Ransu

Pertti Nättilä, Raimo J. Kinnunen 2002
Photos from Yleisradio Archives


Ransu was born in puppeteer house Musta & Valkea Ratsu in Sysmä. Eevaliisa Holm-Kinnunen named him after Fransicus of Assisi.

 In 1977 aired a new children’s program Pikku Kakkonen and in 1978 Eevaliisa was asked about a suitable co-host for the program to help in the making of the program. Fransiscus, the videoretriever (Canis Videotus), was just right. Although his name was too formal so they decided to use his nick name Ransu.



Ransu hosted with several people: Pekka, Ansku, Janne and Jukka. Later on came his dog friends Riku and Uncle Elmeri. The three of them travel all over Finland, sailed with a steam boat and acted in plays. Ransu played saxophone, Riku clarinet and Uncle Elmeri sousaphone.

With Ansku Ransu learned about different countries and the languages that were spoken there.

Ransu at Christmas time 1979

 With Pekka Ransu even flew with the desk. In his book, Ransu tells how it was taped.

In 1981 Ransu took part in charity. He co-hosted HAASTE81, which collected money for disabled children in development countries.

I guess every Finn that is over 30 knows Ransu.  Today Ransu's master Pertti Nättilä is retired so Ransu is not seen that often. Insted his relative Riku is now working at Pikku Kakkonen. Riku is a bit more straight forward. He is paired up with Rami, they hosted Pikku Kakkonen for a while and had a cooking program. In that Riku only wanted frakfurters and Rami had to persuade Riku to taste other foods.

Ransu, Riku and Uncle Elmeri in Lappland

Uncle Elmeri plays sousaphone,
Ransu saxophone and Riku clarinet

 
Ransu paloasemalla, Arttu Juselius 2011

Ransu at the fire station Ransu smells smoke and calls the emergency number. The fire brigade comes and it turns out that there was only food left on the stove. Ransu is invited to the fire station to learn what the firemen do. He is shown their gear and the different vehicles . This books teaches also, what can be done to improve fire safety and what to do when there is fire.

Ransu at the Tampere firestation

Noksu

Noksu kulkee ja keksii -cover

Mikko Kunnas: Noksu kulkee ja keksii 2013

Noksu riding a tractor

A platypus named Noksu and his bee friend Nuppi have eaten all their strawberry jam. They want more and know that Maikki the Beaver has cupboards full of strawberry jam. Off they go.

The journey almost ends before it even starts, when their bike gets a flat tire. After this there is several other pumps in the road. The resourceful Noksu finds away and in every spread the travelers get to ride with a different vehicle: bike, racecar, train, airplane, motorcycle, tractor and a canoe.


In Noksu’s bag is a solution for all troubles. Maikki is waiting for them with pancakes. Noksu and Nuppi take a hot air balloon back home, but they have too much jam. This book introduces the smallest readers to different vehicles and how ingenuity and helpfulness smooth the way.
There are other Noksu books drawn with this comic stylel:
Jopas sattui, Noksu
Noksu auttaa
Noksu ja päivän sää

Noksu as seen in Pikku Kakkonen

Heidi Laine: Noksu ja ystävät 2012
Based on characters by Mikko Kunnas
This book introduces Noksus friends:

Päivi -known as Maikki in the other book is a beave, Nupi is a bee,  Rouva Kana is hen and Vauveli is her baby, an egg.
Tohtori Oiva  is gorilla, Julli is a goat and Kari is an old crocodile.

Noksu and his friends

Jellona

Jellona, the Great -cover

Anne Vasko:
Jellona Suuri (Jellona, the Great) 2010
Jellona Toinen (Jellona, the Second) 2012


Two great books about a soft toy Jellona, who has issues. The illustrations are made of  textile collages. In Jellona the Great, Jellona fears of not being enough and in Jellona, the Second, he fears that he will be left out. Issues that everyone deals with some time.

