Representing the best
Finnish authors abroad
Finnish authors abroad
Kindergartner Mai’s emotions first came to life with the metaphorical tigers, and in the second book the unicorns appear! Mai books provide children with tangible and recognizable representation of feelings, which helps them to identify and articulate their own.
In the first Mai book, little Mai’s day is filled with disappointments. The tigers growl and multiply in synch with her upsets. However, a nice surprise turns Mai’s day around and – and remarkably, Mai’s tigers also begin to resemble ordinary cats — signalling the shift in her emotions. In the second Mai book, little Mai hurts her arm and ends up in hospital. While there, the unicorns come out to play. Of course they stay until Mai feels more like herself again. And once that happens, Mai’s arm also feels much better—it’s like magic!
Finnish edition
English translation of Book 1 set in lay-out
Estonian: Rahva raamat
German: Oetinger
“The Mai books turn everyday struggles into vivid adventures, where wonderful, expressive illustrations and age-appropriate and imaginative stories help children feel understood and less alone. Children will instantly recognize themselves in Mai: her fears, her frustrations, her joy – and how imagination helps to make their world feel safe again. A very original and wonderful way for children to see, name, and navigate their emotions!” —Sarah Nünning, Editor, Oetinger, Germany
”From the illustrations, a child reads Mai’s emotions, mirrors them with their own, and is also given the words to be able to better articulate their own thoughts.” – ‘turusenkassu’ Literary Blog