Birds of Small Island

Eppu Nuotio: Pirkko Punarinta ja kadonnut polkupyörä and Kauko Kivitasku ja kadonnut onnenkivi Illustrated by Saara Vallineva

Two books about Small Island (Pikkusaari) and their habitats.

First, Pirkko Punarinta is a robin, who looses her bike. She puts up a sign promising the person, who took the bike pancakes. All the islanders show up for the pancakes and Pirkko throws a great party. But no bike. In the end the bike is found.

The second book is about Kauko Kivitasku, a wheater, looses his lucky stone. Kauko tracks back to all the places he visited that morning and luckily the stone is found

The illustrations are photos of miniatures made by Saara Vallineva. The details are remarkable. The books have very little text so they are suitable for kids who just learned to read.  You don't even need to read, the photos have so many details that capture your eyes. You can actually feel you are on the island.

Pirkko posts a notice promising pancakes for the bike

Pirkko's cotage

Kauko offers coffee for Eero Erakkorapu (hermit)

Small naturebook

Mauri Kunnas 2018: Pieni luontokirja

Aaah! Spring! Well not winter any way. My favourite children's author has made a nature book.

The book starts with birds, because the summer isn't here until the swallows have arrived. There are many others that come sooner like larks, finches and cranes.

Then comes bugs, plants, trees get their own section since we are know for our forests. Berries are next, I don't think people utilize enough the berries we have.

Animals are the last section (I know: bugs are animals, too). This section covers mammals, reptiles (we have two: snakes and salamanders) and frogs.

The bugs have gain a new appreciation due to research showing
we need them, if we want to eat.

This is great book and it does not bother me one bit that the pictures are drawn. Even the photos are not always accurate. It is really hard to recognize a bird.  I have lived most of my life in the countryside and I have spent many hours watching the birds and plants. My dad even quizzes me about the 30 different type of trees he has on his land.

It would be sad if the kids in the cities never learned to tell the difference between different birds.

Pikkuli's birthday

Metsämarja Aittokoskski 2017: Pikkulin sytymäpäivä

Pikkuli's birthay is coming and Mom ask what he/she wants as a gift. Would he like a red car? Pikkuli starts to imagine: crayons, ball, binoculars, bike, fins and a bear. Suddenly there is a long list. Mom and Dad sigh deep. Pikkuli decides to draw a picture of everything he wants. Then he draws an invitation to all with a picture of a gift he wants.

Pikkuli delivers the invitations. He says to frog, he is allowed to come to Pikkuli's birthday and he may bring a skate board.
Then Pikkuli reaches the Hazel Hen house, where he delivers seven invitations to the chicks. The chicks know, that their mother can't buy seven presents, so they are figure out only one of them gets to go. Oh the sorrow!

I love a map of locations.

The others get a similar invitation. Pikkuli is excited, this is going to be the best birthday party ever! Pikkuli's sister thinks Pikkuli cannot force the others to bring him presents. Mother says they'll come up with something. Mom adn Dad decide to go talk with the invited guests.


On his birthay Pikkuli wakes up, but nobody is home.  He can't find any one. Soon the others show up as well carrying treats and flowers.  The spider spins a trampoline for Pikkuli. The birthday lasts all day. In the evening Pikkuli says, this was the best birthday ever.

Pikkuli wants a present from all hazel hen chicks.

He learned his lesson.  Great message: what is the real reason for inviting guests? My youngest still thinks it is getting gifts. After this, maybe not any more. Pikkuli learns.

Pikkuli, the smallest bird

Metsämarja Aittokoski: Pikkuli
Illustrated by Elli Vuorinen


Pikkuli is a small bird. Even when it (again we do not know if Pikkuli is a boy or a girl, it is always referred as "it") hatches, it needs help. Mom and Dad hear Pikkuli saying it cannot. Pikkuli's parents are trying to entourage it to break the egg. Pikkuli's brother and sister are eagerly learning how to fly, but Pikkuli is repeating "I cannot."

Eating is a problem for Pikkuli, too. Pikkuli's beak is too small for the worm. And again Pikkuli says "I can't".

Then it is time to learn to fly. Guess what? Pikkuli says " I can't" and does not even try.

Pikkuli decides to run away. It meets a woodpecker, who is trying to find food. Finally the woodpecker finds a big bug. It was worth trying, says the woodpecker to Pikkuli.  Pikkuli sees many animals, which all can do things. Pikkuli still thinks, it cannot do anything. Finally Pikkuli meets a bird, which seems to have mismatch body parts. Its neck is stuck under the water and is about to drown. Pikkuli is looking around: isn't anybody going to help the poor bird?  Then Pikkuli dives in and untangles the long neck. The odd bird, Honkkeli, says it never learns how to catch fish. Pikkuli thinks, they should try together. Then they dive and fish. Pikkuli's family is amazed at the transformation.  But Pikkuli still can not fly. Dad says none of them fly south until Pikkuli can join them. Pikkuli is happy, it is liked even though it cannot anything. Then Pikkuli tries flying and succeeds. Then the whole family flies south. Well Pikkuli dives and does other things,

I have been substituting in comprehensive school and I have seen, how kids get discouraged, if they don't succeed immediately. They do not want to practice and it is sad. I keep telling them that is why they are in school, to learn things. Very odd! The Pikkuli story is a great lesson for all children to keep trying.

You can find learning material, coloring pages and much more at Pikkuli homepage,

Pikkuli is also an animation at YLE, Pikkuli tv-series at Yle.

