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.

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.

The colorful cats nature tour

Lotta Kujanpää 2015: Kirjavan kissan luontoretki
Illustrated by Ilma-Sofia Kuismanen

The colorful cat meets many animals in nature: a wolverine draming of being Batman, he/she swims with the pikes. The cat wonders, how the moose grew so big by eating leaves.

In the winter he follows the rabbit's tracks, helps bear to stock up for winter and tries to sleep with the bear, except he snors.

Hybronating with a bear

The cat also wants play catch with a fox, sees a snake and tries to settle two fighting capercaillies He solves a mystery with a mole, joins the Saimaa seal for a revolutions. He also sees reindeers, otters and hedgehogs.


The illustrations are cute and capture well the light in the different seasons.

Playing with a moose.

Finnish children's nature guide

Iiris Kalliola & Lasse J. Laine: Suomen lasten retkeilyopas 2014

A nature guide to children, but in my mind many adults could read this book as well. The Finnish people seem to be drifting further away from nature and therefore be more afraid of animals and more allergic to different plants.

This book is divided into section by seasons: what to see and observe in spring, summer, fall or winter. For me the winter was most interesting, since I always thought things were dear or sleeping that time. Now I realize that there is still much to learn about nature in the winter. In TV I saw a clip about observing the winter plants and trying to see as many "talventörröttäjä" the winter plants that stick out of the snow.




Spring

In the spring you can listen to the owls in the dark, later watch the migratory birds flying back, watch the flower starting to bloom and look for frog spawn.

Summer

Summr time is good time to investigate everything: the swamps, forest, water ways, meadows and sleep in a tent. The book describes the clarity of the Finnish lakes and rivers. I was in Lemmenjoki ten years ago and we drank straight from the river, it was so clean and I believe it still is

Recepies for fish in a stick, a simple soup and ash potatoes.

Fall

In  the fall the elk is moving, mostly because they are hunted, you can go pick up lingonberries and mushrooms and watch the birds move south again.

Winter

Winter time is good for observing the starry night. In the summer time no stars can be seen. You can count the winter birds that stayed and go ice fishing. In addition you can look out for the tracks of different animals and their hide places.

The book also gives grat tips, what can you do in nature without the forest owners permission, jokamiehenoikeudet, what kind of gear you need and even recepies for cooking what you catch. 

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.

Book of Cows

Paula Moilanen 1993: Lehmäkirja
Illustrated by Martti Sirola

I am a cow fan. Their relaxed, calm behaviour is very comforting and as comparison to skittish horses, they even produce milk and even meat.  Horses look great, but they scare way too easily and have very unpredctable.

Anyway, this book is all about the Finnish cow. It starts with an ode to cows.  Then we learn about the  relatives of cows: the buffalo, antilopes, goats, giraffes, moose, pigs and even camels.

The history part describes who cows were domesticated and how the agriculture evolved in Finland and how cows employ people.

Cross-section of a barn.

There are many pictures of the modern barn of the 1990s and the working day of the cow.  Interesting is, how the stomach of the cow works and how milk is produced.

The illustrations of the book include photos and drawings.

At the Duke's Court: life in the 16th century Turku

Paula Moilanen 2007: Herttuan hovissa : elämää 1500-luvun Turussa
Illustraded by Kirsi Haapamäki

An time travel to the 16th century Turku and Turku Castle. Hans Hansson's and his family's lives change, when they get a chance to work as servants in the Duke Juhan's  (later the Swedish King John III of Sweden) court.

The book is based on facts, but also has a fictional plot. The timeline is between 1559-1562.

In the book are described different seasonal events such as the shrovetide. Different chapters tell the everyday life between the upper, even royal, class and the servents. The story takes us to the spinning hut, to the apothecary's kitchen and to the habitat of many different professionals.

Map of Turku

The illustrations of the book support the story and the story combined with facts make history feel alive.

An example:

In 1562 Sweden declares war to Poland and despite the King's oppostion, his brother John decides to marry Catherine Jagiellon, princess of Poland. The fight between the brothers casts deep shadows upon the Finns, but also  the arrival of  the princess of such a great nation coming to
Finland is celebrated.

Feast in the Duke's court

A  great book for any one interested in the middle ages and a reminder of how a big role Sweden has played in the Finnish history. It might also explain why the Finns are so reluctant to learn Swedish: it is the language of the conqueror.

Grandma Bunny's skivacation surprise

Asta Vuokkomaa 2014: Mummi Pupun hiihtolomayllätys

Bunny Brown and Bunny White are going to their Grandma's for skivacation. In the olden days, there was always snow and everybody got a chance to ski.

Today it only rains and the boys are a little disappointed to visit their Grandma in the city. But Grandma has a surprise: she is taking them to the Bunny Islands in the south.  All kinds of things happen.

The ski vacation is in the southern parts of Finland on  week number 8 (the last week of February), Central Finland has the next week and North Finland has week 10. Officially the break is called Talviloma (Winterbreak), but everyone speaks about Hiihtoloma (Skibreak).

Family adventure

Liisa Lauerma 2011: Sukuseikkailu
illustrated by Ismo Rekola

Noora and Nikke are exploring their family. Noora wants to what it was like, when Grandma was a child and Nikke wants to know, what it means that  great-great-grandfather was a sailor. Does it mean that the future generations will be working with sea?

The kids hear about the lovestories of their great-grandparents, what they got as a present for their wedding and what kind of skills and features they had. Whose hair does Nikke have? And where did Noora get her long and narrow fingers?  Every member of their family have charecteristics. Matti seemed to be an early bird.  Grandma Ursula was hard working and Grandma Maikki laughed alot.  Some relatives are seldom mentioned and families can have secrets.


The book introduces family peacock, which has a tail made of different family roots. Only syblings have the same kind of peacock tail.

While Noora and Nikke researc their family, they discover that their mother is from Häme and their Father's side comes from Carelia.

The book gives instructions how to collect family information, where grandparent's used to live and work and what the everyday life was like. What kind of meals did they prepare?

The book also has additional activities online about Geneology. What a wonderful hobby!

Duskweaver

Mila Teräs 2015: Hämärinkäinen
illustrated by  Karoliina Pertamo

Duskweaver is a small creature weaving dusk. Its job is important, because at dusk all night creatures start moving at dusk.

A florist Keikander does not want it to be dark, because his flower makers do not have enough time to make buds.  The florist decides to break the loom and he captures the Duskweaver. It is not good and the flowermakers get exhausted. Florist Keikand realizes his mistake and hurries to rescue Duskweaver.




People need dark for resting and slowing down. I believe also that if it wasn't for the dark winter, we would not appreciate the light summer nights.  Very poetic book.