Nina Pirhonen awarded the Kaarina Helakisa Prize

Children’s book author and illustrator Nina Pirhonen has been awarded this year’s Kaarina Helakisa prize by the Otava Literary Foundation for her works as a children’s book author. 

The Kaarina Helakisa Prize, worth 15,000 euros, is awarded annually to an exceptional author of children’s or young adult fiction.

Nina Pirhonen is among the most renowned Finnish illustrators and children’s book authors. Pirhonen is a multi-talented creator with a bright, bold and distinctive contemporary style and her work also includes fashion and textile design for Marimekko.

Pirhonen has created various picture books including the speedy and colourful Vroom Vroom (Brum brum) and Zoom Zoom (Viuh Viuh) picture books for vehicle loving children. The popular Leo the Lion series is an exhilarating, freshly illustrated series that deals with everyday situations familiar to preschoolers. The latest fourth book Leo the Lion Makes Up was published last year by Otava. In 2022 Pirhonen collaborated with author Donna David and illustrated the colourful 50 to Follow and Count preschool series including rhyming picture books Trains Trains Trains and Cars Cars Cars, Planes Planes Planes and Trucks Trucks Trucks published by Macmillan Children’s Books. Pirhonen’s newest picture book series Mio the Cat presents a cheerful new character for young readers. The first book Mio at the Playground (Mio leikkipuistossa, Otava 2025) is a colourfully illustrated book that helps toddlers learn new words by exploring all the fun a playground offers. The second book is set to be published by Otava this autumn.

Quotes from the motivation: 

“Nina Pirhonen has brought her own colourful, clear and elegant handmark to a distinguished group of Finnish illustrators and picture book authors. The varied and expressive characters, the vividness of the illustrations and the details in Pirhonen’s books never cease to delight the reader. Her works exude a sense of good humour and joie de vivre (…)

In the picture books Vroom Vroom (Brum brum) and Zoom Zoom (Viuh Viuh) Pirhonen’s strong colour scheme was highlighted. The viewer’s attention is drawn to the strong, clear colours and colour surfaces of the pictures; even the concrete truck’s mill has several different colours. Children are endlessly fascinated by the funny animal characters at work at the controls of vehicles, machines and flying gadgets (…)

In the four-part Leo the Lion picture book series, Pirhonen insightfully tackled the often challenging situations, familiar in the everyday lives of children and families. The Leo the Lion books are written with respect for the child’s world of experience. Pirhonen deals with situations and concerns that children encounter and that bother them in a compassionate and child-sensitive way. The Leo the Lion a picture books deal with issues such as fear of new situations, excitement, overcoming feelings of unfairness, facing change, disputes and how to settle them, meeting new friends, getting along with others, apologising and the power of friendship. The books evoke a sense of identification and also work well in encouraging questions and discussion. In this heartfelt series, Pirhonen’s illustrations have been given an added softness, lightness and pastel tones. The expressiveness of Leo the Lion and the other characters is superbly skilled, with warmth and warm humour to encourage the little viewer and listener. In addition to the evocative themes, shared play and imagination are delightfully at the heart of the series and are also evident in the illustrations. The whole series makes you delight in the joy of discovery and realisation, to recognise and identify – and to return to the books again, just as the best children’s books do (…)

Pirhonen’s latest picture book character, Mio the Cat, will start the series in 2025. In the design and creation of the Mio series, Pirhonen has used his strengths in developing children’s book characters. Aimed at babies and toddlers, the series is brightly coloured and the illustrations are easy to recognise familiar stories. The good-humoured Mio the Cat lives and experiences the pages of the book with familiar enthusiasm and joy.”

Our warmest congratulations to Nina Pirhonen for this recognition.