Preparing a travel with a child (Finland)

We’ll be heading to Sweden, Finland and Estonia soon, as a first travel to prepare our WEAR-ABOUTS Sea project.

Having a child is a powerful change and driver in one’s life as it impacts all aspects of it, work included. Numerous mothers (and fathers we hope), newly called “Mom entrepreneurs”, are creating new projects or activities after having or while raising their child. Tough WEAR-ABOUTS started early 2015 as Laetitia Barbu worked on a first version of the concept, the birth of her child and the parenting leave have accelerated the project development, through the involvement of Ruxandra Lupu as a co-creator.

While documenting and choosing an educational path for her child, Laetitia also wanted to involve alternative pedagogic education paths and methods in different aspects of her child’s activities, including outside school activities.

It comes therefore very natural to co-design the WEAR-ABOUTS projects with children themselves and to involve Laetitia’s inspirational daughter as well as other children, in the Design adventure. We will also integrate the Designing for Children guide principles according to the D4CR association.

WEAR-ABOUTS concept is about meaningful travel, alternative discoveries, knowledge, outdoor activities and motion and the very first step is the travel preparation with a child.

We have thought how to introduce a country and its culture to a small child, using very well know symbols as well as more non-conventional ones.

The Moomins

Of course, we would be blind if we didn’t notice the Moomins and their powerful showcase-activity for Finland addressing children and families. Moomins are everywhere, from travel guides to travel websites, blogs and shops. Though Moomins’ world is promoted very efficiently with a strong marketing approach, there is a real creative story behind, embedded in Finland history with Moomins’ creator Tove Jansson.

Associating Moomins to Finland, as trolls, comes therefore very natural. Books and cartoons are translated in numerous languages, including French and Italian, and then available almost anywhere, physically (books, toys) or online.

Yes, our small traveler understood that we would see some Moomins in Finland and that actually we might meet some trolls!

Pikkuli

We have written a former post about Pikkuli called “Turku through Pikkuli”. Though Pikkuli is not on broadcast in France neither Italy (tell me if I’m wrong), cartoon extracts and few episodes are available online. The great advantage of Pikkuli is that characters communicate through “chirping”, which is an international language, understandable by all through which Pikkuli and his friends express their emotions. Very appreciated!

Pikkuli original book is also available in Finland: “Lennä Pikkuli, lennä!” (“Fly Pikkuli, fly!”)

So far our small traveler granted us a “C’est quoi ça?” (What is this?) vaguely having a look at a Pikkuli cartoon shown on internet. But we’ll come back to it certainly through the book!

Finnish children books

Numerous other Finnish children books are available, and we can’t wait to discover them. As we are traveling “light”, we’ll opt for an extended visit at the Children’s library in Helsinki, the newly famous and innovative Oodi Central Library (We’ll publish a dedicated post when we’ll be there).

Here is a short pre-selection, which will expand over time. These books are mostly not translated, but children can have a first overview on internet and can easily find them in Finnish bookstores or libraries (for smaller ones, the text doesn’t matter much).

We are very interested with Reka Kiraly’s illustration work, as well as Maija Hurme’s work. We’ve also discovered a nice book from Tomi Konlio, illustrated by Elina Warsta.

Reka Kiraly: “Ystäväni puu – pieni käsikirja puista” (My Friends, The trees) and “Pieni suuri tarina joulusta” (Little Big Story About Christmas)

“My Friends, The trees: In this small handbook, readers learn about various types of trees and their environment, the forest. Moreover, more important questions like what would happen if the forest would disappear and how would our planet breathe, are answered. My Friends, The Trees hopes to awaken children’s curiosity about the forest, their love for nature and inspire them to be more outdoors.”
(KOJA Agency – http://kojaagency.com/product/my-friends-the-trees-a-small-handbook-about-trees/)

