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The award-winning picture book that addresses a difficult topic with grace and sensitivity.
Winter Came That Night tells the story of a big brother whose long-awaited little sibling never makes it home after birth. This beautiful picture book addresses a difficult subject at a child’s level, leaving an impression of comfort at the continuation of life.
The picture book, told from the point of view of the big brother, deals with the death of a baby and explores how grief transforms a family. Mallius’ light and warm illustrations and Isoaro’s sensitive text, in tune with a child’s mindset, do not shy away from grief, but they also show how everyday life goes on.
Both the author and the illustrator have been personally touched by the grief of losing a child. They wanted to make a picture book on the subject, to bring comfort to families, especially children, facing the same situation.
Hungarian (Kisgombos)
Latvian (Liels un Mazs)
Polish (Media Rodzina)
English full translation set in lay-out
Finnish edition
Info sheet with press quotes
2021, Winner of the Bothnia Prize
2022, honorary diploma from The Finnish Institute for Children’s Literature
WINTER CAME THAT NIGHT is 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 how Isoaro approaches the topic is touching and credible. In the illustrations by Mira Mallius even the sorrow has shades of solace, as it guides the reader through the familiy’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 high quality children’s literature, also affecting the adult reader in a most poignant way. The book’s message is universal. – Bothnia Prize Jury
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 (…) – The Finnish Institute for Children’s Literature
The treatment of grief in this book is perhaps the finest I have read in a while, if ever. It went under my skin right away. — Antti Leikas, author, Chairman of Oulu Authors’ Association
Grief does not pass by quickly. The child’s desire to protect his parents is highlighted in a heart-breaking scene where the boy gives his mom a ‘pram-alert’ whenever he spots a baby pram nearby during an outing. — Lastenkirjahylly Literary Blog