Timo Parvela facts for kids
Timo Parvela is a famous Finnish author. He was born on May 19, 1964, in Jyväskylä, Finland. He is best known for writing exciting and funny books for children and young people.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Timo Parvela was a teacher. He finished high school in 1983 and then studied to become a teacher, graduating in 1988. He taught in elementary schools for six years in places like Petäjävesi and Espoo. Since 1996, he has been a writer, creating stories for books, TV shows, and radio plays.
Contents
Timo Parvela's Stories
Timo Parvela has written many books. Some of his stories are about everyday life, while others take you on amazing adventures.
Early Books
- Poika (1989): This book is about a shy boy who finds it easier to talk to his grandfather and his dog than to his parents. He then meets a girl who helps him.
- Keinulauta ("Seesaw", 2006): This story features a lonely girl named Pii. She is looking for someone to join her on the other side of her seesaw.
Popular Book Series
Timo Parvela is very popular for his book series. These series feature characters that readers love to follow.
Ella Books
The Ella series is one of Parvela's most famous works. These books are even used in schools in Finland! The stories are told by Ella, a primary school student. She shares her daily life and funny adventures at school. There are at least 18 books in this series. Some have been translated into German and Polish.
In Ella luokkaretkellä ("Ella's class trip", 1997), Ella's teacher is so careful to make sure all the students' bags are on the bus that he forgets his own! The class goes on a trip to the city without money. Ella, who is seven years old, tells the funny story of their adventures.
A film based on the Ella series was made. Filming started in the summer of 2011.
Maukka and Väykkä Books
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. Maukka and Väykkä are very different, which makes their lives both safe and full of fun.
These books cover many topics, like growing older or being famous. The Maukka and Väykkä books are for younger children (around 3–7 years old). Adults also enjoy them because they show everyday events in a kind and honest way. There are 9 books in this series. They have been translated into German, Japanese, and Chinese. All the books are illustrated by Virpi Talvitie, a Finnish artist.
Selected Works by Timo Parvela
Here are some of the books Timo Parvela has written:
Books in Finnish
- 1989: Poika ("A boy")
- 1990: Puhuva koira ("The talking dog")
- 1993: Pikkuveljet ja taika-avain ("Little brothers and the magic key")
- 1996: Isäni on supermies ("My dad the superman")
- 1997: Ella luokkaretkellä ("Ella's class trip")
- 2000: Ansa ja Oiva suurkaupungissa ("Ansa and Oiva in the city")
- 2006: Keinulauta ("Seesaw")
School Textbooks
Timo Parvela has also helped create books for schools:
- 2002: Tammen Kultainen aapinen ("Golden oak primer")
- 2003: Tammen Kultainen lukukirja ("Golden oak reader")
Books Translated into Other Languages
- 2007: Ella in der Schule ("Ella at school") (German)
- 2009: Ella auf Klassenfahrt ("Ella's class trip") (German)
- 2016: Bicycling to the Moon (English)
Awards and Recognition
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 writing style and how well he showed the main character's thoughts.
- 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 the book "exciting, funny, wise and beautiful."