Copyright: Etana editions
www.etanaeditions.com

“Little Big Story About Christmas: It’s Christmas time and the friends are in need of a Christmas tree. The fir trees in the nearby forest are however guarded by the scary Bear. Who is going to dare to chop a tree? The Bear takes the friends to the most beautiful tree. It looks exactly as the one they had imagined! What if the Bear’s intentions are good after all? Is he maybe just a bit of a loner? This is a small big book about things not always being as they first appear.”
(KOJA Agency – http://kojaagency.com/product/a-little-big-story-about-yesterday/)

 

Maija Hurme: “Yksinäisten saarten kartasto” (Atlas of Solitary Islands)

“Mom is always on the phone, she never listens.Emma decides to move to her own island with her friend Aimo the chimpanzee. But what happens when the island suddenly starts to move? A heartfelt story of a little girl who finds consolation in exploring imaginary worlds, when her parents are too preoccupied and have too little time for her.”
(KOJA Agency – http://kojaagency.com/product/atlas-of-solitary-islands/)

Copyright: Etana editions
www.etanaeditions.com

Tomi Kontio, illustrated by Elina Warsta: “Koira nimeltään Kissa” (“A dog called Cat”) TEOS Editions. It seems that an English translation exists.

Two rootless and rejected mongrels come to know one another in a disarmingly beautiful picture book about friendship.

Some of them are published abroad, mainly in English, and few are available in French or Italian.

For the little ones, very few is available abroad:

“Nietos – a Journey in Lapland”, Noora Vaarala/Veera Komulainen – Komutron Oy

“A sky full of blue and green northern lights, a skillful hunter and a swiftly fleeing reindeer. Snow is whirling under the hooves of the running reindeer as the adventure begins. Based on a folk tale, Nietos is a fable of a boy who will grow up to be the first of the Lappi people. But who is awaiting the hunter and where? Will he ever return to his home?”

Copyright: Komutron Oy
http://metsientarut.fi/product/nietos-a-journey-in-lapland

“The gnome’s garden” – Tuula Pere/Outi Rautkallio (as well in French and Italian, and numerous languages translations)

For the bigger ones:

Milla Marble (Milla Marmori) and the Mystery of the Missing Grandma, Sam Lake/Minttu Wikberg. 

“Milla’s Grandma has gone missing. Luckily, Milla will be the world’s second greatest detective when she grows up. She follows a clue – Grandma’s red wool thread – into an ADVENTURE waiting in the magical world inside the wall paper in the Grandma’s cottage.
Milla Marble is a children’s book that weaves myth, fairy tale and quirky humor into an exciting and endearing adventure. Drawing inspiration from classic picture books, the charming illustrations add modern playfulness and Nordic style into the mix.”

(https://millamarble.wordpress.com/about/)

Les Filouttinen (Rovers), Les 7 frères de Finlande – Finnish tale (Seitsemän veljesta suomesta). The book is translated in numerous languages.

You’ll find some references in French thank to “Un livre dans ma valise” blog: https://www.unlivredansmavalise.com/finlande-livres-pour-enfants/

 

Where to buy Finnish books?

• From abroad: We’ll ALWAYS recommend to order the books from your local bookstore, when possible. It is important to help local retailers in these times of tough online competition.
• Finnish libraries are very well furnished with a wide network throughout Finland. Libraries are nice and warm place to spend time with children when the weather is cold or rainy.
• Think also about second hand books! It is a nice way to follow the circular economy concept.
• In Finland: Some publishers have their online shop

Etana Editions: https://www.etanaeditions.com/shop
Metsien Tarut: http://metsientarut.fi/product-category/book/

Other online shops
Papercut: https://papercutshop.se/product/milla-marble-and-the-mystery-of-the-missing-grandma/

• Children bookstores in Finland:

Helsinki:
Arkadia International Bookshop, Nervanderinkatu 11, 00100, Helsinki, Finland, +358 40 532 7296
Suomalainen kirjakauppa, Kampii centre, Urho Kekkosen katu 1, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Akateeminen kirjakauppa, Pohjoisesplanadi 39, 00101 Helsinki, Finland

Turku: Book Store Turun Kansallinen Kirjakauppa, Linnankatu 16, 20100 Turku, Finland