Kai Vaalio

Kai Vaalio (b. 1986) is an illustrator, comic artist, and a bit of a cosmopolitan as well. He’s written and illustrated underground comic books for adults about his travels in South-East Asia and Latin America — the latter won Mondo magazine’s Travel book of the year award back in 2014. Recently he’s ventured into the world of illustrating children’s books mainly with Arttu Unkari’s Dad Man Series. Together they’ve made several books about this goofy detective and his clever little posse. The Dad Man Series has received Storytel Awards and Runeberg Junior 2023 award nominations. Vaalio’s been on and off in the graphic industry since 2005 when he graduated as a graphic designer from Lahti College of Arts and Crafts. In 2018 he got his bachelor’s degree from Lahti University of Applied Science.


Illustrated books


Kai Vaalio

Dad Man's Idiotic Tales

2024, Chapter Books (6-9 Years)


Kai Vaalio

Dad Man and the Doppelgänger Disaster

2024, Chapter Books (6-9 Years), Middle Grade (8-12 Years)


Kai Vaalio

Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp

2023, Chapter Books (6-9 Years), Middle Grade (8-12 Years)


Kai Vaalio

Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis

2022, Chapter Books (6-9 Years), Middle Grade (8-12 Years)


Kai Vaalio

Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother

2021, Chapter Books (6-9 Years), Middle Grade (8-12 Years)


Kai Vaalio

Dad Man and the Exploding Poop

2020, Chapter Books (6-9 Years), Middle Grade (8-12 Years)