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Colin The Crab Is A Special Character
Colin the Crab Gets Married follows two crabs who want to get married and start a frenzy among their friends who try to help. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Colin the Crab and his friends form a kind of village community. The life of Colin and other underwater and riverside residents is, in many ways, very human and resembles the events of real life. Of course, the stream and its banks contribute to the adventures of the characters in these books.
My children’s books about Colin the Crab reflect observations of how various human communities function. Life in a small country village, the experiences of working life, and the interaction of people in a large family create an endless treasure chest of ideas. Specific settings and action patterns are often repeated, even when the scene changes.
If I think about the inspiration for this particular book in the Colin the Crab Series, it started from the experiences of many acquaintances. Fortunately, my husband and I were able to organize a wedding that looked like ours and suited us, but I’ve heard about other kinds of experiences as well.
What was your favorite scene in the book to create?
In this book about Colin and Clara’s wedding, I was able to use the situations faced by many of my acquaintances. Large family celebrations are typically occasions where opinions and expectations collide.
When arranging weddings, the previous generation often relives their personal memories, while the young couple’s perception of their dream wedding can be completely different. Will the result be a modest ceremony in the family circle or a big event full of exciting programs in richly decorated ballrooms?
I had a lot of fun writing the various conflicts related to wedding preparations. Old Mrs. Monkfish’s well-intentioned attempt to arrange a big orchestra to play outstanding music almost leads to complete disaster. The wedding couple preferred the delicate singing of the little fish’s choir, but Mrs. Monkfish arranged a big orchestra to entertain the guests. The wishes of the lizard family were to turn the party environment almost into a children’s amusement park, even though Colin and Clara wanted a peaceful party.
One scene that made me smile was the wedding dress conflict. In it, friend Stella the Starfish pressures the bride about the wedding dress. However, the gorgeous outfit from the luxury boutique turns out to be Stella’s own dream dress, not that of the modest bride.
It was fun to imagine a scene with two very different female characters. Of these, Stella often represents extreme vanity and selfishness. Sometimes I’m angry with her, but in this episode, I smile because Stella fails to subdue the bride’s will. The shy crab girl keeps her head and wears her mother’s old dress as planned. Ultimately, the fine costume ends up on Stella the Starfish herself, for whose many arms and legs the gorgeous outfit fits perfectly.
Do you provide educational resources for parents on how to integrate your books into a lesson plan?
I have written many books that could be considered educational or related to parenting and family life.
When I write these books, I don’t really think about making other people act on the teachings of my books. I just let the story fly! Books born from my experiences and honest thinking just bring some practically tested behavior for the readers to consider. Of course, I wish the stories make an impact, maybe even influence people’s judgment. However, only when they believe it is valuable and essential.
I have met teachers and parents who have come across my books and noticed how they could use them as educational aids. Then they usually act just as I would recommend, i.e., read together and discuss the topics. Colin and his friends have also inspired drama groups, where it is possible through role-playing to learn how to interact with others.
I consider it important that parents and educators read together with children even after the little ones have already learned to read. Then it is possible to discuss the story and its lessons with the child. An adult can immediately notice which elements are interesting, challenging, or maybe too scary for the young ones. Even for an older child, talking with an adult about the topics they read can be helpful.
I also write articles and give interviews and presentations about the ideas behind my books. This way, I can also tell adults about the backgrounds of my stories, and they will pass the message on to improve children’s reading experience. So, my influence takes place on two levels – in children and the adults around them.
In any case, my ultimate goal is that important messages are conveyed and that they help change the lives of families for the better.
Do you have more books planned that feature Colin the Crab?
Colin the Crab is a special character for me. I have already written four illustrated children’s books about him with longer stories: The Caring Crab, Colin the Crab Finds a Treasure, Colin the Crab Falls in Love, and Colin the Grab Gets Married.
In addition, I have two shorter stories with simpler illustrations aimed at younger children in the Mini-Crab Series. All these books have become popular among readers – teachers and parents, too!
Colin the Crab Series consists of independent stories which can be read separately. In the series’s background is the “big story,” the common thread of Colin’s life, progressing from one phase to another.
In this fourth book, Colin has finally found a spouse to live in his cozy house at the river. Living together naturally has its challenges. Personalities must get used to each other and adjust their habits, which gives me ideas for more books with fun adventures.
Soon, we can probably be excited about whether Colin and Clara will have offspring. Everything is not always straightforward, and life’s challenges are solved with the help of friends. But I can promise that neither Colin nor his spouse will give up their own dreams and wishes, even if others try to meddle in their lives with good intentions.
I want Colin to represent the idea that every creature has the right to defend their way of life and act in a way that suits them and respects others – no matter how slow, thoughtful, or old-fashioned that might be.
