Books & Music

An engaging and practical guided tour of the simple and nature-inspired ways that Finns stay happy and healthy--including the powerful concept of sisu, or everyday courage.

Forget hygge- it's time to blow out the candles and get out into the world! Journalist Katja Pantzar did just that, taking the leap to move to the remote Nordic country of Finland. What she discovered there transformed her body, mind, and spirit. In this engaging and practical guide, she shows readers how to embrace the "keep it simple and sensible" daily practices that make Finns one of the happiest populations in the world, year after year. Read about the power of Sisu in this exciting new Finnish book.

• Author: Katja Pantzar
• Language: English
• Measurements: 5.5 in x .5 in x 8.25 in
• Pages: 251, paperback

Secrets of good sauna building from a master sauna builder - Bert (Pertti) Olavi Jalasjaa! This How to build a sauna book covers everything you need to know about saunas building. If you plan plan on building a sauna then you must read this book. The sauna building book covers a brief history of Sauna, the different styles of Saunas and heaters, types of Saunas available, planning of the Sauna room, how the Sauna is actually built, and how to finish off your sauna so it is ready to fire up for the first time. The book has plans for different sized sauna rooms with different features - it really is the all encompassing how to build a sauna book. 

• Page Count: 88
• Type: Paperback
• Author: Bert (Pertti) Olavi Jalasjaa

Discover the Finnish quality of sisu and how cultivating it can help you lead a life of greater purpose and happiness.

This ancient Finnish word describes an attitude of courage, resilience, grit, tenacity and perseverance. This key psychological competence enables extraordinary action in times of adversity. To have sisu confers a further dimension of doing so with honesty, integrity and humility.

By cultivating sisu you can:

Sisu is a universal trait. It may have been bottled and labelled by the Finns, but it is within reach of everyone. It lies within you, and you are very likely to have used it already.

• Author: Joanna Nylund
• Language: English
• Pages: 158, hardcover
• Measurements:  5.5 in x .5 in x 8.25 in

From awkward interactions on public transportation to avoiding small talk with salespeople, introverts from all over the world will find something to love in this comic sensation from Finland.

Mild-mannered protagonist Matti is a typical Finn who appreciates peace, quiet, and personal space--but things do not always go according to his wishes. Finnish Nightmares is an illustrated collection of his and many people's worst fears when it comes to social interactions. Divided into sections on dealing with neighbors, going shopping, sharing public spaces, tense dining situations, and more, there is a comic for every squeamish scenario, from having to sing your own praises in a job interview, to being unable to leave your apartment because a neighbor is in the hallway. A fascinating look at Nordic culture, globe trotters and armchair travelers alike will enjoy this insider's glimpse into the local life and habits of Finland. With a charming and quirky universality, there is an awkward and laughable situation that everyone can relate to in Finnish Nightmares.

• Author: Karoliina Korhonen 
• Language: English
• Measurements: 7.3 x 0.6 x 5.3 inches
• Pages: 96, hardcover

A handy-sized Finnish cookbook, spiral bound recipe flipbook from the kitchen of Gerry Kangas, a Finnish American, part of Finns for Progress, which promotes Finnish culture. This "quick-flip" spiral bound recipe book is the exact size of your recipe cards! A great gift or stocking stuffer for friends and relatives. 

Recipes include Finnish fish chowder, banana and grape punch, beef soup, Finnish tuna salad, sandwich cake, holiday bread, country cheese omelet, chocolate porridge, baked trout, Finnish creamed carrots, dark fruit cake, and strawberry cream cheese cake.

• Author: Gerry Kangas
• Measurements: 5.5" x 3.5"
• Pages: 160, spiral flipbook

Danes have hygge.  Swedes have lagom.  But the Finns have the best - "kalsariokanni" or pantsdrunk – drinking at home, alone, in your underwear.

