Animal poems

 Jukka Itkonen 2016: Hirvi irvistää
Illustrated by Matti Pikkujämsä


The name of the book in Finnish means moose grimaces.  Later on you learn that tit grimaces to a cow that came to forest to his turf. Cute short poems about animals from moose to ants.

Lynx lynx is probably the only animal
all Finnish know in Latin.

I am becoming a fan of the modern children's poems. Before the poems were too educational and moralizing, but now they are just fun. Of course, you can still learn a thing or too.

Singing sneekers: atheletic sport poems

Jukka Itkonen 2015: Laulavat lenkkitossut : urheilullisia liikuntarunoja
Illustraded by Matti Pikkujämsä

Finns are sports fans. Any kind of sport and they'll watch it.  I never understood that until I talked with a girl, who said it is very relaxing to watch soccer or other sports, because you know what is going to happen. Just follow the ball/puck/any sport instrument. But if you  observe my mother-in-law during a hockey match, it is far from relaxing, she gets really excited and passionate about cheering for the Finnish team.

This book is about sport poems. First is soccer, then comes every possible sport including Mölkky.  Not to forget the sportsfans on the couch, the penkkiurheilija. I hope this book inspires children to move and find a hobby that makes them move.

The Finnish  couch potato

Other poems from Jukka Itkonen in Crocodile sweats. And other poems about sports in Marjaliis Pitkärantas Kesäkisat.

Crocodile sweats and other animal poems.

Jukka Itkonen 2010: Krokotiili hikoaa ja muita eläinrunoja
Illustrated by Matti Pikkujämsä

Scissorhands

These animals are kind of funny: one has ears as cabbage leaves, other is all neck. The savanna is shaking and the jungle is rutling. Who does not eat porridge, or algae? What scares a crocodile? In this book African animals live their lives in full and vivid colors. A real good will book.


The book has following poems:
Ten monkeys,
Rainbow shirt,
Horse in river,
What is it?,
Lodger of wetlands,
Long trunk,
Armadillo,
Turtle,
Giraffe,
Parrot,
Scissorhands,
Scorpion,
Crocodile and children,
 Shy fish,
Hawk and Accipiter,
Bee dance, goats,
Donkey,
Is that true?,
Snail waddles,
This and that happens,
Termite’s nest,
Bat,
Hyena,
Gazelle,
Big cat sleeps,
Jaguar,
Buffalo’s brother,
Little bird poem,
Crocodile sweats,
Zebra in the sun.