Spring friendship

Written by: J.S. Meresmaa
Illustrated by: Pamela Samel
Released: January 2025
ISBN: 978-952-7581-04-9
Binding: Hardcover
Number of pager: 32 pages
Size: 17,7 x 24,5 cm
Colours: 4/4
Age: 3+

Difference is not an obstacle to friendship.

Huiskis is a flying squirrel, Tiksu is a regular squirrel. Flying squirrels keep watch at night, squirrels during the day. Normally they would hardly encounter each other, but one spring morning the birds are singing so loudly that Huiskis cannot sleep. He leaves the nest and climbs to the top of a tree to listen to a concert and nibble on minnows. He sees a brown dot moving on the ground below and glides down to investigate. When he lands, he scares Tiksu, who has started the day's work by digging out his winter supplies. After a moment of fright and shyness, Huiskis offers Tiksu a minnow, which he took with him from the treetop.

Spring Friendship is a picture book about how friendship can be born between two very
between a different creature. The book, written by JS Meresmaa and illustrated by Pamela Sameli, was created as part of the Children's Book Bridge project. The Children's Book Bridge is a project implemented by the Children's Book Institute in 2022–2024, which strengthened knowledge and cooperation between children's and young adult literature in Estonia and Finland, and highlighted the diverse children's book offering and expertise of the neighboring countries.

JS Meresmaa is a distinguished author who has written several works of fiction for adults, young adults and children. His works have been translated into many languages. Meresmaa has been nominated for the Laivakello and Topelius awards, among others.

Pamela Samel is an illustrator whose illustrations are dominated by cheerful color combinations and fun. Several of Samel's illustrated books have received awards both in Estonia and abroad, including at the prestigious Bologna International Book Fair.