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Photo of Kaarina Brooks

Kaarina Brooks

Author/Illustrator

6205 Third Line Essa
R.R. # 2
Alliston, ON
L9R 1V2
Phone: (705) 435-2786
Email: Web: kaarinabrooks.com

Born: Finland. 22 November
Family: hubby: Brian Brooks; daughters: Taria & Katri; three grandsons and one sweet little granddaughter.

Biography

Kaarina Brooks, born in Kuopio, Finland, is a retired elementary school teacher. She immigrated to Canada as a child in 1951 with her family. Writing and art have always played a big part in her life and she and her sister even had their own "publishing company" (Parviaisten Tyttöjen Osake-yhtiö) which "published" several hard cover (ie. cardboard) novels as well as anthologies of stories and poetry.

As an adult, Kaarina has finally had her poems and stories "really" published. They have appeared in magazines, anthologies e-zines and literary journals. She also has translated and illustrated three books of Finnish folk tales for children and Scholastic Canada published her book "A Fine Day on the Lake" as part Scholastic Literacy Place for the Early Years. Simply Read Books published her translated work, "The Kalevala—Tales of Magic and Adventure". This beautiful book recently won the 2009 Aesop Award from the American Folklore Society. In 2004 Kaarina self-published and illustrated a bi-lingual book of her own poetry "It's the FINN in Me".

Published Works

The Kalevala—Tales of Magic and Adventure, Simply Read Books, 2009 A Fine Day on the Lake, Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2007 Bear, Finnish Folk Tales for Children, Aspasia Books, 2005 Peikko, The Foolish Ogre, Aspasia Books, 2003
Foxy, Finnish Folk Tales for Children, Aspasia Books, 2002

Performances

Finnish Grand Festival, Sudbury ON: Presentation on "Translating The Kalevala" Franklin Gardens, Toronto Island,ON: "Songs and Stories Around the World", 2008, 2007, 2006

Awards

Aesop Award from the American Folklore Society, 2009

Other Memberships

Romance Writers of America, Toronto Romance Writers, FATA (Finnish American Translators Association), Finnish North American Literature Association (FinNALA)

Available For

Library and classroom presentations/readings on folk tales.