Loukko by 
We are happy to report that Czech rights to for THE SECRET STAIRCASE by Salla Simukka and illustrator JP Ahonen have been acquired by Portál! This deal was closed by Martti Berner.
Portál was founded in 1990 and belongs among the 20 largest publishing houses in the Czech Republic. Portál publish books by Anja Portin, Suzanne Lang, Hervé Tullet and many more and they are the Czech publisher of Tuutikki Tolonen’s Monster Nanny and Agnes series.
Salla Simukka is the multiple award-winning, internationally bestselling author of the Snow White trilogy, sold in 53 countries and Hollywood. JP Ahonen is a comic book artist and the illustrator of the cult classic Belzebubs project. THE SECRET STAIRCASE was nominated for 2024 Finlandia Award in Children’s & Youth literature.
The jury praised the title:
In this tantalisingly evocative fantasy, the text and vivid illustrations merge into a fine, polished whole. The story is about solving mysteries, making great friends and adapting to huge changes, whether it’s family or the vastness of dimensional boundaries. The narrative is engaging and the illustrations add delicious detail with a lightness of touch that encourages the novice reader to move forward.
And just recently the book won 2024 Kuopus Award by Blogistanian as the best Children’s book. The Blogistanian Literary Awards are prizes given by Finnish book influencers on social media for the best books of the year.
You can watch the book trailer below:
For fans of Michael Ende and Maria Gripe, THE SECRET STAIRCASE is an exciting and touching novel about two boys, who live in the same house but in different realities. Can their friendship cross the border separating two worlds?
10-year-old Alexis’ family moves to a house where he gets the attic room. Another 10-year-old-boy, Max, moves to a house, where a great basement room is waiting for him. Soon the boys notice something weird in their houses: Alexis hears voices under the floor, even though they don’t have a basement. Max’s ears pick up someone playing an instrument from the attic, even though no one is there.
When the two boys finally meet, they realize that they can visit each other’s worlds at night time. But will their friendship endanger everything when the worlds start to blur into each other?
Rights still available in the US/UK, France, Germany, Holland…
Click here to download all reading materials for THE SECRET STAIRCASE!
Publication Info:
Poika ullakolla, poika kellarissa, Tammi 2024, 200 pp, b&w illustrations
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
CZECHIA: Portál
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad
Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition
