Biography
November (Second Half)
Illustrator: Veiko Tammjärv
2022, 160 pp
ISBN: 9789916414101
graphic novel, fantasy, folklore, fiction
November
Illustrator: Veiko Tammjärv
2021, 144 pp
ISBN: 9789916407370
graphic novel, fantasy, folklore, fiction
Sirli, Siim and the Secrets
Illustrator: Ilmar Trull
2006, 192 pp
ISBN: 9789985312247
fiction, storybook
Oskar and the Things
Original title: Oskar and the Things
Language: English
Illustrator: Anne Pikkov
Translator: Adam Cullen
The Emma Press
2022, 296 pp
ISBN: 9781912915781
storybook
A mumus és a Facebook
Original title: The Ghost and Facebook
Language: Hungarian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits
Translator: Móni Segesdi
Cerkabella
2020, 127 pp
ISBN: 9786155808449
fiction, storybook
De Schiet un dat Fröhjohr
Original title: Poo and Spring
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits
Translator: Heiko Frese
Plaggenhauer
2015, 76 pp
ISBN: 9783937949192
fiction, storybook
Der Schiet und das Frühjahr
Original title: Poo and Spring
Language: German
Illustrator: Meike Teichmann
Translator: Cornelius Hasselblatt
Willegoos
2015, 80 pp
ISBN: 9783944445083
fiction, storybook
Frösche küssen
Original title: A Frog Kiss
Language: German
Illustrator: Anne Pikkov
Translator: Cornelius Hasselblatt
Willegoos
2015, 37 pp
ISBN: 9783944445151
fiction, storybook
Hopp i säng!
Original title: Hush-a-By Baby! Bedtime Stories by Estonian Fathers
Language: Swedish
Illustrator: Jüri Mildeberg
Translator: Jaan Seim
NyNorden
2007, 108 pp
ISBN: 9789949153619
fiction, storybook
Kaka un pavasaris
Original title: Poo and Spring
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Edmunds Jansons
Translator: Guntars Godiņš
Liels un mazs
2012, 102 pp
ISBN: 9789984820422
fiction, storybook
Karnevāls un kartupeļu salāti
Original title: Carnival and Potato Salad
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Edmunds Jansons
Translator: Guntars Godiņš
Liels un mazs
2016, 95 pp
ISBN: 9789934533716
fiction, storybook
Keksijäkylän Lotta
Original title: Lotte from Gadgetville
Language: Finnish
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits etc...
Translator: Kaisu Lahikainen
Otava
2008, 258 pp
ISBN: 9789511223603
fiction, storybook
Koiranne alkaa kohta kukkia
Original title: Poo and Spring
Language: Finnish
Illustrator: Joel Melasniemi
Translator: Heli Laaksonen
Otava
2016, 79 pp
ISBN: 9789511296263
fiction, storybook
Kun Musti muni mummon
Original title: Carnival and Potato Salad
Language: Finnish
Illustrator: Christer Nuutinen
Translator: Heli Laaksonen
WSOY
2018, 61 pp
ISBN: 9789510430583
fiction, storybook
Les Secrets
Original title: Sirli, Siim and the Secrets
Language: French
Illustrator: Clara Audureau
Translator: Jean-Pierre Minaudier
Le Tripode
2020, 196 pp
ISBN: 9782370552488
fiction, storybook
Lote no Izgudrotāju ciema
Original title: Lotte from Gadgetville
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits etc...
Translator: Guntars Godiņš
Zvaigzne ABC
2010, 257 pp
ISBN: 9789934014918
fiction, storybook
Lotes ceļojums uz dienvidiem
Original title: Lotte’s Journey South
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits etc...
