Purdy & Barker Books
by Timo Parvela & Virpi Talvitie
Purdy & Barker books are stand-alone titles that recount endearing stories of a friendship between a dog and a cat that will make you laugh out loud while also tugging at your heartstrings. Their contrasting personalities create a rich, dynamic friendship that rewards them both. Whether Purdy is scheming, or Barker is patiently humoring his dear friend, their bond never falters, providing a gentle yet profound commentary on the importance of embracing, and respecting, our differences. Published in twelve languages to date.
Purdy and Barker - Bicycling to the Moon
Maukka ja Väykkä, Tammi 2009, 128pp, 160x203mm, colour illustrations
In their sky-blue house atop a hill, Purdy the cat and Barker the dog couldn’t be more different. Barker loves to potter about in the garden, digging the earth, and keeping things orderly. Meanwhile, Purdy dreams big—winning a singing competition, flying south with the birds, becoming a supercat, and even riding a bicycle to the moon. Their adventures, fueled by Purdy’s imaginative antics and Barker’s indulgent loyalty, make for delightful and hilarious tales that showcase the power of friendship in all its eccentric glory.
”One of the best books I have read this year and possibly one of the best books ever.” - Bob Docherty
Purdy and Barker and the Giant Snowball
Maukka ja Väykkä ja mieletön lumipallo, Tammi 2029, 149pp, 160 x 203 mm
Imagine if you woke up one day and found the biggest advent calendar in the world out in your own garden. It would be shaped like a gigantic snowball, and you’d find a wonderful surprise waiting in each window. Imagine if your best friend had built a calendar like that for you. But then the ball would start to roll, first off the edge of the garden, then faster down the hill and through the village, and into the lake beyond. Just imagine!
Purdy, Barker and the Giant Snowball is a story full of surprises, friendship, greediness, selflessness, and the true meaning of Christmas. It contains huge emotions and tiny tricks, as well as tiny emotions and one huge trick. And, of course, it ends with a miracle. Like an advent calendar, the book has a story for every December day up to Christmas.
Purdy and Barker Build a House
Maukka ja Väykkä rakentavat talon, Tammi 2010,109pp, 160 x 203 mm
Chicken von Cluck’s egg has finally hatched, and the entire village rejoices. But things aren’t going as well for Purdy and Barker.
A fierce winter storm has knocked their sky-blue house from the very top of the hill down to the slope. Their cups keep sliding off the table, and Barker has had to nail the rugs to the floor. Life is tough in a house that’s on a tilt, so the friends decide to move their home back to its rightful spot on top of the hill.
But the house is full of things that might break during the move; including their friendship that gets tested to the full when Barker works tirelessly, while Purdy day-dreams about castles in the sky. But the friendship between these two creatures is so strong that it eventually moves the entire house.
Purdy and Barker’s Big Adventure
Maukka, Väykkä ja suuri seikkailu, Tammi 2011, 126 pp, 160 X 203 mm
Purdy is tired of the daily grind—she craves excitement to her life!
“I want a real adventure. The kind that starts with something small, barely noticeable, but leads to something a little bigger. Then a strange coincidence happens, it grows, unravels, and eventually explodes into a full-blown adventure,” Purdy explained.
But all Barker wants is a little peace from Purdy’s endless chatter. To get it, he reluctantly agrees to dig a small hole—after all, Purdy promised that if he did, she’d finally leave him alone. And really, what’s the harm in digging just one tiny hole? None really, it’s only the start of a proper adventure! The pair meet Bear Growler, hunt for a dragon, and rescue a maiden in distress. And at the end of their journey, of course, there’s a treasure. The biggest, most beautiful treasure of all.
Purdy and Barker and Bear Growler
Maukka, Väykkä ja Karhu Murhinen, Tammi 2012, 128pp, 160 x 203 mm
Purdy the cat and Barker the dog’s day-to-day life changes dramatically when Bear Growler, a little shrew with a fierce name and a big heart, moves into their sky-blue house. Bear is a tiny, life-loving creature whose mother gave him a powerful name to protect him in life. Though small in size, Bear’s zest for life is immense, with each heartbeat and every moment filled with curiosity, joy, and the sheer thrill of living.