When it comes to happiness rankings, Finland always scores near the top.  Many Finnish phenomena set the bar high: the best education system, gender equality, a flourishing welfare state, sisu or bull-headed pluck.  Behind all of these accomplishments lies a Finnish ability to stay calm, healthy and content in a riptide of endless tasks and temptations.  The ability comes from the practice of "kalsarikanni" translated as pantsdrunk.

At its essence, pantsdrunk is an attitude toward life that liberates its practitioners from the day-to-day pressures and an overly compulsive reliance on social pretense. Getting a nice, warm buzz on your couch is the Finnish way to authentic personal recuperation-no sauna required!

So sit back, have a beer or a glass of wine handy, and flip through the pages of this guide to help you attain a state of transcendent relation the Finnish way.

• Author: Miska Rantanen
• Language: English
• Measurements:  5" x .5" X 7.5"
  
• Pages: 175, Hardcover

Read all about Finnish people living in Michigan's Upper Peninsula - the most densely populated Finnish-American area. Michigan's Upper Peninsula was a major destination for Finns during the peak years of migration in the nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth century. Several Upper Peninsula communities had large Finnish populations and Finnish churches, lodges, cooperative stores, and temperance societies. Ishpeming and Hancock, especially, were important nationally as Finnish cultural centers. Originally published in Finnish in 1967 by Armas K. E. Holmio, History of the Finns in Michigan, translated into English by Ellen M. Ryynanen, brings the story of the contribution of Finnish immigrants into the mainstream of Michigan history. Holmio combines firsthand experience and personal contact with the first generation of Finnish immigrants with research in Finnish-language sources to create an important and compelling story of an immigrant group and its role in the development of Michigan.

• Author: Armas K.E. Holmio
• Translator: Ellen M. Ryynanen
• Page Count: 512
• Type: Paperback

An interactive little adventure that introduces several curious creatures who live in Moominvalley

Pre-readers can sharpen hand-eye coordination as they join Moomintroll's search for that rascal Little My, who has found a very clever hiding place. Along the way, they will meet Moomintroll's family and many friends. The funny names--from Snufkin to Fillyjonk--beg to be sounded out and repeated again and again.

This adorable board book introduces babies and preschoolers to beloved characters from Swedish author-illustrator Tove Jansson's beloved Moominworld. Every book celebrates curiosity and promotes Moomin's core values: imagination, tolerance, humor, friendliness, and independence.

• Age Range: 1 - 3 years
• Author: Tove Jansson
  
• Language: English
• Measurements: 8.5" x 0.4" x 8.5"
• Pages: 24, Hardcover

Discover Moomintroll's favorite first words as you share his busy day all the way to bedtime.

Moomintroll takes the youngest readers through a day in his life, building simple vocabulary along the way. From dancing to book-browsing, the scenes depicted echo favorite moments in a child's own day, ending on a bedtime note.

This adorable board book introduces babies and preschoolers to beloved characters from Swedish author-illustrator Tove Jansson’s beloved Moominworld. Every book celebrates curiosity and promotes Moomin’s core values: imagination, tolerance, humor, friendliness, and independence.

• Author: Tove Jansson
  
• Language: English
• Measurements: 6.9" x 5.9" x .5"
• Pages: 16, Hardcover
• Age Range: 1 - 3 years

Count along with Moomintroll all the way from one to ten, and beyond!

Little ones can rely on the Moomins to make numbers fun. Moomintroll, Moominmamma, and the Snork Maiden help create a game out of learning to go from one to ten, and beyond, with everyday objects such as seashells and stars.

This adorable board book introduces babies and preschoolers to beloved characters from Swedish author-illustrator Tove Jansson’s beloved Moominworld. Every book celebrates curiosity and promotes Moomin’s core values: imagination, tolerance, humor, friendliness, and independence.

• Age Range: 1 - 3 years
• Author: Tove Jansson
  
• Language: English
• Measurements: 5.75" x 0.5" x 7.25"
• Pages: 16, Hardcover

• Author: Tarja Moles
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Language: English
• Dimensions: 5 x 0.3 x 7 inches

100 Things to do in the Upper Peninsula Before you Die, is the great Yoopers bucket list. Learn about the rustic sights and scenic beauty. The UP is pure solitude according to author Kath Usitalo, who grew up in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and vacationed in the Upper Peninsula often. 