Translator: Guntars Godiņš
Zvaigzne ABC
2013, 151 pp
ISBN: 9789934035951
fiction, storybook
Lotte. L’avventuroso viaggio al sud
Original title: Lotte’s Journey South
Language: Italian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits
Translator: Daniele Monticelli
De Bastiani
2019, 149 pp
ISBN: 9788884666048
fiction, storybook
Oskar i rzeczy
Original title: Oskar and the Things
Language: Polish
Illustrator: Anne Pikkov
Translator: Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki
Widnokrąg
2018, 299 pp
ISBN: 9788394730994
fiction, storybook
Oskar in govoreči predmeti
Original title: Oskar and the Things
Language: Slovenian
Illustrator: Anne Pikkov
Translator: Julija Potrč Šavli
KUD Sodobnost International
2020, 296 pp
ISBN: 9789617047660
fiction, storybook
Oskars un lietas
Original title: Oskar and the Things
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Anne Pikkov
Translator: Maima Grīnberga
Liels un mazs
2018, 302 pp
ISBN: 9789934574061
fiction, storybook
Sara, Simon in skrivnosti
Original title: Sirli, Siim and the Secrets
Language: Slovenian
Illustrator: Ilmar Trull
Translator: Julija Potrč Šavli
KUD Sodobnost International
2015, 196 pp
ISBN: 9789616970181
fiction, storybook
Sirli, Sīms un noslēpumi
Original title: Sirli, Siim and the Secrets
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Ilmar Trull
Translator: Maima Grīnberga
Liels un mazs
2009, 198 pp
ISBN: 9789984820200
fiction, storybook
Sirlė, Simas ir slėpiniai
Original title: Sirli, Siim and the Secrets
Language: Lithuanian
Illustrator: Elena Kulikova
Translator: Danutė Sirijos Giraitė
Kronta
2010, 157 pp
ISBN: 9786094010842
fiction, storybook
Sári, Samu és a titkok
Original title: Sirli, Siim and the Secrets
Language: Hungarian
Illustrator: Ilmar Trull
Translator: Móni Segesdi
Cerkabella
2008, 190 pp
ISBN: 9789639820074
fiction, storybook
Tilda i kurzołek
Original title: Tilda and the Dust Angel
Language: Polish
Illustrator: Joanna Bartosik
Translator: Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki
Widnokrąg
2021, 152 pp
ISBN: 9788396203885
storybook, fiction
Tilda un putekļu eņģelis
Original title: Tilda and the Dust Angel
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Takinada
Translator: Guntars Godiņš
Zvaigzne ABC
2020, 144 pp
ISBN: 9789934085840
fiction, storybook
Ērms un feisbuks
Original title: The Ghost and Facebook
Language: Latvian
Translator: Guntars Godiņš
Liels un mazs
2021, 96 pp
ISBN: 9789934574726
storybook, fiction
Весна и какашка
Original title: Poo and Spring
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits
Translator: Tatjana Verhoustinskaja
Varrak
2010, 95 pp
ISBN: 9789985321904
fiction, storybook
Жираф = Kaelkirjak
Original title: The Giraffe
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits
Translator: Boris Tuch
KPD Kirjastus
2008, 79 pp
ISBN: 9789985899564
fiction, storybook
Карнавал и картофельный салат
Original title: Carnival and Potato Salad
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits
Translator: Tatjana Verhoustinskaja
Varrak
2016, 128 pp
ISBN: 9789985339312
fiction, storybook
Лимпа и пираты
Illustrator: Anni Mäger
Translator: Jelena Baljasnaja
Varrak
2009, 136 pp
ISBN: 9789985318355
fiction, storybook
Лотте из Деревни Изобретателей
Original title: Lotte from Gadgetville
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits etc...
Translator: Marina Tervonen
Eesti Päevaleht
2009, 257 pp
ISBN: 9789949452033
fiction, storybook
Оскар и вещи
Original title: Oskar and the Things
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Jekaterina Kostina
Translator: Tatjana Verhoustinskaja
KPD Kirjastus
2019, 249 pp
ISBN: 9789949545339
fiction, storybook
Поцелуй лягушку!
Original title: A Frog Kiss
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Anne Pikkov
Translator: Nelli Abašina-Melts
Varrak
2014, 36 pp
ISBN: 9789985532160
fiction, storybook
Путешествие Лотты в тёплые края
Original title: Lotte’s Journey South
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Heiki Ernits etc...
Translator: Nelli Abašina-Melts etc...
