What happens when the eyes close but the mind doesn't quiet down? Illustrator and artist Hannamari Ruohonen takes the reader between sleep and wakefulness, into that murky space where thoughts begin to live a life of their own. Sleepy, Sleepless Night is a picture book that doesn't explain sleep – it gives it space to be.
The initial idea for the book arose from a desire to describe falling asleep and the world of dreams. What fascinates me about grass is the moment when you no longer know whether you are awake or asleep. When characters that do not belong to waking life begin to creep into your thoughts. Or when the feeling of falling pulls you back to the surface. There is something uncontrollable about dreams – you cannot tell your brain to fall asleep.
Stories that don't fit the mold
Hannamari Ruohonen works in a small village library where children are a part of everyday life. Over the years, she has come to know their way of telling stories – some explain things in the best possible way, others tell them so convincingly that the story feels true, even though it may not be. This sparked a thought: what if a child really experiences things differently than an adult? What if the adult is the one who doesn’t understand?
Sleepy, Sleepless Night highlights exactly this. In the book, Pauliina wakes up to the fact that her mother has forgotten to say good night. That moment when a child's experience is true – even if the adult doesn't see it at first.
Pauliina – a strong, sensitive protagonist
The main character of the book, Pauliina, is not just sweet. She is energetic, irritable and even angry. Hannamari Ruohonen wanted to highlight emotions that are often left in the background in picture books: sadness, loneliness, frustration, anger and longing. They are as real as joy, and recognizing them is important.
Pauliina's character evolved during the illustration process – her face became more recognizable and humorous. She became a character who carries a story and emotions with her.
Pictures that carry secrets
One of the book’s great insights is the family model, which is only revealed in the final opening. Pauliina lives in a family of two mothers. Hannamari wanted to play with the reader’s assumptions – the idea that often, without realizing it, we assume that a child has a mother and a father. Although both mothers appear frequently in the book, their roles are only revealed at the end. It’s a subtle but powerful gesture.
Openings that will stay in your memory
Ruohonen talks about two openings in particular that are important to her. In the first, Pauliina is crawling in bed playing with toy cars when she should be sleeping. Her mother is standing in the doorway, the shadow grows menacing and her face remains in the dark. The image is charged – fear, defiance, distance.
The second opening takes Pauliina to a dream world where she flies with plump flies, fish-shaped frogs and pink rabbits. A butterfly shares her lollipop with a bilingual cat. The opening mixes darkness and scary figures with colorful flowers and soft smiles. It is not a nightmare, but a dream where everything is allowed.
Her daughter's drawings served as inspiration for the dream characters – that's why the picture is especially dear to Hannamari Ruohonen.
Forest, sea and living creatures
Ruohonen's sources of inspiration are everyday and profound. The forest, the sea and living creatures. He goes for a walk in the forest every day, even if he doesn't have a dog. By the sea, his thoughts quiet down. And people – all those conversations, opinions, feelings and ways of living. Art, books, music, films. The fact that we exist, so different and unique.
Sleepy, sleepless night – a book that won't let you sleep
Sleepy, Sleepless Night is a book that offers no easy answers. It doesn't put you to sleep, but invites you to linger. It's a book that can comfort, spark conversation, or just be there – like a friend who understands.
📘 Sleepy, Sleepless Night was published in the fall of 2024. It is available in the Etana Editions online store and in selected bookstores.