Jellona Suuri
Jellona is a small lion made of fabric. Every one thinks he looks like a home made cat, but Boy thinks Jellona is the king of lions.

Jellona does not like being left out.

But Boy grows up and Jellona hates games, which do not include him. He wonders, if he is to small to take part in those games. He wants to grow bigger. He starts to eat more, but what if he does not grow enough? He decides to grow a bigger mane. Maybe his color is too childish? Maybe he should be yellow or golden brown.

Girl finds him and wants to keep him. Jellona sees a princess and half a kingdom, after all he is related to lions

Jellona, the Second - cover

Jellona Toinen
Jellona has two friends, Hirvonen and Pii.They play together, but sometimes the blanket is too small and they start fighting. Then everything is said in CAPITAL LETTERS and words become stupid, dorky.

When there are no words left, start the pillowfight and wrestling and someone gets hurt. Jellona's tail gets a hit. What if it cannot be fixed? Nobody will play with him any more and some other lion comes along. But Jellona is the cutest soft toy lion ever.

Jellona, Hirvonen and Pii fight over a blanket

Jellona starts looking for his friends and wants to find the right words. Words do not mend the tail, but they help. Hirvonen and Pii help fix the tail

Muriseva Metsä -Growling Forest

Growling Forest cover

Hannu Hirvonen
Illustrations by Pia Sakki

Murisevassa Metsässä 2007
Tärisevä Traktori 2009
Harvapäinen hirvi 2010
Rakastunut krokotiili 2011
Virtahepojen laulujuhlat 2013
Krokotiili hiihtää kevääsen 2014

Series of books about a small crocodile, who lives in a Finnish forest.

Growling Forest (Murisevassa Metsässä)

In Growling Forest live all the familiar forest animals: bear, mice, moose and fox. This forest is special, because there lives a crocodile. The crocodile is very small and is often mistaken as a salamander. That makes crocodile Krristian very angry and growly. In the first book (Murisevassa metsässä) the forest is about to cut down, because people want to build a motor way.

Mouse family in Growling Forest

The forest creatures ask for help from the flying squirrel association, which is known for protecting nature (the flying squirrels are much endangered in Finland and observations of it have prevented many construction sites).

This time the humans are not fooled, but luckily Krristian the Crocodile is talking to the foreman of the construction site and the forest is saved.

Tärisevä traktori -cover

Trembling Tractor (Tärisevä Traktori)

In the second book  an old tractor runs away from home. The tractor, Valmet 15, has become too old and has heard that he will be sent for demolition. The animals are very worried and try to help the tractor.

 Especially small mice that have learned the language the tractor speaks. In the book are introduced numbers from 1 to 20 in tractorian. The story has a happy end.


 

Krristian and hedgehog meet a tractor

Harvapäinen hirvi -cover

Fetherbrained Moose (Harvapäinen Hirvi)

The forest’s oldest moose is losing his memory. He thinks Krristian is from Mars and he forgets that it is hunting season, but he remembers the great-great-great- grandparents of the baby mouse.

 Krristians uncle Krrakatau from Egypt happens to be visiting and he also tries to help the poor moose. It turns out that the Egyptian style for the care of elderly is note suited for moose.

Uncle Krrakatau with Krristian's family

Rakastunut Krokotiili -cover

Crocodile in love (Rakastunut krokotiili) 

Krristian falls in love with the lovely opera singer Krrilla. He has written her over 600 love poems. The moon teaches the little crock that there are different types of love: poetic long distance love, parent love and the romantic love. The whole life is love. Suddenly something happens: Krilla attends a mouse wedding. Is this real or just a dream?

Krrilla and Krristian being romantic

Virtahepojen laulujuhlat cover

Singing festival of the hippos (Virtahepojen laulujuhla)

Krristian and Krilla are on their honeymoon and travel with hot air balloon to the world famous Hippopotamus singing festival in Africa, but instead the wind takes them north. There the balloon takes the two little crocodiles to China. There they meet a wise dragon named Shiksal. Shiksal whispers the secret to happiness. Only the croc's heear it.