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But soon Colin’s friends get so carried away with the wedding plans, they forget to involve the bride and groom. What happens when the party turns out to be completely different from Colin and Clara’s own plans?
The Whole Path of Life
Leo, the Little Wanderer follows a little boy who sets off on a journey where he sees world wonders and meets kind people who help him. What inspired the setup to this story?
In the broadest sense, this story is inspired by the whole path of life. While wandering along it, we start from the front stairs of our childhood home and aim for something that interests and attracts us – perhaps even far away. When the journey is over, it’s time to return home to the last place in our life. There we’ll think about everything we have seen and experienced. What have we gathered in that backpack of our life journey as memories?
The places where the journey in this book starts and ends symbolize the beginning and end of life. The child sets off excitedly and curiously, meets people, gains experiences, and learns about life. He has a lot to wonder about and understand. It takes a person’s entire life to go through all of this.
I wrote this story at a very special time in my life. My dear father had just become seriously ill, and we knew that his life’s journey was coming to an end. Although the travels in the story are based on my own experiences, my father was always strongly in my mind when I wrote this book.
It may sound strange, but reading this book has helped some people in their grief when they have just said their last goodbye to a loved one.
Was there anything in this book that was inspired by your own travels?
Most events are based on my experiences and feelings during my European trips. Especially during interrail as a young student, I could walk alone for weeks in strange places and meet so many different people. It was essential to know whom you could trust.
In this fairy tale, I don’t name places in any way, not even countries. However, the reader may guess some.
Leo’s journey follows the pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela. He joins the builders of Gaudí church, the Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona. In another mighty church, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, he lights candles and listens to wonderful music. He experiences the same hospitability in Budapest as I did when staying at the home of some amazingly warm and friendly people. In addition, Leo climbs the same fortress hill in Jaén, Spain, as Napoleon’s troops used to – and I have done with my family.
In this book, I take the boy also to see Venice before everything beautiful sinks into the waves – deep in similar thoughts that I had decades ago. And the author he meets at the fountain is the famous Nobel prize winner Jose Saramago, whom I also once happened to meet on the street in Spain, where he was involved in a big cultural project.
I have woven into the story so much of my ponderings about what is beautiful, valuable, and worth preserving that the book is almost like my spiritual testament. And still, it is a fairy tale journey – one with very little money, valuable experiences, and plenty of memories to take home.
What were some creative themes that were important for you to include in this book?
The main themes of this book are actually quite serious. Leo’s story deals with the importance of people to each other – the possibility of meeting and being connected on many levels. The best links between people are built directly between hearts and remain there even though times and places change.
Now, this leads us to more creative elements in the story. The beauty of nature, music or architecture, and other forms of art create unique connections to many places and environments. In addition to connecting people here and now, they can build bridges even between different periods and eras in human societies. History and the present meet each other. We get to witness that miracle if we know how to look openly at the world around us.
When I travel, I often experience the magic of particular places. It feels like some deeper current of life is flowing through me and telling stories of the past. Perhaps this is precisely the feeling I have tried to convey in this story of Leo.
What scene in this book did you have the most fun creating?
As I already said, this book is actually quite genuine and serious. Although the places and people’s encounters are unique and beautiful, the description also contains a kind of wistfulness in the background of everything. This sadness comes from the feeling that everything is transient and can only be stored in memories. The most beautiful and meaningful things can be over in an instant, and one person’s life is just a fleeting moment in eternity.
But, maybe it’s worth highlighting also those points in the book’s events that made me smile. After all, this is a happy book!
I thought Leo’s visit to the cafe and barber shop in the narrow streets of the old town was funny, even though there were dark clouds hanging over the characters. Illustrator Andrea Alemanno made the scene vivid and hopeful. The long list of concerns for entrepreneurs is first on the table, but then they start taking care of the needs of the young customer, Leo. The boy gets treats, and his hair is cut right away. The illustration is excellent, and it portrays the characters well!
Another scene that makes me feel good and light is the gathering of local families in a coastal town. Leo, a visiting wanderer, is taken in without any problems, even though no one knows him. He is offered food just like families’ own children. As I thought about the scene, I could hear in my mind how people joined in singing together with a gentle guitar accompaniment.
Among the writer’s privileges and unique opportunities are creating any kind of fantasy persons, situations, or views and getting to enjoy them yourself. It feels like living many lives at once!
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Along the way Leo sees many wonders of the world, and meets kind people who are willing to lend a hand, even to a perfect stranger. An old writer also teaches Leo to listen, and pay close attention to the messages that people reveal beyond their words.
At last the little wanderer returns home, wiser and content.
