To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Rotary Club of Helsinki will donate Timo Parvela’s new book My Friend Vakko to every fourth grade pupil in Helsinki. The book, illustrated by Pasi Pitkänen, will be delivered to schools next autumn along with reading promotion events and pedagogical support materials.
Author Timo Parvela highlights the importance of stories: “Every child needs a castle built from tales and stories.” The book will also be published in Swedish, translated by Marjut Hökfelt.
Club President Kalle Virtapohja explains that the initiative stems from concern over declining reading skills among children. According to PIRLS, the share of weak readers among Finnish ten year olds has doubled in the past decade. PISA 2022 results show that only 56% of Finnish ninth graders reach the reading proficiency required for further studies.
Jenni Haukio, Director of Public Affairs and Responsibility at Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, considers the initiative an important example of cross sector cooperation in literacy work and notes that book gifts can have long term positive effects on children’s reading habits.
My Friend Vakko follows a Karelian boy, Veikko, and his pet pig on an evacuation journey during wartime. Pasi Pitkänen’s vivid illustrations invite even reluctant readers. Author Siri Kolu is preparing a set of classroom activities to support teachers. This autumn will also feature related events at the Helsinki Book Fair and at the National Theatre, where the Fourth Graders’ Book Celebration will take place on 24 November.