The two argue in the balloon, but they also make up. at the end of the book, the two come back home even though Uncle Krrakatau tries to persuade them to stay in Egypt. But the crocodiles have a nice home and sauna back in Finland.

Dragon Shisal tells the secret of happiness to Krristan and Krilla.

When they get back home Krristian's family comes to visit. Krristian's mother thinks that the greatest happiness is related to crocodiles: it can grow even after it is all grown up.

Krokotiili hiihtää kevääseen cover

Crocodile skies to spring (Krokotiili hiihtää kevääseen)

The first five books are children’s novels ( the first three are easy to read books for young readers). This book is a first picture book about the small crocodile Krristian. Krristian is sick of winter. He decides to ski to spring.

The wise, old moon tells him why it is important to have winter. Krristian meets people, who swim in the hole in the ice (avanto, which is very common in Finland) and finally a kind wolf takes Krristian to sauna and winter does not seem so bad after all.

Krristian and wolf in sauna

Master Elf's Adventures

Cover of Mestaritontun seikkailut

Aili Somersalo 1919: Mestaritontun seikkailut
Illustrations Onni Mansneus

Characters from Päivikki's fairytale continue their adventures.

Master Elf has been lives in Fairytaleland and has been working for the King. He feels he is not appreciated and decides to leave and see the world. He takes with
him a pearl that he got from a mermaid with him.

The first person he meets is a witch called Mossy. Mossy has left the Mountain troll kings castle and is headed back home to his family estate at Great Swampisland. Mossy asks Master Elf to come with her. Master Elf follows. The estate is a small cottage. Master Elf decides to build his own place next to a big rock.

During the night Master Elf hears someone telling there is a fair maiden crying inside the rock. The next day Mossy warns Master Elf to stay in his hut and not to wander around in the swamp. During the night Master Elf hears the voice again. It seems that the big spruce is pointing at Mossy’s cottage. Master Elf sneaks up to Mossy’s window and sees two other witches with Mossy. The two witches tell Mossy what has been going on while Mossy was with the trolls.

The Witch King had wanted to marry the princess of Aurora, and send witches to take a treasure chest to the King. On their way the witches dropped the chest and the treasure was lost. The King of Aurora was the princess’s brother and he refused the marriage proposal. So the witches stole the princess and took her to the troll king. The princess, Dawn, had still declined and the Witch King imprisoned her to a rock. She was ordered to cut her golden hair and sow a coat for the Witch King. Meanwhile her brother and ladies waiting came looking for her and tried to rescue her. The witches turned him to a spruce and the ladies waiting into fog to the swamp.

The treasure chest was guarded by seven will o’ the wisps and can only be lifted by a prince that has been enchanted and has a pearl from the sea. The other two witches are worried about Master Elf being on the island, but Mossy assures them that Master Elf does not know about Princess Dawn and the treasure and even if he did, he cannot leave the island. The only way Master Elf could get help was to use a blue flower in a fairy spring that can send messages. But the flower appears only every full moon. Master Elf hears all this and he knows prince Nighteye of the Fairytaleland, who had been enchanted by a witch before.

 Master Elf starts looking for the flower, because it is full moon. The fog on the swamp helps him and he sends a message to prince Nighteye. The next day Mossy visits Master Elf and sees the precious pearl and steel s it. Master Elf is worried, how is he going to get it back. Nighteye arrives with his eagle, he has been protected by fog, so Mossy doesn’t see him. Master Elf tells him, what is going on.

Nightey arrives

 They decide to get the treasure first and then save Princess Dawn. First the go to Mossy’s cottage and find out she has broken her leg and her two friends have taken the pearl to the Witch King. Mossy gives Master Elf her a broom, magic matchsticks that make witches dance and clothes and, so he can get past the dragon that guards Witch King’s castle. Nighteye has a cape that turns anyone who wears it invisible. Nighteye wears Mossy’s clothes and Master Elf puts on the magic cape.