Eesti Joonisfilm
2017, 151 pp
ISBN: 9789949937738
fiction, storybook
Сирли, Сийм и секреты = Sirli, Siim ja saladused (Sirli, Siim and the Secrets)
Original title: Sirli, Siim and the Secrets
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Ilmar Trull
Translator: Boris Tuch
KPD Kirjastus
2008, 184 pp
ISBN: 9789985899571
fiction, storybook
Тильда и Пылевичок
Original title: Tilda and the Dust Angel
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Takinada
Translator: Tatjana Verhoustinskaja
Aleksandra
2019, 143 pp
ISBN: 9789949736331
fiction, storybook
Andrus Kivirähk's Booklet 2022
2021
The Ghost and Facebook (Könyvterasz, Hungarian)
2019
Andrus Kivirähk Received the Annual Children’s Literature Award
Andrus Kivirähk Received the “Järje hoidja” Award
Estonian Children’s Books in Moscow
Andrus Kivirähk. Tilda and the Dust Angel (ELM)
Lotte’s Journey South (Estonia Magazine, Italian)
2018
Carnival and Potato Salad (Kirjan pauloissa, Finnish)
Carnival and Potato Salad (Tuglas seura, Finnish)
Carnival and Potato Salad (Tuijata, Finnish)
Carnival and Potato Salad (WSOY, Finnish)
Oskar and the Things (blogspot.com, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (delfi.lv, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (Latvian Public Media, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (Diena, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (Dzin z tomikiem, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Mali czytelnicy, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Przeglad Baltycki, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Qlturka.pl, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Widnokrag, Polish)
2017
5 minutes with Andrus Kivirähk (The London Book Fair)
2016
Andrus Kivirähk at the Helsinki Book Fair
The Nominated Estonian Authors and Illustrators by IBBY Estonia
Poo and Spring (Lastenkirjahylly, Finnish)
Poo and Spring (Youtube, Finnish)
2015
Estonian Books Chosen for The White Ravens Catalogue
Wikipedia (German)
Andrus Kivirähk (estlit.ee)
Lotte (European Literary Characters)
2021
The Ghost and Facebook (Könyvterasz, Hungarian)
2019
Andrus Kivirähk Received the Annual Children’s Literature Award
Andrus Kivirähk Received the “Järje hoidja” Award
Estonian Children’s Books in Moscow
Andrus Kivirähk. Tilda and the Dust Angel (ELM)
Lotte’s Journey South (Estonia Magazine, Italian)
2018
Carnival and Potato Salad (Kirjan pauloissa, Finnish)
Carnival and Potato Salad (Tuglas seura, Finnish)
Carnival and Potato Salad (Tuijata, Finnish)
Carnival and Potato Salad (WSOY, Finnish)
Oskar and the Things (blogspot.com, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (delfi.lv, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (Latvian Public Media, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (Diena, Latvian)
Oskar and the Things (Dzin z tomikiem, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Mali czytelnicy, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Przeglad Baltycki, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Qlturka.pl, Polish)
Oskar and the Things (Widnokrag, Polish)
2017
5 minutes with Andrus Kivirähk (The London Book Fair)
2016
Andrus Kivirähk at the Helsinki Book Fair
The Nominated Estonian Authors and Illustrators by IBBY Estonia
Poo and Spring (Lastenkirjahylly, Finnish)
Poo and Spring (Youtube, Finnish)
2015
Estonian Books Chosen for The White Ravens Catalogue
Wikipedia (German)
Andrus Kivirähk (estlit.ee)
Lotte (European Literary Characters)
Andrus Kivirähk – the favourite author of young demanding readers
Novels, novellas, plays, opinion pieces, and radio programs – Andrus Kivirähk is so active in so many different creative fields that it is difficult to classify him into any one category. Defining him in the field of children’s literature is no simpler. He has written plays, short stories, and longer prose for children, and has even been a co-screenwriter of several popular animated films.
The broad spectrum of Kivirähk’s creative works also means he doesn’t aim to prove himself or channel anything through his children’s literature. He writes only when he has no other choice, which is why every one of his works is pure gold. They quickly earn the favor of children and adults, often make a buzz in the media (intentional or not), and win one or more of a variety of Estonian children’s literature awards, for the most part. First print runs are closely followed by additional editions and translations.
Kivirähk entered the children’s literary scene in 1995 with his veritably revolutionary book The Giraffe. Its protagonist is a little girl named Kai, who embodies the new values of a new generation. Whereas Kai’s parents are practical-minded good eaters, the girl herself is picky about food, but has an imagination that makes up for her imperfection in terms of liveliness. However, as her parents fail to understand her vivid and rich imagination, little Kai feels quite alone. The tapeworm Tõnis – which her parents believe she has – understands the girl and helps her find focus in a lonely world.
Sirli, Siim, and the Secrets (1999) similarly addresses feelings of loneliness, but from a slightly different angle. The work emphasizes that the line between people with practical and more stimulating dispositions does not divide them by age. Both the children (Siim is a wizard and Sirli keeps company with cloud ballerinas) and adults (Mom is the queen of a castle and Dad is unbeatable at athletics) have their own respective worlds of secrets, as do most of the other characters. Only the writer Mr. Lamb has forgotten his dreams. His drab life only regains its color once he remembers the dreams he had in childhood.
Lotte’s Journey South (2002) set a precedent in Estonian children’s literature. Whereas it is common for literary characters to go from books to film reels, the opposite was true with Lotte. Just as in the animated film of same title (2000), the dog-girl Lotte lends a hand to her inventor father and an old explorer dog in helping the lost chick Pipo return south to his grandmother. Lotte the dog-girl is just like a human child – curious and hungry for knowledge, a little timid, and at the same time longing for adventure. She and all the other characters have their minor flaws but are good by nature – no one hurts or bullies anyone else over the course of the book. Could this be the reason why in addition to literature (the sequel Lotte from Gadgetville was published in 2006), Lotte has also become the protagonist of several children’s plays, ABCs books, and animated films?
