Rights & Brands represented illustrators shortlisted for the 2025 Rudolf Koivu Prize
22 October 2025
Rights & Brands represented illustrators shortlisted for the 2025 Rudolf Koivu Prize
Lovely news for Aino Havukainen & Sami Toivonen, Sanna Pelliccioni, and Mikko Saarainen, who have all been nominated for the 2025 Rudolf Koivu Prize.
The prestigious prize awarded by Grafia biannually is presented to the Best Children’s Book Illustration in Finland. This year, the top ten nominees were selected from 139 books.
The Tatu and Patu books, created by Aino Havukainen and Sami Toivonen, are among the classics in Finnish children’s literature. In this latest book, Tatu and Patu Have a Problem and Know How to Solve It (Tatun ja Patun 14 outoa ongelmaa) the Oddville duo present 14 familiar but annoying everyday problems and a bunch of solutions that are inventive, funny and guaranteed to be weird in the true Oddville style.
Simultaneously with the release of the shortlist, students of the Tuusula Art School selected their favourite from the award nominees – Tatun ja Patun 14 outoa ongelmaa (Tatu and Patu’s 14 Strange Problems).
Sanna Pelliccioni’s collaboration with author Leena Virtanen, the Finnish Superwomen series is a creative illustrated series that pays tribute to the lives of Finnish artists and notable cultural personas such as Minna Canth, Ellen Thessleff, Eeva Kilpi, Fredrika Runeberg, Larin Paraske, Tove Jansson and Kaija Saariaho. The newest independent title in the series, Kaija! Composer Kaija Saariaho’s Colors, Shades, and Light (Säveltäjä Kaija Saariahon värit, varjot ja valot) shares the story of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, one of the leading voices of her generation.
Ari the Barbarian – Chasing Robbers (Barbaari-Ari rosvojahdissa) by Mikko Saarainen is one of the newest titles on our list, the first book in the Ari the Barbarian series aimed at the entire family. This search-and-find adventure story, accompanied by numerous tasks and detailed four-colour illustrations to explore, invites readers to return again and again. With each turn of the page, readers will encounter thrillingly entertaining challenges that will offer hours of entertainment.
The winner will be announced on November 13th. Find the entire list of nominees here.
Our warmest congratulations to all nominees!