They fly to the Witch King’s castle. The dragon lets them in, because he knows Mossy’s clothes. On their way to the Witch King, they see that the castle is preparing for the wedding. Another dragon has heard that Mossy broke her leg and demands to see Nighteye’s legs. When Nighteye refuses, captures the dragon him and puts him in a sell. Master Elf is invisible and can continue to the Witch Kings chambers. He gets the pearl and runs. He then gets Nighteye and they use the magic matchsticks and get away.

 Back in the Swampisland they are in a hurry to see the will o’ the wisps. They start getting anxious and then the will o’ the wisps show. They get the treasure. Next they have to figure out how to get Princess Dawn out of the rock. Nighteye has a golden key that fits into a hole in the rock. Master Elf stays and keeps guard and Nighteye goes inside the rock to get Princess Dawn. The princess refuses to leave without her brother and ladies in waiting. She tells them that they need to break the spell by burning a witch’s broom. Master Elf persuades Nighteye and Princess Dawn to leave with the eagle. He will stay behind and burns the broom.

Nighteye meets Princess Dawn

 Mossy comes around and sees that the rock has been opened. She walks in and Master Elf locks her in. Then Master Elf burns the broom, but the fire also catches the spruce. When the last of the spruce has burned, the King of Aurora appears; soon also the ladies in waiting appear. King of Aurora tells Master Elf that he commands the clouds and they will take them to Fairytaleland.

 Nighteye and Princess Dawn have fallen in love and are waiting for Master Elf and the rest. Together they go see Nighteye’s parents, the King and Queen. They have missed Master Elf very much and are going to everything they can to keep him happy in Fairytale land. But there is sorrow in the land: the Princess of Fairytaleland is being held captive by the King of  the Sea.

The King of Aurora says, he’ll rescue the Princess Daylight. He has a mermaid friend that will help him. King of Aurora meets the mermaid by the seashore. She tells him, it is going to be diffilcult to get to the King of Sea’s castle. King of Aurora needs to find a cape made of fish scales under a white stone. The fish scale cape will make him look like a big fish. The moon rises showing them the way to the castle. The guard fish notices the king’s feet. The mermaid tells him that this is a new toy for Princess Daylight. The guard lets them pass.

Princess Daylight is sad

They come to Princess Daylight and she is sad, because her husband has died and she cannot go back home. King of Aurora tells her, how much her family in Fairytaleland and asks her to come back with him. Princess Daylight has heard of King of Aurora, but she tells him that it is really difficult to leave. King Aurora has brought the invisibility cape with him, but it doesn’t work underwater. There is one way: in the Dark Waters is a herb call Sorrowherb and its juice is more bitter than death. Princess Daylight knows the secret of the herb and believes it can set her free. The juice will age the drinker and it will kill all love. If the love does not die, it will get its reward. Princess Daylight gives the the King a peace of star. If the mud in the Dark Waters is getting too thick or the herb becomes too heavy, the King should rub the star three times. It will also lead the way to the Dark Waters.

The king leaves and finds the Dark Waters. It is cold and dark. Soon he sees the Sorrowherb. Its flower was black as sorrow and a its stem was so cold the King could feel his heart freeze. The King lost the brightness of his eyes and his feet got stuck in water. The herb flower was very heavy and he is about to fall into the mud. Then he remembers Princess Daylights star and soon he rises to the clear and clean waters. He gets back to the castle, where the mermaid waits for him. T

he mermaid is shocked to see him look so old. The Sorrowherb brings darkness and all fear it. Princess Daylight does not recognize the King. Princess Daylight drinks all of the Sorrowherb’s juice and turns into an old lady. The guards think that the mermaid is escorting an old wise woman that everyone respects. They can leave the castle in peace. Soon the King of the Sea realizes that Princess Daylight has escaped and raises a storm. The waves hit the King and Princess Daylight to the shore. As soon as her feet touch the ground, Princess Daylight becomes herself again.

