AWARDs and nominations
H.C. Andersen Honour List Diploma for About a Boy (Poika)
1989
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Nominated for Topelius Prize for Talking Dog (Puhuva koira)
1990
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Artist of the Year Award by Keskisuomalainen Newspaper
1990
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Artist of the Year Award by Province of Central Finland
1991
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​IBBY Honours List
1992
Nominated for Topelius Prize for Little Brothers and the Magic Key (Pikkuveljet ja taika-avain)
1993
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Arvid Lydecken Prize for Ella & Friends on a Class Trip (Ella luokkaretkellä)
1997
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H.C. Andersen Honour List Diploma for Ella & Friends on a Class Trip (Ella luokkaretkellä)
1997
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Shortlisted for Finlandia Prize for the Best Children’s and Young Adult Book for Ansa and Oiva (Ansa ja Oiva)
1999
IBBY Honours List
2000
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Kaarina Helakisa Prize for Exceptional Merits as an Author
2005
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SSKK Book Club Prize for Exceptional Merits as an Author
2005
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Plättä Prize for Ella & Friends: Superstar (Ella ja Paterock)
2005
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Finlandia Prize for the Best Children’s and Young Adult Book for The Seesaw (Keinulauta)
2006
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Topelius Prize for Fireblade (Guardians of Sampo, Part 1) (Sammon vartijat 1: Tuliterä)
2007
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WSOY Literary Foundation Reward for his Exceptional Merits as an Author
2009
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Plättä Prize for Ella & Friends Hit the Jackpot (Ella ja jättipotti)
2008
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WSOY Literary Foundation Prize for Exceptional Merits as an Author Koura Prize for the TV series script ‘Taivaan tulet’
2008
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Finnish Kalevala Society Foundation Prize for the Guardians of Sampo -series (Sammon vartijat 1–3)
2010
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Stavangerin kirjasto, book of year for the Ella og andre
2010
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Laivakello Prize for Exceptional Merits as an Author
2011
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Plättä Prize for for Ella & Friends: The Lost Pointer (Ella ja kadonnut karttakeppi)
2013
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Nominated for Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)
2013
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Suomi Prize; The Finnish Culture Prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Education
2014
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Nominated for Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)
2015
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Nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Prize for Invitation
(Kepler62 – Book 1 , co-authored with Bjørn Sortland) (Kepler62 – Kirja 1: Kutsu)
2015
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Nominated for the ARK Children’s Book Prize (Norway) for The Countdown
(Kepler62, Book 2, co-authored with Bjørn Sortland) (Kepler62 - Kirja 2: Lähtölaskenta)
2015
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Children's Rights Influencer Award by UNICEF Finland
2016
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Runeberg Junior Prize for Pete’s Fishing Book (Paten kalastuskirja)
2017
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​Lese-Kick Award (Germany) for Pete’s Football Book (Paten jalkapallokirja)
2017
Pro Finlandia Medal (The Order of the Lion of Finland) awarded by the President of Finland
2019
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Nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Prize for The Whisperer’s Lair (Kepler62 – New World 3) (Kepler62 – Uusi maailma 3: Kuiskaajien kaupunki)
2019
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​Leipzig Lesekompass Prize (Germany) for The Invitation
(Kepler62, Book 1, co-authored with Bjørn Sortland) (Kepler62 - Kirja 1: Kutsu)
2020
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Hea Lasteraamat (Estonia) for The Jingle Bell (Shadows 1) (Varjot 1: Helähdys)
2020
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Nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Prize for The Jingle Bell (Shadows 1) (Varjot 1: Helähdys)
2020
Nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Prize for The Jingle Bell, Book 1 of The Shadows Trilogy (Varjot 1: Helähdys)
2021
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Shortlisted for the Finlandia Prize for Kepler62 – Terra: The Clones (Kepler62 – Terra: Kloonit)
2021
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Shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award
2022