Children's Picture Books

Enchanting picture books for young readers start the foundation for a life-long love of books.

Heipparallaa!

by Liliana Stafford

Illustrated by Elina Jarvinen

In the weeks leading up to Christmas Alidia and Maaria become pen friends, and send each other e-mails and drawings detailing both their real and imaginary lives. Alidia has a dog and a cockatoo and Maaria has two toy reindeer who have their own stories shown through the pictures.

Heipparallaa is a Finnish word meaning a warm hello. You never say Heipparallaa when you are sad.

CIMS Evaluation: Alidia from Australia and Maaria from Finland become pen friends and they communicate via email.

The girls describe aspects of their lives, both real and imagined, including Christmas customs.

The attractive and detailed watercolour illustrations by Finnish artist Elina Jarvinen extend the informative text by highlighting the contrasts in the friends' lifestyles and environments.

Perceptive young observers will also notice the inventive play depicted in the pictures.

Liliana says, "I met a young Finnish girl Elina Jarvinen in a farm yard in Ireland and she showed me her drawings. This was the beginning of a friendship by e-mail and letters that led to Hepparallaa! This book mirrors our friendship with the pencil roughs being worked out in November-December and the text constantly changing as more details about Christmas in Lapland kept emerging."

About the author:

Liliana Stafford is the published author of twelve books including Amelia Ellicott's Garden and a popular horse and pony series.

Useful for: Christmas, friendship, pen friends, email, Finland, Australia, other cultures.