All rejoice when Princess Daylight has returned. Soon there is a double wedding and evey one lives happily ever after.

A story of magic, quick turn of events. I always liked this more than Päivikki's fairytale. This story definately has a happy ending.
Names in Finnish:
Master Elf- Mestaritonttu,
Nighteye -Yönsilmä,
Mossy - Sammaleinen,
King or Aurora -Aamuruskonmaan kuningas,
Princess Dawn - Prinsessa Saraste,
Princess Daylight - Päivikki

Päivikin satu (Fairytale of Päivikki)

Cover of Päivikin satu

Aili Somersalo 1918
Illustrated by Onni Mansnerus

A classic fairytale of an orphan girl.

Päivikki is an orphan girl, whose foster father is kind, but foster mother and sister are evil. Päivikki is a pretty girl and her foster sister envies her. Päivikki has to do all chores, while her foster sister does nothing. One day the foster mother tells Päivikki to go pick some mushrooms. Her foster sister pretends that she has tooth ache and gets to stay home. Päivikki cannot find any mushrooms and she is getting sad: how dare she go back home without any mushrooms?

 Soon she sees fairies that have heard how kind Päivikki is to her sister, even though the sister is mean even to their cat. The cat has told the fairies how kind she is and as a reward the fairies show her, where the mushrooms are. But first gets to visit Fairytaleland. The road to Fairytaleland travels through Troll Mountain. The trolls are evil and should be avoided. The fairies give Päivikki an invisibility cape, but she must not speak while wearing it or else the cape will tear apart and vanish.

A troll sees Päivikki

 They approach Troll Mountain and see the first troll. The fairies hide and so does Päivikki. The troll passes by and the fairies move on. Päivikki gets scared and shouts that the fairies would wait. As soon as she says the words the cape wanishes. Päivikki must now be extra careful. Soon another troll comes along. All fairies hide and Päivikki hides behind a rotten stump. A raven reveals Päivikki’s hiding place and the troll finds her. The troll decides to take her as a toy for the Troll Kings daughter.

 Päivikki meets the Troll King and the King tells her that the Fairyland citizens are lazy and the trolls are hard working. He doesn’t let her go. A witch named Mossy takes Päivikki to the king’s daughter. The Troll Princess wants Päivikki to change her clothes and cut her golden hair. The Troll Princess wants to be the prettiest. Mossy takes Päivikki away, cuts her hair and stains her face and hair. Her hair will be spinned into gold.

 Päivikki entertains the Troll Princess and is her servant. When night falls Mossy says she likes Päivikki and lets her cat Nighteye stay with her. Päivikki is a little scared of the cat, but the cat’s purr is friendly. Päivikki cannot sleep. The cat starts to talk to her. Nighteye tells Päivikki that she can get out. Mossy has a key that opens any door. Nighteye will bite the leather strap and Päivikki will open the hatch in the floor. Päivikki pretends that she is sleeping so if Mossy wakes up, she won’t suspect her.

Nighteye gets the key and Päivikki opens the hatch. They take the stairs down and continue to walk to a cave. Nighteye sees a small sword and grabs it with them. The cave opens to a lake and the two jump into a boat. The boat bumbs into a rock. Nighteye asks Päivikki to open the rock and sunshine greets them. Päivikki is delighted and turns to pick up the cat. But there is no cat, instead there is a beautiful prince. The prince says that a troll had turned him into a cat and he had stayed that way, if Päivikki hadn’t taken him with her. The daylight changed him back. Nighteye tells Päivikki that his the Fairytaleland’s prince and that he will take Päivikki there and make her his sister. Päivikki is horrified; she cannot be a princess especially now that she looks horrible.