• Author: Kath Usitalo
• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: Reedy Press 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 978-1-68106-088-0

Beatrice Ojakangas, the oldest of ten children, came by it naturally—the cooking but also the pluck and perseverance that she's served up with her renowned Scandinavian dishes over the years. In the wake of the Moose Lake fires and famine of 1918, Ojakangas tells us in this delightful memoir-cum-cookbook, her grandfather sent for a Finnish mail-order bride—and got one who’d trained as a chef.

Ojakangas’s stories, are, unsurprisingly, steeped in food lore: tales of cardamom and rye, baking salt cake at the age of five on a wood-burning stove, growing up on venison, making egg rolls for Chun King, and sending off a Pillsbury Bake Off–winning recipe without ever making it. And from here, how those early roots flourished through hard work and dedication to a successful (but never easy) career in food writing and a much wider world, from working for pizza roll king Jeno Paulucci to researching food traditions in Finland and appearing with Julia Child and Martha Stewart—all without ever leaving behind the lessons learned on the farm. As she says, “first you have to start with good ingredients and a good idea.”

Chock-full of recipes, anecdotes, and a kind humor that bring to vivid life the Finnish culture of northern Minnesota as well as the wider culinary world, Homemade delivers the savory and the sweet in equal measures and casts a warm light on a rich slice of the country’s cooking heritage.

• Author: Beatrice Ojakangas
• Language: English
  
• Pages: 184, Hardcover

19 amazing tracks of traditional Finnish music performed by Wil Kilpela & Friends. If you have ever heard this music, or wondering what it is, this is a great compilation of Finnish folk dance music.

• Artist: Wil Kilpela and Friends
• Volume 1

The Wil Kilpela and Friends Band is a wildly popular dance band from the Upper Peninsula featuring Finnish Dance Hall music. At the age of 15, Wil began playing the accordion and developed his own musical style. He learned many tunes by playing with local musicians and listening closely to musicians who traveled through the area, such as Viola Turpeinen, who inspired him greatly. Wil has played the accordion throughout his life, more so since his retirement as a civil engineer, and the formation of his own band, which has set the region’s dance floors afire for over a decade with lively polkas, and minor key waltzes, as well as swing, humppa, tango and jenkka. In 2002, Wil Kilpela was named as a master folk musician by the Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program through Michigan State University Museum in East Lansing, Michigan. His band of seasoned traditional Finnish musicians has been featured at many Finn Fests (in the United States and Canada), as well as countless dances, concerts, festivals, and Finnish and Scandinavian programs.

Michigan Tahquamenon Falls puzzle. Known for the breath taking waterfall. Enjoy this 1,000 piece Michigan puzzle at a family gathering. Photograph displays late September in the fall. 

• Pieces: 1,000
• Photographer: Phil Stagg
• Measurement: 27" x 20"
• Made in USA
• Interlocking

It is spring in the valley and the Moomins are ready for adventure! Moomintroll and his friends Snufkin and Sniff find the Hobgoblin's top hat, all shiny and new and just waiting to be taken home. They soon realize that his is no ordinary hat; it can turn anything―or anyone―into something else!

• Age Range: 9 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 4 - 7
• Series: Moomins (Book 2)
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Square Fish
• Language: English
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches

This high-definition Finnish documentary film features authentic re-enactments of the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland and Finland's spirited 105-day defense in a "frozen hell". This Finnish DVD begins with the aerial bombardment of Helsinki, fires rage in the city and dazed citizens run for their lives. Poorly equipped Finnish troops face a massive Red Army attack almost three times larger than the Allied landing at Normandy on D-Day. The Russians are confident of a quick victory. A Finnish poet, an American volunteer ambulance driver, and contemporary journalists and soldiers on both sides of the conflict give accounts, many from war diaries translated into English for the first time. Historians provide unique insight and perspective. Rare archive footage, enhanced by meticulous attention to historical detail in re-creating scenes, reveals the improvised Finnish defense with Molotov cocktails and crowbars and a unique female corps called Lotta Svaard. Outnumbered and outgunned, Finns knew the war was not about territory; it was a total war for their very existence as a people, and as temperatures descend to 50 below zero, their mastery of winter becomes a strategic advantage.

