Korvatunturi Tales from Land of Santa Claus

Written and illustrated by Pekka Vuori 1999
A book about Korvatunturi and Santa's and the elves' lives there. A lot is happening throughout the year.

The content of the book:

Welcoming in the New Year
Mrs. Claus hum though Santa's stomach rumbles
At home atop a stump Korvatunturi, here we come!
The postponed birthday celebrations
The vanishing concert hall
The little boy who liked jam
The greybeards of Christmas valley:

• Fife 
• Master Elf Jot 
• Scrub 
• Headmaster Jaunt 
• Glyph 
• Theater director Jacum

Much snow, little to eat.

At five in the morning a spruce topples
The deft hands and practiced eyes of the joinery elves
The call of the red peaked cap
A strange star falls in the night
An elf beats SAnta at his own game
Spring comes, Gold River thaws
There's no fear of laundry day here
A summer island: the perfect place for a holiday
Who's afraid of an old sauna elf

Seven red caps

The island of lazy elf
Berry-picking with a bear
The gnomes dwell beneath spruce
Seven red caps
The folks of Korvatunturi put their faith in the great grandfather clock and the almanac
Mail delivery posthaste
Tons of wishes
Let's get cooking
Pine-cone reindeer and wooden swings
Much snow, little to eat
There's always time for admiring the northern lights
A reindeer ride fits the bill
The sun goes into hiding
There's little of the musician in every elf
Drama on both sides of the footlights
Making toys is no mean feat
Santa Claus heads for the woods
Taking out the walking stick
The long day, happy night
The travelers return hungry - and tired

Elves of Marjaliisa Pitkäranta

The land of Santa Claus -cover

Heli Karjalainen 1987: Joulupukin maa
illustrated by Marjaliisa Pitkäranta
Heli Karjalainen 1989: Joulumaan tonttujen tarinat
illustrated by Marjaliisa Pitkäranta
Anna Nuutinen 1992: Joulupukin tarinoita
illustrated by Marjaliisa Pitkäranta:
Kari Keränen 1992: Joulupukin jäljillä
illustrated by: Marjalisa Pitkäranta also published in English: In search of Santa
Annikki Marjala Heli karjalainen 1998: Korvatunturin salaisuus
illustrated by: Marjaliisa Pitkäranta also published in English: The secret of the magical mountain Korvatunturi
English translation: Margaret Vainio

Santa's workshop

The Land of Santa Claus 

Four children from different countries get to know how Santa’s works shops operate. Finally they get to meet Santa himself.

The stories of the elves in
Christmas land -cover

Stories of the elves in Christmas land 

Several stories about different elves. One elf has come all the way from France and is trying to find a home. The Mailmaster Elf brings good news to an elderly man who lives alone. Stone elf is looking for a special blue stone. Nessi the Elf dreams about living in a castle, her brother Jussa helps animals that are hurt. In the last story the reindeer elf Peski gets mad at stupid humans.

The feast Simeoni arrange for the fores animals

Santa’s stories 

Samta tells stories about three different elves. Simeoni arranges a Christmas feast to the forest animals. Temppu is trying to build a remote control car, but doesn’t quite succeed. And Tappura gets caught from hie beard when chopping wood. Luckily Liisa saves him Tappura then takes her to see the Korvatunturi manor.

In search of Santa 

The elves get a ride from the Snow Girl and get chaced by wolfs

Aunt Marja-Liisa has drawn two elves. They decide to find Santa. They travel all around the world to find it. The book teaches us the different Christmas habbits. It is remarkable how many countries even in Europe do not expect Santa on Christmas day. In Czech Republic good king Wenceslaus comes December 16th, in the Netherlands Sinterklaas brings gifts De
cember 5th. In Spain the three kings bring gifts in January as well as the wicht Belgana in Italy. In Russia the Grandfather Forst as well as Babushka bring gifts in January.

Jussa and Unna help a reindeer

The secret of the magical mountain 

Jussa, the ship elf, has heard a mysterious invitation. He cannot explain what it is, but he has a compelling need to travel north. On his way he meets other elves that help him to get to Korvatunturi. There he meets Santa Claus who has a special assignment as the ambassador of goodness.