Dread in the Dark
It is incredibly difficult to go from being an only child to having a new baby sister. With a new sibling, sometimes the older one has to move into a new room; this can be an exciting and scary time, especially when there is a dark monster hiding under the bed. In Dread in the Dark by Tuula Pere, Elliot finds himself in his brand-new room, which he absolutely adores playing in while it’s daytime, but when night falls, and it’s time to head to bed, the growls coming from under his bed causes the allure of a new room to be frightened right out of him.
The author takes us on an emotional journey of going through the jealousy of having to share the limelight with a new baby in the family to growing older and having a new bedroom further away from the safety of your parents’ room. With the baby needing lots of attention and care, Elliot worries that now being so far from his parent’s room, his pleas for help at night will go ignored. When his dad comes in to put an end to the mystery of this dark monster under Elliot’s bed, Elliot expresses his fears and concerns, and his dad solves the puzzle leaving Elliot feeling heard and cared for.
It is critical for children to know their worries and fears are heeded and understood, and even more imperative when a new baby is taking away any extra attention the child would have had before the baby. I love how the author was able to display the significance of that fact by using a very relatable situation of being a small child afraid of a new room with new sensory things happening.
Dread in the Dark is a wonderful picture book that helps children identify their feelings and shows them that their feelings are valid. It also teaches children how to work through the emotions they have in a productive and safe way that will help them build social skills and self-confidence.
Pages: 34 | ISBN : 9523254464
Colin the Crab’s Friends
What is the purpose of life if there is no one to enjoy it with? In Colin the Crab’s Friends by Tuula Pere Colin knows that working hard and savoring the beautiful moments in life is a well-balanced diet. Colin is a hardworking builder that keeps himself fully busy.
He helps Ms. Catfish with a loose roof beam on her home but then spends time listening to her stories and enriching their friendship. The Next family needs help washing their windows which Colin is more than willing to help, knowing Mrs. Newt has so many children to look after and would much prefer her spending time looking after them than worrying about her silly windows that need cleaning. Sally the Starfish is incredibly sad about how glum her fence is looking, and Colin knows his friend well enough to do just the right thing to cheer her up. He embellishes her fence with decorative ornaments, which instantly brightens her mood but reminds her to be thankful that she has a strong-standing home keeping her perspective of what is important in check as a good friend should do. After working hard all week, Colin decides to throw his friends a party in the blue pavilion he built for just such occasions. He knows life is about working hard and taking the time to enjoy life’s splendors with friends.
I loved how simple the story is, but it permeated with such significance. I feel everyone is told to always work hard to get the things they want in life. But this story does an exquisite job of clarifying exactly how to do so and then, in the same breath showing you how to have meaningful relationships and enjoy life. This is exactly the kind of story young readers should have at their disposal to become what I think are well-rounded individuals.
The illustrations by Roksolana Panchyshyn give life to the characters and convey the sweetness and charm the story possesses. I enjoyed how the author has given Colin the crab such humanity-like quality to him. He empathizes and sympathizes with his friends and their situations. He knows just what everyone needs to feel loved and appreciated, and this is also a shining mark shown countless times throughout the story by the author’s remarkable writing skills.
Colin the Crab’s Friends is a heartwarming picture book that children and adults will be able to find meaning within its pages. This children’s book is perfect for classrooms and libraries to help young children understand what friendship is and how to be a good friend to those around them.
Pages: 34 | ISBN : 9523573225
Colin the Crab Feels Tired
It is difficult to say no to friends when they ask for your help. In Colin the Crab Feels Tired by Tuula Pere we get to see the struggle Colin feels when he is asked by numerous friends’ for his help with many different tasks. He simply cannot say no to his friends and does his best to prioritize his jobs but is too tired from working hard all day to move another muscle.
The fish family’s home was destroyed by waves, and has asked Colin for his help in building them a new home. This being an emergency, he gets to work on it straight away. He then receives a call from Eddie the eel to get his help in making him a new and bigger garage for his new moto copter, which Colin knows is nothing urgent and can wait but begins to feel the slightest pressure building within him. Still working hard at the construction site for the fish family, Sally, the starfish, calls him, needing his help in putting up her new mirror on the wall of her home. Colin cannot decline her request but decides to put her next on his fast-growing list of friends to help. At the end of the day, Colin feels exhausted and needs a good night’s rest that seems to last long into the morning. In the morning, his friends are all looking for him needing his help, and realize they he is overworked and must be desperately tired if he is still asleep. They decide to take on his task of building the fish family’s new home so he can rest up.
I love that this story shows young children not only the significance of helping others but also the weight it can bear on us if we take on too much. We must look after ourselves in order to help others in the end, and that also having good friends who are more than willing to bare the weight is what true friendships are made of.
