Tuesday, April 26, 2016

The spring of the water rat

Kirsi Hutri, Tom Björklund 2002: Vesimyyrän kevät

Mrs. Water-Rat explores the neighborhood during spring time. She sees frogs, pikes, cranes, flowers and all kinds of small creatures.

The book has a small information box about all the animals and plants Mrs Water-Rat sees, when she is waiting for the rest of her family to wake up.

I feel as if I walk aroung blind folded during the winter, but in the spring I start to notice things. And it is wonderful to see the plants pushing through the greyness.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Cheerful Journey

Susanna Huikari 2010: Hauska Matka
Illustrated by Mika Kolehmainen

Markus and Pekka are planning a trip to Lapland and they ask Granpa and Petra to join them.  After packing a car full of necessary supplies they head north.

Once they get to Lapland they are very busy, they hire a skis and a sled for Markus, since he is in a wheel chair. They take a sleyride with a reindeer, bathe in sauna, try some snowmobile and admire norhtern lights.  After their visit they decide to come back.




The book is also written in bliss symbols, which is really interesting.


At the middle of April, the spring is in the air in southern parts of Finland, but winter has its grip on Lapland. Many southerners travel north to ski at the end of April, which is kind of funny, since everyone complains about the lenght of the winter and cannot wait for summer.  You can't see the northern lights any more, though, since it is getting lighter and lighter in Lapland, getting ready for the nightless night.




Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Aarne the Alligator and a gig in Suomenlinna

Macke Granberg 2013: Arne Alligator och spelar på Sveaborg
Illustrated by Erika Weiste


Aarne Alligatori ja viidakkorumpu is a childrens band and now we can read about his adventure, when he and his band has a gig in Suomenlinna.

On his way to Suomenlinna, Aarne sees something in the sea. Aarne dives in to see what it was and has an adventure under the waves.

Suomenlinna is a world heritage site and worth visiting. But there are no alligators in Finland.