Otto and the Secret of Christmas - Ages 4+

A wonderful winter storybook from Finland. Read a beautifully illustrated chapter a night in the weeks before Christmas.

One day Otto, an adventurous elf, finds a postcard showing pictures of beautiful sparkling lights in the night sky with the words, 'The light of Christmas!' Otto decides he must see this brightness himself and so begins an amazing journey towards Lapland, in search of the secret light of Christmas.

Mother and daughter team Pirkko-Liisa and Nora Surojegin have painted a captivating picture of the landscape, wildlife and folklore of Finland, which is full of expressive and intricate illustrations.

Nora Surojegin is an author, illustrator and graphic designer from Finland whose books have been translated into several languages. She created Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas and Olwen Finds Her Wings in collaboration with her mother, Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin.

Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin is a Finnish illustrator, renowned for her delicate, detailed portrayals of Finland's wildlife and folklore. She is the creator of An Illustrated Collection of Nordic Animal Tales, the illustrator of Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas and Olwen Finds her Wings, co-created with her daughter Nora, and An Illustrated Kalevala. Jill Timbers is a Finnish-English translator based in Normal, Illinois. Originally from Pennsylvania, Timbers followed a fascination with languages to Finland, where she fell in love with the country. Her literary translations include Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas and An Illustrated Collection of Nordic Animal Tales.

Recommended for ages 4-10.