his Aunt Rita and their circle of friends includes Ricky’s best friend Nelly, Freezer Fran, Rita’s boyfriend Mr. Lindberg and many others.

The first Ricky Rapper book came out in 1997. Today, Ricky Rapper’s success in Finland is unparalleled in books for this age group. These bestselling books have been adapted into movies, plays, musicals and television animations. The third Ricky Rapper movie premiered in February 2012 and went straight to the top of the box-office list.

Ricky Rapper books won the Plättä Award in both 2002 and 2004, and were nominated for the IBBY Honour List in 2002.

Komine Shoten, 2009 Bonnier Carlsen, 2007 Faber, 2008 Kojro, 2009 TEA, 2008

Finland´s bestselling children s

book in 2011!

Ricky Rapper#1 character in Finland

Rights sold to Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Japan, Lithuania,

Poland, Ukraine, Sweden

Photo © Tam

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Risto Räppääjä saa isän | Tammi 2011 | 160 x 203 mm | 104 pp.


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Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja Kalju-Koponen | Tammi, Fall 2012 | 195 x 260mm | 44 pp.

3+

Catch Baldy Bob, the nasty pigtail-cutting thief!

In the 13th Hayflower and Quiltshoe book, the sisters go after Baldy Bob, a nasty pigtail-cutting thief. Hayflower claims that Quiltshoe used to be bald, and in revenge, Quiltshoe cuts off her sisters pig-tails. Quiltshoe runs away and convinces the town policeman that the real culprit is Baldy Bob. Will Hayflower find out the truth? And was Quiltshoe the only bald baby of the family?

Illustrator Salla Savolainen is an acclaimed, prize-winning

artist who has a special knack for drawing detail in an

idiosyncratic yet recognizable style.The sweet and responsible Hayflower and

the spirited Quiltshoe are quite different to be sisters. The girls’ family includes their mother, their loving but impractical father, and a little brother. The girls’ adventures often involve their neighbours, the Misses Alibullen, and the two town policemen.

The first Hayflower and Quitshoe book was published in 1989, and the 12th book in the series came out in 2006. In 2012, Hayflower and Quiltshoe return in a brand new story, illustrated by the award-win-ning Salla Savolainen.

Hayflower and Quiltshoe books have been translated into eight languages and adapted into plays, a feature film and an opera. Winner of the Anni Swan medal in 2003 and the Plättä Award in 2006, the series was also listed in 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.

Eriksson & Lindgren, 1996

Cerkabella, 2008 Nieko Rimto, 2006 TEA, 2007

SINIKKA NOPOLA & TIINA NOPOLA, SALLA SAvOLAINeN

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and Baldy BobHeinähattu, Vilttitossu ja Kalju-Koponen

Hayflower and Quiltshoe make a comeback in this

lovely picture book illustrated by Salla Savolainen!

Rights sold to Estonia, Hungary, Japan, Latvia,

Lithuania, Russia, Serbia and Sweden

Photo © Ville Palonen


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Siri is a charming little girl whose three best friends are Little Otto, Middle Otto and Big Otto. Vividly portraying the emotional life of little girls, the Siri books represent children in a very genuine way. These lovely books deal with friendship and other familiar but important themes.

Rights to the Siri Series have been sold to seven languages so far and one the books has been converted into a success-ful children’s theatre play.

The series is illustrated by the prize-winning illustrator Mervi Lindman, who enlivens the story with interesting details that catch the attention of even the youngest readers.

Help! It’s a yeti!!

In the 10th Siri book, Siri wants to go skiing with the three Ottos. But the boys are playing ice hockey, and Siri has to come up with a way to persuade them to go with her. Siri says she thinks there is a yeti in the forest, and takes a short cut to make yeti footprints in the snow. She gets lost in the forest, and when Little Otto comes looking for her, she thinks she has encountered a real yeti.

Illustrator Mervi Lindman cheerful artworks have been published in several

countries. Often praised by critics and readers alike, Lindman’s humorous illustrations are full of little details

that bring the story to life.

Siiri ja lumimies | Tammi, Fall 2012 | 195 x 260mm | 40 pp.

Ellermann Verlag, 2005 OM Publishers, 2007 Chackgama, 2011 Chackgama, 2011

Bonnier Carlsen, 2007

Rights sold to China (simplified Chinese), Denmark, Germany, Korea,

Lithuania, Russia, Sweden

Already the tenth book in the delightful and popular Siri series!

