Nina Pirhonen

Nina Pirhonen (b. 1975) is a multi-talented picture book author and fashion and graphic designer. She knows her target audience: bold designs and bright colours, whether it is vehicles, animals or a trantrum-prone toddler.

Her new character Leo the Lion has a personal touch. Pirhonen’s previous picture book series Pompom was also based on her fashion brand character. Pompom and her friends have shared adventures in five stylish titles and the rights have been sold in Arabic.

With Leo the Lion picture books, the author and illustrator creates genuine stories about experiencing new emotions as a child, and brings them to life through visually fresh and colouful illustrations that both younger and older readers can appreciate. The series has a fourth book in the works, and the translation rights have been sold in a four-book deal to Greece. 

 

Photo: © Nina Pirhonen

 

Are you a publisher interested in hearing more about the author’s work? For translation rights, email us at publishing@rightsandbrands.com.

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Awards & Nominations

Awards

  • Asia Younger Artist Contest honorary mention for Pompom illustration Busan, South Korea

    2014

  • Mikkeli Illustration Triennial for Vroom Vroom illustration, Mikkeli Art Museum

    2017

Nominations

  • Rudolf Koivu Prize

    2019

  • Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (for Leo the Lion Says No)

    2021

Related publishing

  • Vroom Vroom

    Nina Pirhonen
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  • Zoom Zoom

    Nina Pirhonen
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  • Leo the Lion Says No!

    Nina Pirhonen
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  • Leo the Lion Makes Friends

    Nina Pirhonen
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  • Leo the Lion Faces His Fears

    Nina Pirhonen
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  • Leo the Lion Makes Up

    Nina Pirhonen
    Read more