Bobble and POM Pom: The Surprise

A beautifully illustrated board book with a lovely vintage feel, charming characters, and a story about friendship.

Bobble and Pom Pom were going to play. But where is Pom Pom?

Bobble can’t find Pom Pom anywhere. Has Pom Pom forgotten? No, Pom Pom hasn’t forgotten. He’s busy making a surprise scarf for his best friend, Bobble.

Oili Tanninen is a celebrated Finnish illustrator and author with over twenty children’s books to her name. She has received several major awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen Certificate of Honour (three times over).

Tanninen is well-known for her beloved Nunnu book series from the 1960s and its playful use of words and illustration. An animated TV series was also created based on the books. Her works have been published in Finland, Japan, England, Croatia, and Sweden. Her simple yet bold illustrations in graphic colors make her artwork feel as fresh today as when the first books were published in the 1960s.

Oili Tanninen lived abroad for 24 years due to her husband’s work. The family first moved to Moscow in 1958 where her husband, Aarne Tanninen, worked as a Moscow correspondent for the newspaper Uusi Suomi. In later years, her family lived in London and Washington. Oili Tanninen lived in Helsinki, until her death in 2024.