TIINA NOPOLA & meRvI LINdmAN

Siri and the YetiSiiri ja lumimies

Photo © Pertti N

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8 Rights enquiries: Elina Ahlback Literary Agency | [email protected] | www.ahlbackagency.com 9Rights enquiries: Elina Ahlback Literary Agency | [email protected] | www.ahlbackagency.com Rights enquiries: Elina Ahlback Literary Agency | [email protected] | www.ahlbackagency.com

Time’s Up, Ricky Rapper (Hetki lyö Risto Räppääjä, 1997)

Hayflower and Quiltshoe (Heinähattu ja Vilttitossu, 1989)

Siri and Her New Friends (Siiri ja kolme Ottoa, 2002)

Ricky Rapper and Tilda Hips (Risto Räppääjä ja Hilpuri Tilli, 2004)

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and Big Elsa (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja iso Elsa, 1997)

Siri’s Christmas Surprise (Siirin jouluyllätys, 2009)

Ricky Rapper and the Horrible Sausage (Risto Räppääjä ja kauhea makkara, 1998)

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and the Baby (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja vauva, 1990)

Siri and the Upstairs Neighbor (Siiri ja yläkerran Onni, 2003)

Ricky Rapper and the Runaway Machine (Risto Räppääjä ja villi kone, 2006)

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and the Annoying Pest (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja Littoisten riiviö, 1999)

Siri and the Scary Ghost (Siiri ja kauhea kummitus, 2010)

Ricky Rapper and Freezer Fran (Risto Räppääjä ja pakastaja-Elvi, 2001)

Hayflower and Quiltshoe Need a Vacation (Heinähattu ja Vilttitossu loman tarpeessa, 1992)

Siri and the Horrid Pig (Siiri ja kamala possu, 2005)

Ricky Rapper and the Famous Camilla (Risto Räppääjä ja kuuluisa Kamilla, 2009)

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and the Dancing Constable (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja tanssiva konstaapeli, 2003)

Ricky Rapper and Noodlehead (Risto Räppääjä ja Nuudelipää, 2000)

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and Grandpa (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja vaari, 1991)

Siri and Messy Gretel (Siiri ja sotkuinen Kerttu, 2004)

Ricky Rapper and the Last Ice Cream Cone (Risto Räppääjä ja viimeinen tötterö, 2007)

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and the Rubens Brothers (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja Rubensin veljekset, 2001)

Siri Makes a Goal (Siiri tekee maalin, 2011)

Ricky Rapper and Dandy Andy (Risto Räppääjä ja komea Kullervo, 2002)

Hayflower and Quiltshoe Look for Christmas (Heinähattu ja Vilttitossu joulun jäljillä, 1993)

Siri and the Little Flea (Siiri ja kertun kirppu, 2006)

Ricky Rapper Gets a Dad (Risto Räppääjä saa isän, 2011)

Hayflower, Quiltshoe and the Forbidden Flounder (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja kielletty kampela, 2005)

Ricky Rapper and the Persistent Pimple (Risto Räppääjä ja sitkeä finni, 2003)

Hayflower and Quiltshoe on the Chase (Heinähattu ja Vilttitossu rosvojahdissa, 1995)

Siri and the Perky Puppy (Siiri ja hurja Hunskeli, 2008)

The Twelve Months of Hayflower, Quiltshoe (Heinähatun ja Vilttitossun kaksitoista kuuta, 2006)

Ricky Rapper series by Sinikka Nopola and Tiina Nopola

Hayflower and Quiltshoe series by Sinikka Nopola and Tiina Nopola

Siri series by Tiina Nopola and Mervi Lindman

Please ask for reading copies and sample translations!


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3+ 3+

Jasoneveryday life can be an adventure!

Children have loved Jason since 1975, when the first Jason book was published. The books recount the joys and troubles of Jason and his mother’s everyday life in an insightful and entertaining way. Karen, Jason’s mother, is always busy. She can’t be late for work and must first take Jason to daycare…

CAmILLA mICKwITz

Emily and the Three Little LadiesEmilia ja kolme pikkuista tätiä

what is important in life?

The little ladies pondered this for a long time and then exclaimed in unison: CHILDREN ARE IMPORTANT.

Emily and her father Oscar like to make up stories together. This time they make up a story about three little ladies, Emma, Emily and Elviira, who get bored stiff with having nothing to do and decide to throw a party for children. And what a party it turns out to be – both children and old ladies think it’s a blast!

Emilia ja kolme pikkuista tätiä | Tammi, Spring 2012 (originally Weilin & Göös 1979) | 250 x 250mm | 32 pp.Published in Swedish: Emilia och de små tanterna | Schildts 2012

Camilla Mickwitz (1937–1989) won the Finnish Award for Illustrated Books in

1982 for her Emily series. The books are based on series of animated films

that received the Finnish State Film Award in 1979.

