Finland

The Finnish Section of IBBY was founded in 1957 and went under the name “Suomen nuortenkirjaneuvosto” (The Finnish Board of Children´s Books) until 2003 when its name was changed to IBBY Finland.

Members include teachers, librarians, writers, illustrators, translators and researchers, publishing houses, organizations and libraries.

IBBY Finland’s aim is to promote international understanding by means of children’s and youth books. It presents Finnish children’s and youth literature both in Finland and other countries. The Section not only offers a common meeting place for people working with children’s literature, but also promotes critics and research of children’s and youth literature as well as literature of a high artistic and literary level among children and young people. The Section organizes seminars, exhibitions and meetings and publishes various presentations of Finnish children’s and youth books.

Publications:

• Virikkeitä (Impulses) is published both on line and printed. The journal reviews Finnish children’s and youth literature and gives information and critiques of reference books and theoretical literature.
• Finnish children’s and youth books is a special issue of Virikkeitä, which is published in English every two years. It presents Finnish children’s and youth books for international readers. Finnish Children’s and Youth Books XV is published online: https://ibbyfinland.fi/project-type/virikkeita-2-32016/
• ABC mar Dholuo– ABC book in Luo language was published in 2013 in collaboration with Orisi Beach Education and Career Forum OSBECARF as a part of a development cooperation project in Osiri Beach, Kenya. 
• Vuoden wersot – Finnish children’s and youth books 2002 contains various articles on books and reading that were published in 2002. It was published together with the Finnish National Board of Education.
• Sata kirjaa (A hundred books) presents of the best Finnish books published in 2003 for children and young people. A poster and leaflet containing short presentations of the books, accompanied the publication. The project partners were IBBY Finland and a Finnish publishing house named BTJ Kirjastopalvelu.
• Palkitut lastenkirja 1990-2002 – (The awarded children’s and youth books 1990-2002) presents children’s and juvenile books that have won Finnish awards.
• Lastenkirja aikansa kuvastimena – (The Children’s Book as a Mirror of Time) is a non-fiction book written for children between the ages of 9 and 13. It presents one Finnish children's author from each decade between 1990 and 1990.

Anni Swan Medal

Since 1961 IBBY Finland has presented the Anni Swan medal for an excellent book for children or young people. The silver medal is designed by famous a Finnish sculptor Väinö Aaltonen. Anni Swan (1875-1958) was a writer, translator and promoter of children’s and youth literature.

International Children's Book Day

IBBY Finland organizes annually a seminar and celebrates International Children´s Book Day. IBBY Finland sponsored the ICBD poster in 2000. The poster was illustrated by Mika Launis and the message was written by HandleIHuovi.

Tove Jansson

Tove Jansson was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen medal in 1966. Her books of Moomin family have been translated into more than 30 languages.