• Producer/Director/Writer: Ben Strout
• Released: 2005
• Length: 79 Minutes
• Produced in full color HD 16:9 Widescreen Format
• In English with English subtitles for Finnish speakers

The notecard set also makes a lovely gift for Marimekko fans and admirers; vintage enthusiasts; pattern people and color lovers; and design, fashion, and lifestyle aficionados.

Box with lift-off lid, 16 full-color cards, 16 envelopes (and there are 16 unique designs, so you'll never have to worry about sending the same card to the same person twice).

• Brand: Marimekko
• Designer: Aino-Maija Metsola
• Country: Designed in Finland, Printed in China
• Measurements: 16 Assorted Notecards - 5" x 7" (13 x 18 cm)

When a flood sweeps through the valley, the Moomins must find a new house. And with typical Moomin good luck, one just happens to be floating by. It looks normal enough, but there are curtains where one wall should be, strange rows of lights, and other odd amenities. Then Moomintroll and the Snork Maiden disappear, and the family realize that the house may hold the answers to more than they ever dreamed.

• Age Range: 9 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 4 - 7
• Series: Moomins (Book 5)
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Square Fish
• Language: English
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches

Michigan Northern Lights puzzle. Photograph taken at Brockway Mountain in the Keweenaw. Enjoy this 1,000 piece Michigan puzzle at a family gathering. 

• Pieces: 1,000
• Photographer: Phil Stagg
• Measurement: 27" x 20"
• Made in USA
• Interlocking

A revised and expanded Finnish book, Finnish Touches: Recipes And Traditions blends Finnish traditions and lore with mouth-watering recipes. The first half of Finnish Touches is devoted to engaging anecdotes, thoughts, and introductions to beloved Finnish cultural icons such as the sauna and sisu. The second half proves authentic Finnish cuisine ranging from Kaljakeitto (Finnish Beer Cheese Soup); Klimpit (Finnish Dumplings); and Rieska (Finnish Flat Barley Bread); to Sillisalaatti (Herring Salad); Lammasmuhennos (Finnish Simmered Lamb); and Illmapuuro (Finnish Air Pudding). Color and black-and-white photographs enhance this joyous 160-page book. Highly recommended celebration of Finnish cultural and culinary heritage.

• Page Count: 160
• Type: Paperback
• Color Photography

Confront life's challenges courageously and gracefully with this beautifully illustrated, guide to sisu, the Finnish concept of resilience.
 
Often translated as resilience or perseverance, the Finnish concept of sisu is about never giving up, no matter how impossible a task may seem. At its heart lies the idea of getting back up from any failure, whether it be losing a job or the end of a relationship, and having the courage to use that experience to grow. So, if you’re running a marathon and feel like you’ve hit a wall or have a great business idea but feel too frightened to try it, channeling sisu can help you overcome both mental and physical blocks. This friendly introductory guide, filled with inspirational quotes, explains how to embrace sisu and incorporate its principles into your daily life. Learn how to welcome change with open arms and turn difficult situations into opportunities for self-reflection.

• Author: Justyn Barnes
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Language: English
• Dimensions:  6.75 in X 6 in X .75 in

With a maid to help around the house, will the Moomins become respectable?

A housekeeping and mother-craft expert named Mrs. Fillyjonk moves in next door to the Moomins. Seeing the state of the Moomin house, she takes action, shaming them into hiring a maid. When Misabel the maid arrives, it's immediately clear she needs a little cheering up, and since Mrs. Fillyjonk has mysteriously disappeared, the Moomins set about teaching her how to enjoy life. Lessons and poignant reminders of the importance of simple pleasures abound in Moominmamma's Maid, the classic tale from Tove Jansson.

Another classic Moomin story reworked in full color, with a kid-proof but kid-friendly size, price, and format. The story is laid out in a format like a comic book, where there are multiple smaller pictures with scenes on them each page. 

• Age Range: 7 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 4 - 7
• Series: Moomin
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly (November 24, 2015)
• Language: English
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 0.2 x 6.1 inches

Michigan Mackinac Bridge puzzle. Connecting the upper peninsula of Michigan to the lower peninsula. Enjoy this 1,000 piece Michigan puzzle at a family gathering. 

• Pieces: 1,000
• Photographer: Phil Stagg
• Measurement: 27" x 20"
• Made in USA
• Interlocking

Michigan Lake of the Clouds puzzle. Located in the Porcupine Mountains of Northern Michigan. Photograph displays beautiful autumn colors. Enjoy this 1,000 piece Michigan puzzle at a family gathering. 

• Pieces: 1,000
• Photographer: Phil Stagg
• Measurement: 27" x 20"
• Made in USA
• Interlocking

Enjoy 202 of the best and easiest waterfalls found in Michigan. Spectacular pictures, detailed maps for driving and hiking, GPS coordinates and SO MUCH MORE is packed into this guidebook. This contains about 30 percent of the waterfalls found in the four book series, Waterfalls of Michigan - The Definitive Guide.

• Author: Phil Stagg
• Pages: 360, paperback
• Language: English
• Measurements: 7" x 10"
• Full Color

Michigan Bond Falls puzzle. Photograph taken at the West end of the Upper Peninsula. Enjoy this 1,000 piece Michigan puzzle at a family gathering. 

• Pieces: 1,000
• Photographer: Phil Stagg
• Measurement: 27" x 20"
• Made in USA

Al Capone and the Purple Gang came north to keep Canadian whiskey passing through Sault Ste. Marie to Chicago and Detroit. Federal enforcement agent John Fillion double-crossed both his office and the bootleggers. The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island survived due to gambling and fine Canadian whiskey brought in by rumrunners, sometimes assisted by the Coast Guard. Author Russell M. Magnaghi dives into the raucous history of Yooper Prohibition.

• Author: Russel Magnaghi
• Language: English
• Measurement: 6" x .3" x 9"
• Pages: 144, Paperback

For the first time in over a century, a complete history of the U.P.—from prehistoric origins to the present—is available.
Drawing on oral histories, newspapers, census data, archives and libraries, Russell M. Magnaghi has written the seminal history of a very "special place" as seen through the eyes of the men and women who have lived here—the famous and not
so famous.

• Author: Russell. M Magnaghi
• Pages: 210, paperback
• Language: English

Da vait is over!

Everyone can use a good laugh once in a while and this collections of Ole & Lena jokes are just the ticket! Quaint and well-meaning, Ole & Lena jokes celebrate the quirky folk humor of the Scandinavian immigrant community. You’ll laugh ’til your socks fall down! 

• Author: Mike & Else Sevig
• Language: English
• Measurements: 5" x 7"
• Pages: 48, Softcover

For the Love of Licorice contains sixty exciting and delicious recipes for everything from licorice fudge and salt licorice ice cream to licorice Tosca cake, licorice-marinated lamb, and licorice liqueur. These recipes are proof that there are no boundaries to how this trendy and healthy root can be used in food and sweets.

Along with recipes, this book also provides facts about the world’s most delicious root and what it can be used for:

• Raw licorice
• Licorice granules
• Licorice powder
• Salty licorice
• And more!

For the Love of Licorice is an informative read that proves not only does licorice taste good, but it’s also good for you!

• Author: Elizabeth Johansson
• Language: English
• Measurements: 7.5 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Pages: 144, Hardcover

Da vait is over!

Everyone can use a good laugh once in a while and this collections of Ole & Lena jokes are just the ticket! Quaint and well-meaning, Ole & Lena jokes celebrate the quirky folk humor of the Scandinavian immigrant community. You’ll laugh ’til your socks fall down!