More of Marjaliisa Pitkäranta can be found at Marjaliisa's fan pages and at Marja-Liisa Pirkäranta foundation. Marjaliisa's elves are known to all Finns. And they are seen in popular Christmas cards.

Marjaliisa Pitkäranta's animals

text by Ester Ahokainen, illustrations Marjaliisa Pitkäranta
1983: Metsänväen kesäkisat
test by Heli Karjalainen, illustrations by Marjaliisa Pitkäranta 1990: Metsänväen tarinoita
Marjaliisa Pitkäranta 1999: Lasten oma metsäkirja

The Summergames of the Forest folks
(Metsänväen kesäkisat)

I got this as a birthday present when I was a child. It was the first poem book I had read and it is still fantastic, which is amazing becaus I do not like poems and I do not like sporst. But this book combines both and adds a animals to the mix.

Swimming contest of otters and frog

All the animals have a sport that their are good at: the frogs swim, boxers box, reindeer run. All animals are having fun.

Forest animal stories (Metsän eläinten tarinoita)

This book combines stories of animals and elfs, who try to help them.  The main message is that the animals do not always understand the human actions: the pollutions, the littering and selfishness.

The animals are singing to catch the attention of humans.

The Children's own forest book
(Lasten oma metsäkirja)

This book introduces different plants and animals that live in the Finnish forests. There are few stories about forest creaturs such as a mice helping a bear. The book also teaches what mushrooms and berries not to eat.

Children's own forest book .cover

Mandy and Andy

Mandy and Andy in daycare -cover

Teuvo "Teutori" Koskinen 1982-

Satukustannus, a publishing house wanted to publis a new ABC book and asked artist Teuvo "Teutori" Koskinen to illustrate it. As inspiration Teutori used his father in laws kittens named Miina and Manu (Mandy and Andy).

Mandy was a red kitten, who is witty and smart. Andy is a grey kitten that is a little bit clumsy. The kittens live in a 1950s style farm. They also have Uncle Sulo to guide them. Each book has a single theme. The theme can be something very ordinary, such as daycare, visiting a doctor or something imaginary: dragons den, fairytales and pirates. Mandy and Andy also travel a lot: they are in Lapland, China and Africa.

Each book also has a lesson to learn. Usually it is Andy that learns the lesson.  Some of the books are hyphenated so children can read the stories themselves.

Mandy and Andy in daycare

Teutori wrote 47 Mandy and Andy stories before he passed away in 2000. After that Mandy and Andy anu have been drawn by Jari Koivisto and Tuomas Mäkelä. The stories have been written by several writers.


Mandy and Andy are also stars of a CD-ROM game.

Mandy's and Andy's Christmas eve

This is not a complete list of Mandy's and Andy's books
Mandy and Andy enjoy nature
 Mandy and Andy in Fairytalelands
Mandy and Andy as detectives
Mandy’s and Andy’s adventure in Lapland
 Mandy and Andy –the story of a Mill
Mandy and Andy in China
Mandy’s and Andy’s Christmas eve
Mandy and Andy at the dentist
Mandy and Andy fishing
Mandy and Andy at theater 
Mandy and Andy at preschool
Mandy and Andy at Farm
Mandy’s and Andy’s hobbies
Mandy and Andy at Santa Park
Mandy and Andy timetravel
Mandy and Andy ABC
Mandy and Andy math
Mandy and Andy on vacation

Mandy, Andy and Finnish Christmas traditions

Mandy’s and Andy’s joyride
Mandy and Andy temper tantrums
Mandy and Andy travel
Mandy and Andy The secret of an old castle
Mandy’s and Andy’s summer
Mandy and Andy hot air balloon
Mandy and Andy at swimming school
Mandy and Andy at riding school
Mandy and Andy rhymes and jingles
Mandy and Andy at daycare
 Mandy and Andy at the market

Mandy and Andy rhymes

Mandy and Andy at a hospital
Mandy and Andy on a pirate ship
Mandy and Andy at the land of the gnomes
Mandy and Andy teach manners
Mandy and Andy learn to tell time
Mandy and Andy at the doctor’s
 Mandy and Andy get lost
Mandy and Andy in Africa
Mandy and Andy at a dragon’s den
Mandy and Andy as bakers
Mandy and Andy visit wild boars
Mandy and Andy at a zoo

Mandy and Andy rhymes