Nighteye touches the dirt with his sword and a spring appears. Päivikki also needs soap. Again Nighteye touches the ground and soap appears. Nighteye also makes clothes for Päivikki. They get tired and fall asleep. Nighteye wakes up and sees Mossy looking for them. They have to run. Nighteye hits the ground again, but nothing happens. Päivikki starts to cry. Suddenly Nighteye sees a hole in a trunk of a birch. He asks Päivikki for the key. Päivikki cannot find it! But then Moon shines and the key shimmers.

They are hardly inside, when they hear Mossy. Mossy asks her pet fox if the runaways are in the tree. The fox says yes. Then Mossy tells her raven to get the troll servants to cut down the tree. Päivikki and Nighteye are worried, but then the tree fairy appears infront of them and minimizes them to the size of a thumb. The fairy takes them to the top of the tree and helps them on leafs, which curl up so that they cannot be seen.

The fairy tells them to run to the tall grass, she will then let Mossy inside the tree. Mossy will probably leave and the fairy will join Päivikki and Nighteye back to normal. The leafs are separated: Nighteye’s leaf flies deep into the forest, but Päivikki’s falls right in front of the fox. Päivikki stays still. Then the fox smells Päivikki and takes the leaf and Päivikki to Mossy. Mossy turns Päivikki back to normal size. Nighteye comes running and asks Mossy to turn him back into a cat, he won’t leave Päivikki. Mossy turns Nighteye back to normal size.

 Suddenly the sun rises and Mossy like other trolls die in daylight. She runs back into the mountain. Päivikki and Nighteye laugh happily, because they are saved. The children start walking, they get hot and tired. They start running until they arrive at a white gate. On both sides of the gate stand two white creatures. They are fairies. The gate flies open and Päivikki and Nighteye walk into Fairytaleland.

Nighteye takes Päivikki to meet his parents and asks if she can stay. When he tells them that she is an orphan that was found in a brown basket, the King and Queen realize that Päivikki is their long los daughter. The witch Mossy that Päivikki met earlier stole her when the King and Queen had been riding near the Troll Mountain. Päivikki stays. The garden in Fairyland is magnificent and the children row on the lake. Once Päivikki sees a white hand rising from the water, the hand gestures Päivikki to come. Nighteye gets mad and tells her that the mermaids are trying to lure her to the lake. He also warns her that if she follows the mermaids, she can never come back.

Later in the sunset Päivikki sees a coral castle at the bottom of the sea. From the foam rises the King of Sea’s son and encourages Päivikki to come to him. Nighteye begs Päivikki not to look to the sea. The King is having a ball for the newly found princess and everyone is invited. After the ball, Päivikki climbs to the roof and looks at the sea. A fairy comes to her and says she brings a message from the sea. The Prince loves Päivikki and has sent her a gift. It is a pearl broach. As soon as it is attach to Päivikki, she feels the salt water running in her veins. The King’s right arm Master Elf comes looking for Päivikki and tells her that everyone is looking for her and that they are afraid that she has been kidnapped again.

That night Päivikki cannot sleep. She keeps looking at her pearl. She starts walking in the castle. In the foyer sits Master Elf sleeping, Päivikki gets a key from him and opens the door. She is looking for Nighteye, who she thinks is calling her. She cannot find him. Päivikki runs to the lake and takes the rowing boat to the lake. The waterlilies follow her and under them are the beautiful faces of mermaids. Päivikki gets scared and she screams that she wants to get back to Nighteye. The mermaids only laugh and sit inside the boat. They try to lure Päivikki into the water. Päivikki calls for the Master Elf, who hears her and starts running toward the lake. He sees that the mermaids have gotten Päivikki into the water, but she is still holding on to the boat. Master Elf helps Päivikki to the boat and rows her back to shore. Päivikki gives her pearl to Master Elf as a thank you.