Mystical Birds of Finland

Eero Ojanen 2015: Suomen myyttiset linnut
illustraded by Daga Ulv


Spring is definetly here, when people brag about seeing larks, starlings,  wagtails and fiches. As the old Finnish saying says. The summer comes here with the swallows.

This book is divided into different sections. The first section is about creation of earth. In Kalevala is a story where the land and the sea came from a wild ducks egg. Other birds in this section are crane, tit, eagle and hazel hen. The crane is respected, even the ridgepole is called a "kurkihirsi". The crane was also considered as an all mighty sorcerer.

The next section is titled as between two worlds. The birds here are swan, loon, red-throated diver and nurmilintu, which isn't a real bird, but the bird of Underworld. It is strange that a children's lulluby is about this bird. The singer wished the children would sleep as peacefully as the dead. As I have mentioned before, we are not a cheerful folk.

Siberian Jay is a curious bird.
Here with kuksa, a wooden cup and a knife.

The third section is about holy creatures: osprey, swallow, starling and dove. 17 lakes are named after opsrey (Sääksjärvi), because the bird was seen there.Other places are Sääskmäki, Sääksniemi.

Then come the helpers of witches and the devil: the capercallie,black grouse, crow and the raven. No wonder Hitchcock hit a nerve with his film. Some people fear birds to death.  The capercallie was the king of the forest and it carried the forest folk in him. When an capercallie came to the yard, it meant something bad was to happen.

The fifth section is about bird that bring luck or bad luck. They are cocoo, jay, wagtail, dipper, bunting and corncrake.  The wagtail brings good mood where ever it comes. My mom still thinks the wagtail that nest in their home birch greets her, when he arrives. The wagtail is also very eager to tease the cat.

Starling as a jewellery

Then come the restless souls: jackdaw, Siberian jay, willow grouse, black woodpecker and snipe. The Siberian jay is curious and often comes to the fireplace to see what the humans are up to. It may even be the soul of a wise man. The hunters usually leave this bird alone.

The eight section is for the unpleasant guests: sparrow, magpie and redstart. In the old days the sparrows were considered bad news. They brought bad luck. As do the magpies, which steal all shiny objects they can find. If the magpie laughs, when you are going to take a trip, you should cancel.

And the last section informs us about the scary prophets: woodpecker, horned owl, owl and hawk. The story tells that on fall 1939 the horned owl cried so hard that the people knew it meant war, which then happened.  Even before that seeing the horned owl meant death


It's amazing that people had time to observe and make stories, but then again they did not have social media. Today nobody makes up stories about birds, when they read about all the silly things people do. But I do know that the belief die hard, I remember counting the first cuckoos of the summer, because it meant how many years before I would get married. I stopped counting after ten.

Children's fun birdbook

Reima Flyktman, Jari Mattila, Rauli Ranta 2014: Lasten hauska lintukirja

Great little book about birds in Finland. Small text box tells the peculiarities of the bird.  I like cranes, eagles and others, but ruisrääkkä (corncrake) has the best name. And when you hear it, you know what it is.

Ruisrääkkä - corncrake in Finnish. Try to say it.

Swatter

Kaija Pispa 2006: Kärpäslätkää
Illustrations: Elina Warsta

This name was hard to translate, since "lätkä" also means hockey in Finnish. Cute poems about bed bugs, cows that go crazy. Swans that leasurely swim by the lake, whining crow and many ohers.

My personal favourite is the "Biological reality", where the lesson is that if the owl does not feed its young, the young keep crying.

Second favourite is the "Spastic asparagus", which really does not make any sense, but is fun to read.

Biological reality on the right.

Peter Robin puts out a forestfire

Tapani Karinen 2008: Pekka Punarinta sammuttaa metsäpalon

Peter the Robin is a very lively little bird. While playing in the forest with his friend, he sees an open fire. All animals panic and try to figure out what to do.

Peter takes action and puts out the fire, before the whole forest is on fire.

The very high lighted message of this book is that stupid humans left the campfire smoldering and did not put it out properly. Kids remember to take care of the nature.





This book is published in this century, but it reminded me of the books I used to read back in the 80s. I guess there is still need for educational stories. I also like the illustrations of this book. 

The Christmas birds of the Village Elf

Martti Kapanen 2009: Kylätontun joululinnut


The Village elf upholds Finnish Christmas tradition: feeding and taking care of the birds.

The book is a collection of 19 Christmas cards made by Matti Kapanen. He wrote a story around the cards. The illustrations present the Finnish countryside at its best and nature and human living side by side.

The book also tells about the birds habitats and behaviour.

For children in Finland the Christmas eve is the most exciting  day of the year: then comes Santa. All day the children are on pins and needles. Watching birds could be one activity for the kids to get the time go by faster. And to get them to sit still for a while.

Veka whizzes

Anne Kalliola 2006: Veka viilettää
illustrated by Ilkka Ruokola

Veka is a small bird who always flies as fast as he can. One day he is outflown by a common swift. Veka is really upset: he is not the fastest.

An Uncle Crow tries to teach him to fly slower. At first Veka is afraid he will drop. He is not used to flying so slow. Uncle Crow shows him the dots of a lady bird and to notice berries at th edge of the forest.

Veka even saves a small bird from drowining, when he is flying slower.




The illustrations are so lifelike that the speed of Veka makes me almost out of breath. The book also describes the Finnish summer at its best.

The story is a great lesson for all of us not to fly so fast all the time.