Jason | Tammi, Spring 2012 (originally Weilin & Göös 1975) | 255 x 205mm | 32 pp.Published in Swedish: Jason | Schildts 2012

Photo © LKI

An all-time children’s classic

from the 70’s!

Camilla Mickwitz’s popular, prize-winning picture books

are available again!


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1+

Written in rhyme, Everything is a creation story for young children with an amaz-ing appetite for the world; the universe is there for you to smell, taste, touch, see and listen to. Humour and genuine love for words and language is evident in Ulf Stark’s writing, as he addresses the young-est readers and shares their interest for all things big and small, for blueberries, lamps and dinosaurs alike. Linda Bondes-tam’s illustrations are lovable, quirky and full of colour.

uLF STARK & LINdA BONdeSTAm

Everything

The DictatorA truly revolutionary picture book.

Dictators are people who only want to write “I, I, I”, who think it’s hard work always having to make sure that the sun rises and the moon sets. Dictators must not be kissed.

The Dictator tells the story of a little tyrant who thinks he can rule the world, but soon finds out that the world is a lonely place for dictators.

Photo © Lena M

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Illustrator Linda Bondestam has received several prizes

and nominations for her works, among them the Astrid

Lindgren memorial Award nomination in 2010 and the

IBBY Honour List nomination in 2006.

www.lindabondestam.com

Ulf Stark is one of Sweden’s best-loved

and most multifaceted authors of children’s

books. He tells the story of a little dictator with humor and sensitivity.

soderstroms

DIKTATORN

Ulf StarkLinda bondestam

Diktatorn | Söderströms 2010 | 140 x 240 mm | 36 pp.SamPlE TRanSlaTion: English 3+

“The Dictator is an empathetic, very amusing, intelligent tale – a real pearl of a picture book (…)”– Ny Tid

allt det här | Schildts & Söderströms, Fall 2012 | 200 x 185 mm | 22 pp.

Rights sold to Belarus, Denmark, Italy,

Norway, Russia


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14+ 14+

Salla Simukka Elina Rouhiainen

Without a Trace | Jäljellä | Tammi, Spring 2012 | 200 pp. Susiraja 1: Kesytön | Tammi, Fall 2012 | 400 pp.

ElsewhereToisaalla (Tammi, Fall 2012, 250 pp.)

will you save the one you love or love the one you save?

Eighteen-year-old Samuel is the stereotypical nerd. His nights are spent playing on the computer and his days in bed. Now that he has finished school, Samuel is in danger of completely losing touch with society. But then he is invited to join a secret project that pays shockingly well. Samuel is caught up in the construction of a virtual world that is full of surprises. However, the biggest surprise for him is that he falls in love. Everything else loses its meaning when Samuel decides to save Emmi, the girl of his dreams.

Elsewhere is an astounding vision of what the world of virtual gaming could become in the near future. It also deals with the difficulties of relationships between parents and children and the inability of adults to cope with many of the problems young people face. And of course it is a story of first love, which is always intense, turbulent and beautiful.

Salla Simukka’s Without a Trace and Elsewhere comple-ment each other as they gradually reveal layer after layer of secrets. Set in Finland in the near future, this thrilling pair of books keeps their hold on the reader to the very last page.

Territory of the Wolf #1: The UntamedThe Untamed is a paranormal romance set in northern Finland.

Raisa is an ambitious young artist living in downtown Helsinki. When her mother dies in an accident, she has to move to a rural village in the middle of nowhere to live with her uncle. She soon realizes that she is living among werewolves. Gradually, Raisa starts to adjust to life in the extraordinary village. At the same time, she dreams of Mikael, the most popular boy in school. He has eyes that change colour; eyes that seem to follow Raisa increasingly often. But what are Mikael and the other villagers hiding? And why was Raisa sent here, to the middle of nowhere? Secrets are about to be revealed.

The Untamed is the first installment of The Territory of the Wolf series by the talented young author Elina Rouhi-ainen. The unforgettable love story of The Untamed is as hooking as the Twilight series, but in its own unique way.

Sweeping vision of the future combined with perceptive portrayal of the feelings and

thoughts of young people.

Salla Simukka (b. 1981) is a translator and author of juvenile fiction. She has written several novels and one collection of short prose for young people, and has translated adult fiction, children’s books, and plays. She writes book reviews for the newspapers Helsingin Sanomat and Hämeen Sanomat and the weekly Suomen Kuvalehti. In addition, she is associate editor at a literary publication for young people, Lukufiilis. jaljella.wordpress.com/in-english

Elina Rouhiainen (b. 1988) is a 24-year-old debut author who lives in Helsinki and studies sociology. She specializes in the wee small hours and one- liners. Just like her protagonist Raisa, she is very familiar with the streets of Helsinki. Rouhiainen finished the first version of her debut novel The Untamed in just over a month. The story began when an im-age flashed through her mind: an image of a big wolf approaching a girl sitting alone at the edge of the forest. www.elinarouhiainen.comPh

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A powerful and stunning Twilight-esque debut novel!


