Timo Parvela facts for kids
Timo Parvela (born May 19, 1964, in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a famous Finnish writer. He is best known for his fun and imaginative books for children and young people. He has written many popular series, including the "Ella" books and the "Maukka and Väykkä" stories.
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Becoming a Writer
Timo Parvela finished high school in 1983. He then went to Jyväskylä Teacher Training College and graduated in 1988. For six years, he worked as an elementary school teacher. He taught in Petäjävesi and later in Espoo. In 1996, he decided to become a full-time writer.
Besides writing many children's books, Timo Parvela has also written for television. He has created screenplays for both kids' shows and adult programs. He has also written scripts for Finnish radio.
Popular Book Series
Timo Parvela is very popular for his book series. Two of his most famous series are about a girl named Ella and two friends, Maukka and Väykkä.
The Ella Books
The "Ella" books are about a primary school student named Ella. She tells funny stories about her daily life and what happens at school. These books are so popular in Finland that they are used as school readers!
There are at least 18 books in the "Ella" series. Some of them have been translated into German and Polish. In one book, Ella's Class Trip (1997), Ella's teacher is so busy making sure all the students' bags are on the bus that he forgets his own! The class then has many funny adventures on their trip without money.
A film based on the "Ella" books is also being planned. It will be directed by Taneli Mustonen.
Maukka and Väykkä
Another popular series by Timo Parvela features Maukka and Väykkä. Maukka is a cat and Väykkä is a dog. They live in a bright blue house on top of a hill. Their friends live in the village below the hill.
Maukka and Väykkä are very different from each other. Their lives are usually safe and familiar, but they are also full of crazy and fun moments. The books cover many topics, like growing older or being famous. These stories are great for children aged 3 to 7. Adults also enjoy reading them because they describe everyday events in a very real and caring way.
There are 9 "Maukka and Väykkä" books. They have been translated into German, Japanese, and Chinese. All these books have beautiful illustrations by Virpi Talvitie, a Finnish artist.
Recognized Works
Timo Parvela has written many books. Here are a few examples of his works:
Books in Finnish
- 1989: Poika ("A boy")
- 1997: Ella luokkaretkellä ("Ella's class trip")
- 2006: Keinulauta ("Seesaw")
Books Translated into German
- 2007: Ella in der Schule ("Ella at school")
- 2009: Ella auf Klassenfahrt ("Ella's class trip")
Books Translated into English
- 2016: Bicycling to the Moon
Awards and Honors
Timo Parvela has won several awards for his writing:
- 1991: He received the Central Finland Regional Arts Award.
- 1992: His book Poika ("A boy") was recognized by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The judges praised his amazing use of modern Finnish and how he showed the main character's thoughts in a fresh and real way.
- 2000: His book Ella luokkaretkellä ("Ella's class trip") also received an IBBY Honour List award.
- 2006: He won the Finlandia Junior Award for children's and youth literature for his book Keinulauta ("Seesaw"). He shared this award with his illustrator, Virpi Talvitie. The judge, Jukka Virtanen, called Keinulauta "exciting, funny, wise and beautiful."