The next day Päivikki and Nighteye go to visit Päivikki’s old home. Her foster family does not recognize her. Her sister is jealous; she thinks she would have been more suitable than Päivikki to be a princess. Nighteye tells her that she is too proud and evil, but since the family took care of Päivikki, he has brought them gifts. Päivikki gives her foster father a box that has three yellow leafs. Her foster mother laughs derisively, they have enough leafs on the yard. But not leaves like these. Nighteye takes one of the leafs and the leaf turns into a cow. The next leaf he puts on the foster father’s arm and it turns to clothing. The third leafs turns into a cake.

 Päivikki and Nighteye leave and Päivikki wants to see the sea. Nighteye promises to guard her from the mermaids. The sound of the waves make Nighteye fall asleep and a red moon rises from the sea and creates a wide silvery road. A voice tells Päivikki that it leads to the Castle of the King of Sea. Suddenly a beautiful, green eyed boy stands next to Päivikki. The boy repeats what he said. Päivikki wants to know, how he knows that. The boy says he has been there. The boy says he is the King of the seas son. He invites Päivikki to come to the castle. Päivikki tells him, she cannot, because then she cannot return. He tells her that they can go only so far that she can come back. Päivikki turns to wake Nighteye up, but a strong tidal wave rushes over her. Päivikki is blinded by the foam and she feels the wave taking her to the sea. Päivikki feels the King of sea’s son that holds her hand. His eyes mesmerize her. They swim to the sea, where the wind sings praise to the sea. Great joy fills Päivikki and she forgets everything but the green eyes. They sink deeper to the bottom of the sea and the deeper they sink the less Päivikki remembers Fairytaleland and Nighteye. So became Päivikki the queen of the seas.

 Is this a happy or a sad end? That is for the reader to decide. The Päivikki's story isn't over yet. Aili Somersalo wrote another story about the Master Elf.

Pessi and Ilusia

Book cover illustrated by Kristina Segercrantz

Yrjö Kokko 1944

Pessi and Illusia is a story about a fairy (Illusia) that lives on rainbow. Illusia comes down to earth and meets Pessi, a troll, whose name is short for pessimist.  Illusia has "a smile that warms like the rising sun". Illusia stays so long that the sun sets and she can’t see the rainbow anymore.

The next few days are so dry that the rainbow never appears ,then comes a spider that envies Illusia’s famous father, Illusion, and bits off Illusia’s wings. Now she can never get back on the rainbow.

Pessi tries to make Illusia feel at home, but winter is coming. Luckily the forest animals help them: a muskrat digs them a hole and birds teach them to make a soft bed. Pessi also kills an evil weasel and a mouse makes a fur coat for Illusia.

 In the spring Illusia is very sick, but turns out she is having a baby. A new creature is born: a hairless troll.

Pessi and Illusia decorating their home
(Illustration by Kristina Segercrantz)

Pessi takes care of Illusia
(Illustration by Kristina Segercrantz)

The fairy tale has the following chapters:
Missing fairies
Briefbearer Bumblebee
Cross Spider
Crayfish and seashell
Sundew and drone
Daphina and heath spotted orchid
Cuculus
Woodpidgeons
Miss Cuseuta and Princes Centaurea
Human and goose
War of the frogs
Jay and Muskrat
Surnia
Weasel
Mountain Ash
New Human
Wings

Heath spotted orchid
(Photograph by Yrjö Kokko)

Cover of th e1963's edition
(Photograph by Yrjö Kokko)

In the animal stories, frogs think they are related to humans, because both have calves and then one of the frogs start to think that that is not the case and a religious war starts,a muskrat wants to be called a small beaver and a jay is the forest gossip. At the same time, the soldiers find pearls inside the mussels and pick peat, where the sundew lives. The war is very present in this story. In the final chapter, Yrjö Kokko tell about his vacation from the war and how his family is waiting for him.