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I Hear the Forest CallingKuulen kutsun metsänpeittoon (Tammi 2011, 153 pp.)

A gripping tale that sweeps the reader along.

After a trip to Lapland, Jouni is confused to start with. Why does a skinny woman appear in front of him both on the fells of Lapland and in the outskirts of his home town? Is he imagining it all? But when Jouni is on his way to a music shop, something happens to give him a profound scare.

Jouni confides in his former teacher, who says that Jouni might be pursued by a spirit. Together, they search a thick volume called Mythical Tales to find an answer, be-cause Jouni’s teacher thinks that sometimes fact and fic-tion are not that far apart.

Jouni’s mother, a Koltta Sami, vanished when Jouni was little. Are the mysterious events somehow connected with his mother, is she under the spell of the forest magic? Jouni begins to get to the bottom of the mystery, helped by his former teacher and the membership register of a Lapp community.

In addition to supernatural events, Jouni gets into a spin because of natural events. His teacher’s daughter is at the same school and first love hits him like a sledgeham-mer. Fear and love, secrets and reality transform his life.

Anaché (Schildts & Söderströms, Fall 2012, 450 pp.)

Can love and grief make you become someone else?

Anaché grows up in a nomadic family, under the strict dis-cipline of her father. Her beloved brother Huor teaches her to hunt, fight and ride a horse, things that girls are not usu-ally allowed to do. Anaché has grown accustomed to vio-lence within the family, and her future is mapped out for her, just like it is for all the girls in the tribe. Their world is characterized by movement: movement between seasons, between camps, between the real world and the world of spirits. After a difficult winter, Anaché’s mother and broth-er die. Her grief is so strong that in order to hold on to her loved ones, she becomes someone else.

Maria Turtschaninoff’s book is thrilling, touching and so real that the reader lives and breathes Anaché’s world. In the middle of a fantasy story set in a traditional environment, the reader is in for a big surprise: Anaché becomes Huor. But the transformation is told in an absolutely believable manner, and moving between the genders is portrayed as a natural thing – in the end, it makes no difference.

Dog and Her Girl | Kerppu ja tyttö | Tammi 2007 | 72 pp.RiGHTS SolD: GERmanY Hanser, JaPan Bunken Shuppan, PolanD WaBSamPlE TRanSlaTion: English

arra | Söderströms 2009 | 256 pp.arra – RiGHTS SolD: DEnmaRK Turbine, FinlanD Tammi Underfors | Söderströms 2010 | 341 pp.SamPlE TRanSlaTionS: English (arra and Underfors)

Sari Peltoniemi (b. 1963) has published many books for children and young readers and received numerous literary prizes and nominations, among them the recent Topelius Prize nomination for I Hear the Forest Calling. Her sci-fi and fantasy short stories have also been published in several magazines. Peltoniemi’s children’s books include Dog and Her Girl, a hilarious story that has been translated into three languages. www.peltoniemi.info

Maria TurtschaninoffSari Peltoniemi

Maria Turtschaninoff (b. 1977) has been writing fairy tales since the age of five. She has a Master of Arts in human ecology and works full-time as a writer. She lives in southern Finland with her husband, son and their little terrier. Her 2009 novel Arra won the Society of Swedish Lit-erature Prize in 2010 and was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize in 2009. www.mariaturtschaninoff.com

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“Arra is a fantastic work of art with integrity and lyrical beauty. (…) The story is engaging and shows

the storytelling tradition is alive and kicking.”

– Finlandia Junior Prize jury’s report

“I Hear the Forest Calling is a profound and powerful story full of magic.”

– Savon Sanomat

A breathtaking story that addresses gender equality in

a liberating and natural way.

Hooray for Helsinki – Our Very Own CityHurraa Helsinki – ikioma kaupunki! (Tammi 2012, 40 pp.)

A rich, fully illustrated picture book created in honour of Helsinki’s role as World Design Capital 2012. Written by Karo Hämäläinen and illustrated by Salla Savolainen, Hooray for Helsinki is a cheerful, exciting journey through the city of Helsinki.

Published in Finnish and English by Tam mi. Also available in boardbook!

Korkeavuorenkatu 37 | Fi-00130 HElSinKi | FinlanDWebsite: ahlbackagency.com

Elina ahlbäck, literary agent, [email protected] tel. +358 400 548 402

Päivi Ruottinen, associate [email protected]. +358 400 512 101

bologna 2012 rights guide - elina ahlback literary agency · lindberg is nowhere to be seen. who is...

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