Vietnamese rights to The Mythicals and Radio Popov sold to Kim Dong in three-book deal

The Mythicals series by Milla Westin and international bestseller Radio Popov by Anja Portin are now travelling to Vietnam, where they will be published by Kim Dong.

Wonderful news for our children’s list: the Vietnamese rights to The Mythicals series by Miila Westin and Radio Popov by Anja Portin have been sold to Kim Dong in a three-book deal.

Endless Winter (Loputon talvi, S&S 2023)

The Mythicals series is a graphic novel series that beautifully blends together Finnish mythology, adventure, and stunning illustrations. In Endless Winter (Mythicals #1) we follow little Eevi, who is mourning the loss of her grandfather while snow continues to fall, even though it’s June. One day, after receiving a curious necklace from her grandmother, Eevi starts to see forest creatures, like Otso the gnome and the crop elves, whose existence she ignored. They know why winter seems to be endless, and have a plan to save spring that will lead them all the way to the Underworld. It’s their chance to save the spring, but is it also Eevi’s chance to bring Grandpa back?

A Dangerous Dream (Vaarallinen uni, S&S 2024)

In A Dangerous Dream (Mythicals #2) Eevi is lonely: after their successful adventure, none of her friends has been in touch, and no one believed her when she explained what happened. Then, one night Otso comes knocking at her window and asking for her help. His sister is sick, and Eevi’s necklace could be the key to saving her, so she goes along. But why does Eevi keep having scary dreams? And are they really just dreams?

Radio Popov by Anja Portin is one of the most successful children’s books of the last years: it won the Finlandia Junior upon its release, and has already travelled to 25 language territories. Radio Popov follows Alfred, a nine-year-old boy who lives virtually alone. His mother is not in the picture and his father is constantly busy with work and business trips. During one of these business trips Alfred is left alone for so long he runs out of food, and electricity is cut off.

When everything seems lost, Alfred is saved by a mysterious stranger who delivers food and woollen socks in lonely children’s letterboxes. It is the beginning of a wonderful adventure that will lead Alfred to a new family, and to saving more forgotten children. Alfred’s story is moving, and touches on social issues, but also contains joy, friendship, and a happy ending. The story, where children are left to their own devices with their problems in the face of absent or unhelpful adults is reminiscent of literary classics like the works of Astrid Lindgren and Roald Dahl.

Kim Dong is the leading publishing house in Vietnam and the largest publishing house for children’s literature, boasting over 1000 titles per year. The publisher provides a wide range of collections and genres, and has been co-operating internationally with, among others, HarperCollins UK, Simon and SchusterUK, Shogakukan Inc., and Seoul Publishing House.

Warm congratulations to the authors and the publisher!