Kivirähk’s children’s storybook Limpa and the Pirates (2004) also raised a furor, as it was commissioned by the large Estonian beer and soft drink manufacturer A. Le Coq, the corporate mascot of which is the pig character Limpa. Estonia’s media entered a heated debate about the relationship between children’s literature, advertising, and financing, in which Kivirähk was accused of selling out and abandoning his creative freedom. The author himself parried the criticism by claiming the protagonist’s name in no way affected the quality of his writing – which is likely true. In fact, Kivirähk’s characters particularly spice up the work – there aren’t many books in which pajamas are depicted as ferocious pirates in a crib-ship named The Dark Dream. The leader of the gang is a pillow who earned his stripes in the Pillow Fights and was hit by Treasure Island.
The title of Kivirähk’s 2009 collection of children’s short stories, which were earlier published in the media, received intense criticism as well – Poo and Spring. His similar collections Carnival and Potato Salad (2015) and The Ghost and Facebook (2019) were strong proof that the popularity of Kivirähk’s writing is guaranteed by more than just his choice of titles. The author’s witty short stories have clearly perceptible thoughtful undertones – they are tied together by a warm, heartfelt fantasy world populated by a range of colorful characters. No matter whether these figures constitute humans, animals, objects, fantastical creatures, or foods, the author treats them all with the utmost warmth and respect.
In Kivirähk’s children’s novel Oscar and the Things (2015), he returns to a familiar topic – loneliness. Oscar has finished preschool and is looking forward to his first year of school. However, he is first forced to spend three summer months living with his grandmother in the countryside while his mother receives training in the US and his father is at work. The boy has yet to forge any deep ties with the faraway relative whom he and his parents visited infrequently up until then. As is the case with many of his peers, Oscar’s mobile is like a security blanket. Alas, he forgets it at home and is overwhelmed by an even greater sense of abandonment without the electronic device. Luckily, Oscar manages to find a way out of the grim situation – he crafts a wooden mobile that allows him to speak to objects, which enriches the boy’s life and ultimately helps him connect to his grandmother.
The plot of Kivirähk’s latest children’s book, Tilda and the Dust Angel (2018), revolves around a girl named Tilda who lives with her widowed mother. Tilda’s father died when she was very young, so she has no memories of him. At the same time, her mother refuses to discuss the subject. When their home is left uncleaned for several days, Tilda is visited by the Dust Angel. In Kivirähk’s fantasy, dust is something that contains the past and memories. If it weren’t for dust, people would forget their feelings, where they came from, and would care only for the future. Then, the world would be pure and orderly like a computer game or a sterile hospital.
Indeed, none of Kivirähk’s children’s books are written simply for writing’s sake. Readers can easily tell that he crafts his stories with goals and thorough consideration, addressing important contemporary issues while still observing them from eternal standpoints. A light and positive feeling thus washes over you whenever you finish one of his works – everything fits. The world around you seems brighter, the sky vaster, and your worries trivial. It’s not uncommon for Kivirähk’s newest book to quickly disappear from bookstore shelves, forcing eager readers to wait for another fresh shipment from the print house. Do we really have cause to complain that children don’t read as much as they should? Is it possible they simply have high demands?
Written by Jaanika Palm
Translated by Adam Cullen
Published in Estonian Literary Magazine, 1/2020.
Novels, novellas, plays, opinion pieces, and radio programs – Andrus Kivirähk is so active in so many different creative fields that it is difficult to classify him into any one category. Defining him in the field of children’s literature is no simpler. He has written plays, short stories, and longer prose for children, and has even been a co-screenwriter of several popular animated films.
The broad spectrum of Kivirähk’s creative works also means he doesn’t aim to prove himself or channel anything through his children’s literature. He writes only when he has no other choice, which is why every one of his works is pure gold. They quickly earn the favor of children and adults, often make a buzz in the media (intentional or not), and win one or more of a variety of Estonian children’s literature awards, for the most part. First print runs are closely followed by additional editions and translations.
Kivirähk entered the children’s literary scene in 1995 with his veritably revolutionary book The Giraffe. Its protagonist is a little girl named Kai, who embodies the new values of a new generation. Whereas Kai’s parents are practical-minded good eaters, the girl herself is picky about food, but has an imagination that makes up for her imperfection in terms of liveliness. However, as her parents fail to understand her vivid and rich imagination, little Kai feels quite alone. The tapeworm Tõnis – which her parents believe she has – understands the girl and helps her find focus in a lonely world.