• Author: Mike & Else Sevig
• Language: English
• Measurements: 5" x 7"
• Pages: 48, Softcover

Make time for the things that really matter in life. Find balance and happiness in your daily life, the Scandinavian way, with The Scandinavian Guide to Happiness!

There’s a reason Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden consistently rank as the top 5 happiest countries on earth! Find out the secrets to their happiness and fulfillment in The Scandinavian Guide to Happiness, which shares centuries of Nordic wisdom, including: 

- Lykke: Happiness is all around you (Denmark)
- Lagom: Just the right amount—not too much, not too little (Sweden)
- Fika: Taking daily coffee breaks and other comforting rituals (Sweden)
- Hygge: Coziness brings comfort, courage, and happiness (Denmark)
- Sisu: Everyday courage, grit, and determination & acting rationally in the face of adversity

These basic principles will help you see how to have a happy life without buying anything, changing yourself, or making any other crazy drastic changes! Topics include Simplicity, Happiness, Health & Wellness, Relationships, Nature-Inspired Living, and more. Full of inspiring, encouraging ideas—and charming illustrations!—this thoughtful Scandinavian guide is sure to put a happy glow on your life. 

• Language: English
• Measurements: 4.5" x .7" x 7"
• Pages: 208, Hardcover

Moominmamma and Moomintroll need to find a home for the winter, someplace where sun is plentiful and safe from the dangers of the unknown. But before they can settle down, they must cross a dark and sinister forest and find their way through a flood of epic proportions, all the while hoping that they will find Moominpappa again. Their journey seems daunting but they forge ahead, with Moominmamma's kindness and patience giving Moomin the courage he needs to face the strange, unexplored path that lies ahead of them

• Age Range: 2-6 years
• Author: Tove Jansson
  
• Language: English
• Measurements: 11" x 8" x .3"
• Pages: 28, Hardcover

Moominmamma and Moomintroll need to find a home for the winter, someplace where sun is plentiful and safe from the dangers of the unknown. But before they can settle down, they must cross a dark and sinister forest and find their way through a flood of epic proportions, all the while hoping that they will find Moominpappa again. Their journey seems daunting but they forge ahead, with Moominmamma's kindness and patience giving Moomin the courage he needs to face the strange, unexplored path that lies ahead of them

• Age Range: 5-11 years
• Author: Tove Jansson
  
• Language: English
• Measurements: 6.85" x 5" x 109"
• Pages: 64, Hardcover

Moomintroll wakes up bursting with happiness on his birthday...but his friends seem to have forgotten all about it!

On his birthday, Moomintroll wakes up full of excitement. It will surely be the most wonderful day. But when his friends all seem to be too busy to help him celebrate, it doesn't feel wonderful at all―until a happy surprise comes knocking. Kids will be amused to see that even in placid Moominvalley, birthdays can be emotional roller-coasters.

This adorable Moomin book introduces young children to beloved characters from author-illustrator Tove Jansson’s beloved Moominworld. Every book celebrates curiosity and promotes Moomin’s core values: imagination, tolerance, humor, friendliness, and independence.

• Age Range: 2-6 years
• Author: Tove Jansson
  
• Language: English
• Measurements: 8.8" x 0.4" x 7.67"
• Pages: 32, Hardcover

• Brand: Marimekko
• Designer: Aino-Maija Metsola
• Country: Designed in Finland, Printed in China
• Measurements: 4.7" x .65" x 9.15"
• Includes 2 notepads and 8 pads of sticky flags

The notecard set also makes a lovely gift for Marimekko fans and admirers; vintage enthusiasts; pattern people and color lovers; and design, fashion, and lifestyle aficionados.

Box with lift-off lid, 20 full-color cards, 20 envelopes (and there are 20 unique designs, so you'll never have to worry about sending the same card to the same person twice).

• Brand: Marimekko
• Designer: Maija ja Kristina Isola
• Country: Designed in Finland, Printed in China
• Measurements: 20 Assorted Notecards - 4.25" x 5.5"