Timo Parvela, once a teacher and now successful author of children’s books, is Finnish and will present his country and his books to the interested audience and journalists in Leipzig. We talked to him in advance: about his homeland, the current film release “Ella and the big race” and why teachers all over the world suffer.
1. Dear Timo Parvela, how „Finnish“ is your writing and how much of Finland can be found in the Ella-books?
I believe that the relationship here between teachers and students is quite a Finnish thing. In our schools the relationship is very informal and students address their teacher by first name or just as “teacher.” Also, the fact that children learn to ski or go up to Lapland is very Finnish. On the other hand, the setting in the books is a school and schools are somehow pretty similar and easy to recognize all over the world.
2. The Ella-books are set in small schools and one of the protagonists is „the teacher“. You worked as a teacher for a long time. Have you experienced some of the events yourself and then integrated them into your stories?
In the very first book the teacher takes the children to a public swimming pool and it all ends up in a disaster. I started writing the first Ella book after a certain swimming pool trip. However, the story in the book was a bit less coloured as the reality is sometimes just too unbelievable. There aren’t that many actual real life events in the book but on the other hand I think everyone can name at least one Pekka, Timo, Hanna or Samppa in their class…
3. The daily routine you are describing is very funny most of the time. Teachers in Germany often groan and moan. Have you got a good advice for them?
Run! Actually, children find everyday things in the books very amusing but the teacher in the Ella books does indeed complain just as much as German (and Finnish) teachers do. Groan and moan are the teachers’ privileges. Without them they wouldn’t last long in their important job.
4. Ella is a very likable and friendly young girl. What “Ella” do you like best: the illustrations of her in the Finnish edition of Nasza Ksigarnia, or the illustrations of the German Sabine Wilharm, or the “Ella” how she is acted by Freja Teijonsalo in the movie? Or the “Ella” how she only exists in your head?
In the movie Freja Teijonsalo is amazingly similar to what I have always imagined Ella would look like. Of course I truly appreciate the work every illustrator has done. I just find it so great that every illustrator creates a different kind of Ella and thus brings a whole new level to the story.
5. In the end: How do you like Germany? Can you imagine to write/work here
For the past three years I have visited Germany about ten times and I’ve enjoyed the country more and more after each visit. My friendly relationship with Germany and the Germans started on my very first trip. I was given a very detailed schedule and it said, for instance, that the tram to one of the places I was going to visit leaves at 1.47pm. We Finns appreciate punctuality, just like Germans do. My son’s favourite football team is Bayern München and we have two German cars in our family. I have actually imagined myself living and working in Southern-Germany someday. I would write an “Ella in the Alps” book. On the weekends I would go see a football game and drink a pint or two of an excellent German beer.
Questions: Raphaela Sabel
About the Author
Timo Parvela, born in 1964 , has been teacher for a long time – enjoying it – , before he became a writer. He has been widely acknowledged for his literature. His Ella Books are not only “Cult” but also compulsory in Finnish schools .
Ella und der Millionendieb 
Timo Parvela
Translated in German by Anu und Nina Stohner
Illustration: Sabine Wilharm
176 pages, German publisher: Hanser
ISBN : 978-3-446-24519-8
€ 9,90 (D), € 10,20 (A), CHF 14,90 (CH)
24.02.2014