This is a heartwarming tale of friendship, bravery, and embracing one’s uniqueness. Readers of all ages are invited to celebrate life, to meet it’s every moment with joy, love and courage - like little Bear does.
Purdy and Barker Storybook
Maukan ja Väykän satukirja, Tammi 2013, 82pp, 160 x 203 mm
A collection of 16 delightfully humorous and heartwarming tales about the wild antics of this dynamic duo, perfect for bedtime or anytime.
Purdy is a cat, and Barker is a dog. They live together in a sky-blue house on a hill, but—wait a minute—something’s gone wrong. Let’s try that again: Barker is the dog, and Purdy is the cat! Silly me! In these wonderfully funny stories, we meet a host of quirky characters, including a visiting dog named Woofkobowitz. At first, Purdy finds him very odd—until the two discover they have more in common than they thought. And what happens when Purdy and Barker embark on a spring-cleaning spree? Their approach to recycling may be a little unconventional, but as long as everyone’s happy, where’s the harm?
Purdy and Barker’s Snout Book
Maukan ja Väykän naamakirja, Tammi 2014, 78pp (shorter extent), 160 x 203 mm
Catch up on the latest adventures of everyone in the village!
What happened when the young baroness, Chicken von Cluck, fell in love with a fox? Why did Donkey Brayton finally tire of hearing his own voice? Did Cow Moomulch’s hammer really land in the worst possible place? And how did Purdy and Barker come to live in their sky-blue house on top of the hill?
Purdy & Barker’s Snout Book is filled with funny, touching, exciting, and downright quirky tales of life in their tiny village. Along the way, you’ll also discover the wild and heartwarming story of how Purdy the cat and Barker the dog came to forge their unlikely, unbreakable friendship.
Purdy & Barker’s Travel Book
Maukan ja Väykän matkakirja, Tammi 2015, 78pp (shorter extent), 160 x 203 mm
A delightful travel diary chronicling the adventures of a cat and dog on holiday in Italy!
Purdy has always dreamed about flying south in the autumn, but this time, it actually happens! However, leaving home isn’t as simple as it sounds. At least not for Barker who struggles to leave all his worries behind. Did he lock the door? Turn off the lights? Close the chimney flue?
Upon arriving in the sun-drenched landscapes of Italy, both Purdy and Barker begin to show new sides to themselves. Ever-practical Barker quickly adjusts to the local ways, and handles every setback with ease. He even considers staying there for good and becoming a farmer. But Purdy has other plans.
Purdy and Barker’s Great Day
Maukan ja Väykän hyvä päivä, Tammi 2016, 78pp (shorter extent), 160 x 203 mm
What turns an ordinary day into a great one? For Purdy and Barker, it’s the perfect mix of new inventions, unexpected surprises, and plenty of laughs.
From the moment Barker wakes up, his day is anything but ordinary when a lively encounter with a curious spring fly opens up a whole new world for him. While Purdy immediately upon waking dives into her latest invention. But when Barker’s things begin to disappear, it’s clear Purdy has something to do with it!
As the day unfolds, Purdy and Barker’s adventures take a few unprecedented turns, leading to a fun-filled celebration for Cow Mooston’s birthday. But who was supposed to organize the party?
Purdy & Barker’s Great Day shows that what makes a day truly special isn’t just the big events, but the little moments of discovery, creativity, and friendship. With plenty of humor and heart, this story will resonate with both children and adults, reminding everyone how a day can go from okay to unforgettable.
The Best of Purdy and Barker
Maukan ja Väykän parhaat, Tammi 2017, 78pp (shorter extent), 160 x 203 mm
A selection of carefully chosen stories through all four seasons from the beloved Purdy & Barker series.
This collection takes readers on a delightful journey through the year, celebrating the enduring friendship between Purdy and Barker. It’s a friendship built on compromise, acceptance, support, understanding, and love.
