My Friend the Water — Children's Nonfiction Book

Written by: Jenni Erkintalo, Réka Király and Kirsikka Myllyrinne
Illustrated by: Jenni Erkintalo and Réka Király
Release date: May 2025
ISBN: 978-952-7105-68-9
Number of pages: 56 pages
Size: 17 x 24 cm
Age recommendation: 5+

My Friend the Water is a vividly illustrated children's non-fiction book that introduces children to the different forms of water and includes fun water-related activities.
A character named Pisara, who appears on the pages of the book, acts as a guide to the many forms of water in nature and cities. He attracts the reader to the water's edge and inspires them to reflect, do small tasks, and do other enjoyable activities. The glossary at the end of the book deepens the knowledge and explains concepts in an easy-to-understand way. This timely book reminds us how important clean water is to humans and all life.
My Friend the Water - A Children's Nonfiction Book is the second part of Etana Editions' illustrated nonfiction series aimed at young readers, the first part of which, My Friend's Tree, was published in 2019.

Authors:
Jenni Erkintalo is a graphic designer, illustrator and children's author born in Rauma. She has studied at the Helsinki and Stockholm universities of applied arts, TaiK and Konstfack. Erkintalo's adventure story The Worm and the Sea (Etana Editons, 2019) received the prestigious White Ravens label. Her children's books have been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Catalan and Korean. Jenni Erkintalo founded Etana Editions together with Réka Király in 2014. In 2024, her picture book Who's Cute? was a Finlandia Junior nominee.

Réka Király is a Hungarian-born graphic designer, illustrator and children's author living in Helsinki. Király's books have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Catalan, Korean and Polish. The picture book Topin nokinenäpäivä (Top's Soot Day) (WSOY, 2013) written by Réka Király and co-authored with Marika Maijala received the prestigious The White Ravens label. Réka Király founded Etana Editions together with Jenni Erkintalo in 2014. Király has received the State Children's Culture Award together with Jenni Erkintalo for their work in renewing Finnish children's book culture.

Kirsikka Myllyrinne is a publisher, writer and translator who lives with her family in Cyprus. She has previously written three non-fiction books set in the Mediterranean: Sour Lemons (2020), Marathonista Ateenaan - matka kunai halusin jousta (2022) and Menetystys ja maasta (2024). She finds ideas for her texts in nature, on hiking trails with her dog or on runs.

KEYWORDS:
water, lake, sea, ocean, tap water, ice, rain, drop, water composition