Cross Spide (Photograph by Yrjö Kokko)

Yrjö Kokko was a vet and he had studied in the 1920's in Tarto, Hannover and Vienna. He also was a passionate photographer and he illustrated his book with photos. His occupation explains why he uses Latin names for the animals in Pessi and Illusia. He describes the nature beautifully:  "Cloud slept on the surface of the lake and even the shadows of the reeds were yawning."

Book cover illustrated by Aleksander Lindeberg

Pessi and Illusia meet
(Illustration by Aleksander Lindeberg)

 The story has been illustrated three times: first illustrations were photographs Yrjö Kokko took, the second has illustrations by Aleksander Lindberg and the third has illustrations by Kristiina Segergranz.

Ant that went to the doctor's

Z. Topelius: Myran som for till doktorn
Illustrated by Aleksander Lindeberg 2011
In Finnish: Muurahainen joka lähti lääkäriin

An old fairy tale about a child ant that breaks his leg. His mother is takes him to town to look for help and finds a doctor who can do that with the help of a grasshopper.

The mother never gives up and the child finally gets his leg back.





The story's lesson is never to give up and if you want something work hard at it. This seemed to be Topelius' main purpose in his stories: to teach the children about life.


Are the modern fairy tales just for fun or do they have some deeper meaning as well? I am glad that these old stories still get published. In some way they are part of our cultural history and maybe some child will learn someting. At least they can enjoy the fantastic illustrations of Alexander Lindeberg. He illustrated this book back in the 1960s, but the book got published only few years ago.

Pearl - Hertta

Pearl plays hockey

Niina Veittikoski: Pearl aka Hertta in Finland books
Hertta is a girl that is interested in the world a round her. All books are written in rhyme. In the series of books, Pearl plays hockey, bakes, brushes teeth, has a puppet theatre, wants a pet and is waiting for Christmas.

Pearl has two special friends Aivo and Tollo (Brain and Dummy freely translated) and together they teach kids various things.

Pearl is a star in short animation films and boardgames as well. Very fresh and nicely slow paced children's program.

 You can also playWorld of Pearl  games online.

Pearl plays hockey

Pearl's Chirstmas eve

Pearl's Christmas

Heyflower, Quiltshoe and the bald robber

Sinikka Nopola and Tiina Nopola 2012
illustrations: Salla Savolainen

Helga and Halise Alibullen have been invited to Heyflower's and Quiltshue's playhouse for some cake. When the ladies get to the house, they see the girls fitting. Heyflower, who is the older sister, has made her little sister, Quiltshoe, mad by telling her that she was bold as a baby. The neighbor ladies try in vain to settle the girls. Quiltshoe wants to see pictures. Heyflower shows her the pictures and indeed Quiltshoe was bold.

When Heyflower falls asleep that night, Quiltshoe cuts her pigtails. In the morning Heyflower is very upset. Quiltshoe tells the family that someone stole the hair. Then she runs way and bumps into Policeofficer Bigbelly. Quiltshoe tells him about the theft and he deducts that it must be the famous Bald-robber.

Mom and Dad are looking for Quiltshoe and the police is looking for the robber. In the end Quilshoe admits that she cut the hair. Mom gives Hayflower a nice box to hold her pigtails and Hayflower forgives Quilshoe. Mom also shows that Hayflower was as bold as Quiltshoe, when she was a baby.




Sinikka and Tiina Nopola are sisters and they have written several Hayflower and Quiltshoe books. The first book was published in 1989 and the twelfth book in 2006. The other books are novels. Sinikka and Tiina have told that the adventures of Hayflower and Quiltshoes are based on their own experiences ad kids and adults with their own kids. The books have a lot of dialog, because the Nopola sisters create the stories by talking. Several plays have been made based on the books and in 2003 was released a Heyflower and Quiltshoe movie.

The girls in the books are very likable and as a mother of two boys it is nice to see that even girls can pick a fit over the silliest things. I had forgotten how we fought with my sister.