THE WAR OF THE SQUIRRELS nominated for the 2022 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize!

THE WAR OF THE SQUIRRELS (Oravien sota, Tammi 2021), written by Riina Katajavuori & illustrated by Martin Baltscheit is nominated for the 2022 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize! Warmest congratulations!

This animal fable tells the story of the Finnish Civil War of 1918.It bravely tackles a difficult subject – the civil war – which has rarely been dealt with in children’s literature. The War of the Squirrels is an excellent example of what a picture book at its best can achieve. It brings a painful subject closer to the reader and, using the methods of visual literature, it addresses a subject that it’s difficult to find words for and for which text or images on their own do not suffice.
This picture book takes the child by the hand and leads them through the horrors of war towards hope and mutual understanding.

Read the full jury’s rationale on the Nordic Council’s website.