Purdy, a free-spirited cat, and Barker, a practical dog, live together in a sky-blue house perched atop a hill. At the foot of the hill is a pond, and a village filled with their many friends. While Barker finds joy in gardening and everyday tasks, the artistic Purdy dreams of big adventures—flying south with the birds, winning a singing competition, and becoming a Supercat.
Though their differences sometimes test their relationship, nothing stands in the way of their deep bond and unwavering friendship.
RIGHTS SOLD FOR THE SERIES: Finnish Tammi (orig.)
Book 1: Finnish Tammi (orig.), Chinese, simplified (Guomai Culture & Media Co., Ltd.), Croatian (Ibis Grafika), English/WEL (Gecko Press rev.), German (Hanser rev.), Hungarian (Kolibri Kiadó rev.), Japanese (Bunken Shuppan rev.), Latvian (Zvaigzne ABC rev.), Lithuanian (Alma Littera), Romanian (Editura Cortea Copiilor), Russian (Albus Corvus), Slovenian (KUD Sodobnost)
Book 2: Finnish Tammi (orig.), Chinese, simplified (Guomai Culture & Media Co., Ltd.), German (Hanser rev.), Hungarian (Kolibri Kiadó rev.), Japanese (Bunken Shuppan rev.), Lithuanian (Alma Littera), Russian (Albus Corvus)
Book 3: Finnish Tammi (orig.), Chinese, simplified (Guomai Culture & Media Co., Ltd.), German (Hanser rev.), Hungarian (Kolibri Kiadó rev.), Japanese (Bunken Shuppan rev.), Latvian (Zvaigzne ABC rev.)
Book 4: Finnish Tammi (orig.), Chinese, simplified (Guomai Culture & Media Co., Ltd.), Hungarian (Kolibri Kiadó rev.)
Book 5: Finnish Tammi (orig.), Chinese, simplified (Guomai Culture & Media Co., Ltd.), Hungarian (Kolibri Kiadó rev.)
Book 6: Finnish Tammi (orig.), Chinese, simplified (Guomai Culture & Media Co., Ltd.), Hungarian (Kolibri Kiadó rev.)
Materials available: English translation of Book 1, Finnish and other language editions
PRAISE FOR PURDY & BARKER:
“Finn Parvela tells 20 stories in 20 chapters in wry, straightforward prose […]. Complex characters, by turns witty and foolish, will charm readers and listeners alike; Talvitie’s smudgy-lined full-color illustrations complete the package. A solid purchase for those seeking fresh tales with a classic feel or a broader world-lit collection.”
“This is gently humorous, finely written entertainment, which is sometimes comical and ironic, while providing a delightful and simple insight into the nature of relationships…. All in all, it’s high quality children’s literature.”
“These charming, witty, sensible, fanciful, and forgiving characters will delight both readers and listeners.”
“This collection of short episodes features Purdy, a scheming, lazy cat and hard-working, long suffering Barker the dog. Together they live in a sky-blue house on top of a hill. Classified as Junior Fiction, these stories will appeal to readers of all ages. They are great read aloud tales integrating humour, life lessons to be learned, coping with relationships, making decisions, as well as celebrating life’s odd moments.”
“You could pour over this book for hours and re-read it a million times and never get bored. And just wait till you get to the end of this story – I doubt there is a better ending to a story anywhere else.”
“One of the best books I have read this year and possibly one of the best books ever. — You will kick yourself if you miss this one.”
Timo Parvela is Finland’s most beloved children’s author, whose works have been translated worldwide and adapted for TV, film, and theater. Multi-awarded Parvela’s extensive body of work has won over countless readers with their humor and heart.
Virpi Talvitie, an award-winning illustrator, brings her unique and expressive artistry to the pages of Purdy and Barker. Talvitie’s warm, evocative illustrations perfectly complement Parvela’s storytelling. Their collaboration began in 2006 with the creation of the Finlandia Prize winner The Seesaw (Keinulauta, Tammi 2006).
Author portrait © Ville Palonen/Courtesy of Tammi Publishers