Winter Came That Night
by Anna Elina Isoaro & Mira Mallius
Sinä yönä tuli talvi, WSOY 2021, 40pp, 200x230mm
Winner of The Bothnia Prize - “The work is of the highest quality children’s literature.”
An sensitive and graceful picture book about family’s loss of a baby, told through the eyes of a big brother, who is still little himself.
Winter Came That Night tells the story of a little boy whose parents return from the hospital without his long-awaited little sibling. The enormous loss is portrayed from the viewpoint of the boy who witnesses the grief in the family’s day-to-day. Mallius’ light and warm illustrations and Isoaro’s sensitive text, in tune with a child’s mindset, do not shy away from grief, but address the topic at a child’s level, leaving an impression of comfort at the continuation of everyday life.
Both the author and the illustrator have been personally touched by the grief of losing a child. They were compelled to provide a picture book on the topic, to bring comfort to families and children who might need it.
RIGHTS SOLD: Finland WSOY (orig.), Hungarian (Kisgombos), Latvian (Liels un Mazs), Polish (Media Rodzina)
Materials available: Finnish edition, English translation set in layout
Praise:
“An extremely important children’s book about a difficult subject: the death of a child. The book delicately portrays the emptiness that forms after such an enormous loss. The way Isoaro approaches the subject is heartfelt and credible. In Mallius’ illustrations even sorrow has shades of solace, as it guides the reader through the family’s day-to-day. The story itself is told through the eyes of a big brother, but from the viewpoint of him watching and experiencing the grief of the grown-ups. Isoaro and Mallius do not underestimate the child – not the one experiencing the story, nor the one reading it. The work is the highest quality children’s literature, also affecting the adult reader in a most poignant way. The book’s message is universal.”
“The treatment of grief in this book is possibly the finest I have read in a long while, if ever. ”
“The language of Isoaro’s picture book debut is beautiful and captures the child narrator’s wide range of emotions. Mallius’ delicate illustrations accompany the story skillfully and, with their bright color scheme, help dealing with a difficult subject. The book provides support and comfort to families who have experienced an overwhelming loss. Despite its sad starting point, the story gives hope (…)”
“Grief does not pass by quickly. The child’s desire to protect his parents is highlighted in a heartbreaking scene where the boy gives his mom a ‘pram-alert’ whenever he spots a baby pram nearby during an outing.”
Anna Elina Isoaro is an awarded Finnish poet and writer. She has several acclaimed poetry collections to her name. She created her debut children’s book Winter Came That Night (WSOY, 2021) together with the talented illustrator Mira Mallius and the book went on to win the Bothnia Prize. Their second picture book together Two Aunts Called Vera (WSOY, 2023) was shortlisted for the esteemed Finlandia Prize in 2023. Mira Mallius is a Finnish illustrator and designer whose brightly coloured yet delicate illustrations are familiar from children’s books, calendars and postcards.
Photo © Otto Virtanen/Courtesy of WSOY. All rights reserved.