Sirli, Siim, and the Secrets (1999) similarly addresses feelings of loneliness, but from a slightly different angle. The work emphasizes that the line between people with practical and more stimulating dispositions does not divide them by age. Both the children (Siim is a wizard and Sirli keeps company with cloud ballerinas) and adults (Mom is the queen of a castle and Dad is unbeatable at athletics) have their own respective worlds of secrets, as do most of the other characters. Only the writer Mr. Lamb has forgotten his dreams. His drab life only regains its color once he remembers the dreams he had in childhood.
Lotte’s Journey South (2002) set a precedent in Estonian children’s literature. Whereas it is common for literary characters to go from books to film reels, the opposite was true with Lotte. Just as in the animated film of same title (2000), the dog-girl Lotte lends a hand to her inventor father and an old explorer dog in helping the lost chick Pipo return south to his grandmother. Lotte the dog-girl is just like a human child – curious and hungry for knowledge, a little timid, and at the same time longing for adventure. She and all the other characters have their minor flaws but are good by nature – no one hurts or bullies anyone else over the course of the book. Could this be the reason why in addition to literature (the sequel Lotte from Gadgetville was published in 2006), Lotte has also become the protagonist of several children’s plays, ABCs books, and animated films?
Kivirähk’s children’s storybook Limpa and the Pirates (2004) also raised a furor, as it was commissioned by the large Estonian beer and soft drink manufacturer A. Le Coq, the corporate mascot of which is the pig character Limpa. Estonia’s media entered a heated debate about the relationship between children’s literature, advertising, and financing, in which Kivirähk was accused of selling out and abandoning his creative freedom. The author himself parried the criticism by claiming the protagonist’s name in no way affected the quality of his writing – which is likely true. In fact, Kivirähk’s characters particularly spice up the work – there aren’t many books in which pajamas are depicted as ferocious pirates in a crib-ship named The Dark Dream. The leader of the gang is a pillow who earned his stripes in the Pillow Fights and was hit by Treasure Island.
The title of Kivirähk’s 2009 collection of children’s short stories, which were earlier published in the media, received intense criticism as well – Poo and Spring. His similar collections Carnival and Potato Salad (2015) and The Ghost and Facebook (2019) were strong proof that the popularity of Kivirähk’s writing is guaranteed by more than just his choice of titles. The author’s witty short stories have clearly perceptible thoughtful undertones – they are tied together by a warm, heartfelt fantasy world populated by a range of colorful characters. No matter whether these figures constitute humans, animals, objects, fantastical creatures, or foods, the author treats them all with the utmost warmth and respect.
In Kivirähk’s children’s novel Oscar and the Things (2015), he returns to a familiar topic – loneliness. Oscar has finished preschool and is looking forward to his first year of school. However, he is first forced to spend three summer months living with his grandmother in the countryside while his mother receives training in the US and his father is at work. The boy has yet to forge any deep ties with the faraway relative whom he and his parents visited infrequently up until then. As is the case with many of his peers, Oscar’s mobile is like a security blanket. Alas, he forgets it at home and is overwhelmed by an even greater sense of abandonment without the electronic device. Luckily, Oscar manages to find a way out of the grim situation – he crafts a wooden mobile that allows him to speak to objects, which enriches the boy’s life and ultimately helps him connect to his grandmother.
The plot of Kivirähk’s latest children’s book, Tilda and the Dust Angel (2018), revolves around a girl named Tilda who lives with her widowed mother. Tilda’s father died when she was very young, so she has no memories of him. At the same time, her mother refuses to discuss the subject. When their home is left uncleaned for several days, Tilda is visited by the Dust Angel. In Kivirähk’s fantasy, dust is something that contains the past and memories. If it weren’t for dust, people would forget their feelings, where they came from, and would care only for the future. Then, the world would be pure and orderly like a computer game or a sterile hospital.
Indeed, none of Kivirähk’s children’s books are written simply for writing’s sake. Readers can easily tell that he crafts his stories with goals and thorough consideration, addressing important contemporary issues while still observing them from eternal standpoints. A light and positive feeling thus washes over you whenever you finish one of his works – everything fits. The world around you seems brighter, the sky vaster, and your worries trivial. It’s not uncommon for Kivirähk’s newest book to quickly disappear from bookstore shelves, forcing eager readers to wait for another fresh shipment from the print house. Do we really have cause to complain that children don’t read as much as they should? Is it possible they simply have high demands?
Written by Jaanika Palm
Translated by Adam Cullen
Published in Estonian Literary Magazine, 1/2020.