Jenni Erkintalo’s The Football Hunt began with the hum of a generator during childhood summers at the cottage, the sports fever from a tube TV, and her own family’s passionate football-filled daily life, where sports gear is searched for almost every day. The work, created in a short time and with hyperfocus, grew into a hilariously funny and visually strong adventure that depicts the whole family’s commitment to the sport, but also brings a completely new level to the story – namely, a horde of hamsters coveting lost balls. The book is built on primary colors, diverse player characters, and the desire to ignite boys' passion for reading as early as possible. Below, author-illustrator Jenni Erkintalo tells more about the background of the work and its creation process.
The King of Sports has been a part of her life since childhood
For Jenni Erkintalo, tackling the theme of football was completely natural, as the sport has always been a strong part of her life.
"I grew up in a family of armchair sports fans, and football has been a part of my life in one way or another. My godparents coached women's teams, and even as a child, I spent time with the support team on the sidelines," Erkintalo recalls.
As a publisher, Erkintalo says she has seen several books about this king of sports, but they often haven't seemed very interesting.
"The stories have been quite conventional, always about getting new football boots or a new ball. In Finland, children's football as a hobby is year-round, and the whole family commits to it through training transportation on winter evenings and equipment maintenance. Perhaps that's why I wanted to make a book about the passion for playing football that would be fun, suitable for the whole family, and have some kind of twist," she muses.
Inspired by authentic, sweaty, and passionate football-filled daily life
Erkintalo's own life experiences have strongly influenced the book's themes and atmosphere. She vividly remembers how, in her childhood, some sports commentary was almost always playing on the radio.
"My childhood memories also include following summer football tournaments on a small tube TV screen in a travel TV, with the generator humming in the background at an otherwise electricity-free summer cottage in South Ostrobothnia. Everyone gathered around the screen, and it was the highlight of the evenings," Erkintalo chuckles.
The same tradition continued later with her own son, watching games from sleeping bags on a laptop screen during camping trips to Åland. Football-filled daily life also became familiar through her own child's hobby from the age of 4 until 13.
Åland tournament viewing
"During that time, my son learned English and an English accent by watching Premier League matches, and at home, our idols' jerseys were in the washing machine almost every day," Erkintalo says. The same routine continues with her current partner and his children. "When it's time to go to practice, the ball is almost always lost. The working title of the book was first Ball Lost, but it felt a bit too straightforward."
The great supporting actor of life, connecting across borders
"For me, the stories and pictures I create are rarely pure invention; rather, they are layers of what I have lived and imprinted in my mind. They arise from those small, unnoticed traces that the world and lived life leave on me."
For this reason, tackling the theme of football was natural for Erkintalo, even though she doesn't have a background on the green fields herself.
"Even though I have never played football myself, and I certainly don't claim to know anything about it, it has still been like a supporting actor in my life. It's always present somewhere – in surprising places, football appears," Erkintalo reflects.
One such surprising and even more striking moment occurred far from home, amidst professional bustle.
"One of the greatest moments was when I was invited as a publisher to the Guadalajara Book Fair for a Fellowship program, and suddenly, from the advertising screen at the Argentinian national stand, an Argentinian game started playing. Book advertisements turned into football, which was closely followed together across national borders. A huge audience gathered around the screen. At that moment, there was nothing else in the world but football – selling book rights was completely secondary."
The birth of Pepe and his visual world
A boy named Pepe was chosen as the main character, as Erkintalo wants to contribute to igniting boys' passion for reading. The earlier an interest in stories awakens, the more likely books will stay with them throughout life – and a passionate, familiar topic like football is often the best gateway to the world of reading. However, there are all sorts of characters on the green fields and playing fields.
The biggest challenge in creating the character proved to be Pepe's hair. "I thought for a long time whether Pepe should have a hairband or a ponytail. In the end, I opted for a slightly transparent curly cloud," Erkintalo reveals. "I wanted to illustrate the book with primary colors to give it a clear athletic feel. I wanted the illustrations to convey the authentic hustle and bustle of football fields, where the game belongs to everyone. That's why Pepe's friends and opposing teams include players of many shapes, looks, and colors – just like in real life."
The process of creating the work was intense, as the biggest challenge was the tight schedule. Erkintalo only got the idea in the summer of 2025, and the book had to be ready for publication the following spring. The book was created in just a few months: the first sketches were made in September in a state of hyperfocus on a plane on the way home from Bilbao, and by the end of November, the images were already ready for layout.
Everyday realism and a child's vivid imagination
Instead of conventional plot twists, Erkintalo wanted to bring something completely different to the story.
"In my own story, I wanted to mix everyday realism and a child's imagination. I remember how, as a child, playing could become so serious that an octopus would rise from a pond – even though it was just a product of my imagination," she reveals.
This very insight led to the inclusion of hamsters, which tie the lost ball into a coherent plot.
"Pepe has to go to the match, the ball is missing, and he searches for it everywhere. Adding hamsters to the pictures with the ball, I think, brought another dimension to the book. The text carries the plot, but the child reader can calmly examine the pictures and look for hamsters in them," Erkintalo enthuses.
Depicting the entire family was also important to the author, and delicious details for those who follow the sport are hidden in the illustrations. "Dad Keke is clearly an armchair sports fan; a Napoli scarf hangs on the kitchen door handle, and a picture reminiscent of Maradona is on the shelf. However, Dad is the family cook in the kitchen, and Mom is sweating in the laundry room in the basement."
Sketch
Finished picture
Everyday inspiration and future dreams
"I am an observer," Erkintalo defines herself. In her daily life, she is inspired above all by observing people. The Football Hunt's illustrations are full of people, and that's why this book, in its own way, was Erkintalo's favorite project. Colors, color combinations, shadows, and the reflection of light also feed her creativity. In summer, her favorite pastime is watching the light filter through tree leaves.
When the conversation turns to dream projects, Erkintalo envisions something bigger, even though she describes herself as an impatient and restless character.
"My dream project would be to create a book series that child readers could enjoy for a long time and that would spread to other language areas. It would also provide me, as the creator, with continuity and work for a longer period. I have already wondered if Pepe might get enthusiastic about some other hobby in the future," Erkintalo hints.
So, we eagerly await where Pepe's path will lead next, but first, we need to find out where that football is hiding!
