Bonussisko
(Bonus Sister) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Earlier Jusa and mom have lived a quiet life just the two of them. Now there’s noise and ruckus, when mom’s new partner Outa and their daughter Kirsikka move in. Kirsikka is everywhere at the same time and wants to explore everything. Jusa is used to following from the sidelines and prefers more quiet games. The picturebook begins a book series, which has three volumes published.
Edited by: Lastenkirjainstituutti
Comment:
The picturebook tells a story of a blended family where two of the family members, Outa’s and Jusa’s, genders are not specified. There is only one third-person pronoun in the Finnish language: hän. Gender is not defined through the pronoun, so sometimes gender can be faded or left unstated. The children are different: Jusa is calm and Kirsikka is loud and speedy. Finding a new family dynamic takes time, and changes bring out a variety of emotions for the entire family.