Case of stalagmite

Laura Ruohonen 2017: Tippukivitapaus
Illustrated by Erika Kallasmaa

Colorful poems about all kinds of creatures. This book surely shows Finnish language at its best. If these poems were written in English, I would not understand them. The beauty is based on the similarities of the words. For example Tapani from Haaparanta, who alters his habbits (parantaa tapansa) or the icefishers having a picnic in Piikkö (Piikkiöläiset pilkkijät piknikillä). And naturally for me it all rhymes! No modern poems for me.

We also learn about the hot tears of the volcano (of which we know nothing about), what the picky eater has for lunch or what happens when you have gloves (you have to have hands, if you have hands you need a piano and so on..). And naturally there is the discussion - or  the argument if you wish - if the sauna whisk is actually called vihta or vasta.


This was also transformed into a musical at the Finnish National Theater, Kansallisteatteri in Helsinki

Here's a "music video" named "If you have gloves" and you can listen to the music in Spotify

Picky-eaters lunch

Sauna whisk in west vs. Sauna whisk in east

Nightowls

Laura Ruohonen 2008: Yökyöpelit
Illustrated by Erika Kallasmaa

In a mysterious building no one sleeps at night: flues sigh, the elevator is coughing, the basement door squeeks. The master spy agent genious Naru  creeps and investigates. Five small Nieminens eat only the holes from the bread. Grandma Ant remembers her millionth husband.

Nasty lime is waiting to be wed, the Rastafarians bathe with bouquets of birch branches (vasta) and the headlouse is just waiting for kids to feast with their blood.

The nasty slime (Imulima) is waiting for a wedding.

Based on this book is also created a tv-series Yökyöpelit by YLE  that was favourite to our boys. I must admit that the phonetics are cute with imulima and päätäi Väätäinen. Is this what it is like to live in an apartment house? Maybe not, but it sure is entertaining.

The rastafarians in sauna.