Stella and the Magic Stone

Stella’s cheerful summer fun and anticipation of becoming a first grader are disturbed by a surprising turn of events. Grandpa falls over on his bicycle and is confined to a hospital bed for days. Their shared days at the quarry would have to wait. Stella is not as nervous about visiting Grandpa at the big hospital building now that she has become acquainted with a girl of her age who sits in a wheelchair. Stella is anxious to find a magic stone in her quarry with which she could wake Grandpa up. Whether it is thanks to the power of the stone or the affection of a small child that finally makes Grandpa open his eyes remains a mystery. – – – Stella and the Magic Stone has been published also in Finnish with the name Sanni ja taikakivi. – – – The writer Tuula Pere has written several children’s books and poems alongside her research project on questions pertaining to freedom of speech at the Faculty of Law in the University of Helsinki. Previously, she has worked as a lawyer and served in various expert and senior management positions in international corporations. – – – The illustrator Sanna Pelliccioni is a graphics designer and children’s book author. In addition to her own ‘Onni-poika’ children’s book series, she makes versatile illustration to children’s books and to nature books. – – – The publisher Wickwick is a Finnish publishing company specialized in children’s picture books, novels and poems. The books reflect a warm and tolerant view of life, which offers a peaceful background for enjoying stories, both for children and adults.

Stella’s cheerful summer fun and anticipation of becoming a first grader are disturbed by a surprising turn of events. Grandpa falls over on his bicycle and is confined to a hospital bed for days. Their shared days at the quarry would have to wait. Stella is not as nervous about visiting Grandpa at the big hospital building now that she has become acquainted with a girl of her age who sits in a wheelchair. Stella is anxious to find a magic stone in her quarry with which she could wake Grandpa up. Whether it is thanks to the power of the stone or the affection of a small child that finally makes Grandpa open his eyes remains a mystery. – – – – Stella and the Magic Stone has been published also in Finnish with the name Sanni ja taikakivi. – – – – The writer Tuula Pere has written several children’s books and poems alongside her research project on questions pertaining to freedom of speech at the Faculty of Law in the University of Helsinki. Previously, she has worked as a lawyer and served in various expert and senior management positions in international corporations. – – – – The illustrator Sanna Pelliccioni is a graphics designer and children’s book author. In addition to her own ‘Onni-poika’ children’s book series, she makes versatile illustration to children’s books and to nature books. – – – – The publisher Wickwick is a Finnish publishing company specialized in children’s picture books, novels and poems. The books reflect a warm and tolerant view of life, which offers a peaceful background for enjoying stories, both for children and adults.

Tuula Pere was born in Finland, in 1958, and spent some of her important childhood years in a small village in Eastern Finland. She moved to Helsinki at the end of the 1970’s when she began her studies at the University of Helsinki Faculty of Law. She got her Master’s degree in 1984, majoring in international civil law and comparative law. After two decades of professional career, Tuula Pere embarked upon studies to get a Ph.D. in law. She is currently preparing her doctoral thesis on questions pertaining to freedom of speech at the Faculty of Law in the University of Helsinki. She has previously worked as a lawyer and served in various expert and senior management positions in international corporations. Alongside her research project, Tuula Pere has also set about realizing another dream of hers. She has written several children’s books and poems. Tuula Pere is an avid music and sports enthusiast and a keen baker. She is married and a mother of three.