Colin the Crab Feels Tired is a well-written picture book that teaches children the value of self-care and looking out for your friends. Teachers and parents will love the important message this book shares, while children will be drawn to the beautiful illustrations and entertaining characters.
Pages: 32 | ISBN: 9523573160
A Bluebird’s Memories
Life can be an exquisite or boring journey depending on your perspective. In A Bluebird’s Memories by Tuula Pere, a grandmother bluebird exemplifies to her grandchildren how even being a small bird, they can live impactful, meaningful, and beautiful lives.
Near a summer cottage, the owner built a nesting box in which the grandmother bluebird lives. She is cleaning and readying her home for her grandchildren’s visit. She reminisces of the days when she was with her mate and all the beautiful memories she cherishes. She isn’t lonely, though, and has many friends and events keeping her busy. She has lived a long full life, and the little curious chicks want to hear stories from her past. She tells them of moments when she helped others without receiving praise or recognition and moments of overcoming terror.
The lovely illustrations by Outi Rautkallio fully encompass the wholesome naturalness of the characters and the environment with a waterlike soft look that brings the reader into the world. The stories the grandmother bluebird told were so heartfelt and perfectly encased with symbolization that it is easy for young readers to understand. She sheds light on how significant everyone’s life is and to be a good person. To live life fully and appreciate every moment, even when they are scary or hard. To find what truly matters in life which is the people we keep around us and that we love to no end. To see life as an opportunity and all its possibilities. I loved the story and how sweet the relationship she had with her grandchildren was.
A Bluebird’s Memories is a heartwarming children’s book that teaches children the value of kindness and how even small things can make a big impact on someone. This story is inspiring and will help kids realize that they do have an important role in life, even though they are small.
Pages: 18 | ASIN : B07HY9JNH6
The Mouse of the Opera
The Mouse of the Opera by Tuula Pere is a story of a tiny and curious tiny wood mouse. It is a story of adventure and wonderment. It brings to light that even the smallest creatures can have passion and interest and demonstrates how important it is to not be afraid to be a trailblazer despite your limitations, such as being a mouse in Maurice’s case.
A small wood mouse named Maurice and his family lives under a rosebush next to the opera house. They become entranced with the gleaming opera house that plays beautiful music every night. Never actually being inside the place, he is desperate to see what happens inside the dazzling opera house with its luring music. With his eagerness to find out, he hitches a plan to get inside and explore, even though his mother forbids him. Once doing so, he causes such a stir on his tour through the place but gets to see everything it offers, filling him with incredible wonder and awe. He snatches some pastries from the restaurant, marvels at the fabric and gemstones in the wardrobe department, and finally gets to see the show in all its glory up close. All the while making a few friends who deliver safely back home.
I loved this sweet story with all the cute illustrations by Outi Rautkallio. I feel I have never read a children’s book involving the Opera and didn’t realize how interesting and exciting it could be. I would read this to my children to get their curiosities about it sparked and possibly create an outing because of it.
The Mouse of the Opera is a beautifully written children’s book filled with adventure. Children will learn about the Opera as they follow the little mouse on his journey of exploration. This would make a great story for music classes.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B07H9F2VTQ
Pearl, Our Butterfly
Pearl, Our Butterfly by Tuula Pere navigates the very difficult subject of loss of life with a beautifully written book that handles a tragic yet memorable journey that is the life of Pearl. Pearl is Jacob’s younger sister, and since her birth, she has encountered many challenges and requires ongoing care due to a disability and many medical issues. Pearl’s big brother, who has experienced several milestones, including recently starting school, has just adjusted to becoming a sibling and must now learn how to grieve the loss of his sister.
From the moment Jacob and Pearl meet, he becomes her biggest fan and supporter. Jacob worries that she will never come home when his small sister is moved into a hospice facility. It is during this process that Jacob and his parents must face the tragedy of loss, which is a traumatic event for anyone. I admire how the author handles a complicated but important topic with such grace and support, which helps children articulate their feelings and understand how grieving is a natural part of the loss.
Pere highlights the importance of communication and support, a crucial part of healing after losing someone. The author cleverly shows how a whirlwind of emotions and pain is to be expected and how it is possible to achieve a sense of peace and acceptance in time. Jacob’s character showcases many real emotions which mirror what many people experience after the death of a loved one. The author brilliantly illustrates death through the transformation of a butterfly coming out of a chrysalis. Like Pearl, the butterfly is no longer confined to a cocoon and is finally released to be free. Pearl, Our Butterfly is a helpful book for children dealing with loss and shows them that it is possible to see the light through the darkness.
Pages: 32 | ASIN: B07NKSLM6N
LITERARY TITAN 