Piret Jaaks
Nordic Writer
and Playwright
Here you'll find more information about my children's books
"Big Secret"
Author: Piret Jaaks
Illustrator: Marju Tammik
Iris comes home from kindergarten and sits in the corner of her room. She doesn't talk to her mom. Or her dad. Or her favorite aunt Miriam, who has come to visit. Iris has a BIG SECRET that sits between her stomach and throat and is getting heavier and heavier. Iris doesn't know how to get rid of it.
The story that won 1st place in the "New Children's Picture Book Competition" is about how sharing a secret makes the heart light again.
"Mommy's Dragon"
Author: Piret Jaaks
Illustrator: Marju Tammik
Piret Jaaks and Marju Tammik’s picture book, “Mommy’s Dragon” will delight young bookworms, and it can also provide comfort to their overwhelmed parents. Jaaks’s narrative is warmly written, showing empathy towards both children and adults. It concludes by reflecting on the dragons and strong emotions that reside within all of us - children and adults. Books that address emotional awareness often use imaginary beings to represent children’s emotions. However, Jaak’s book takes a different approach by portraying our emotions, making us parents more relatable. It helps us navigate these feelings alongside our children, setting a positive, human example. The book’s artful, vivid, and fresh illustrations provide an added reason to wholeheartedly embrace this book.
"Mommy's Dragon" has been published in Spain, Slovenia and Croatia and it has received a honorable recognition by having included into international Children Catalogue "The White Ravens" in 2020.
The book has been also honored with the Golden Pear award, a prestigious literary award for children’s and young adult books in Slovenia. It has also received several recognitions in Estonia including Great Children's Book of the Year in 2020.
"Child of Night"
Author: Piret Jaaks
Illustrator: Lumimari
The night can be scary and full of unknown things. Specially when your mom works a night shift and takes you to spend the night with granny. However, somethings the scariest things are the most interesting, at least for the Child of Night, who only appears when the moonlight shines through the window. Then the adventure begins, because Child of Night knows how to play hide and seek in the dark.
"Mr Maru's Blueberry Shop"
Author: Piret Jaaks
Illustrator: Joonas Sildre
Mr. Maru thinks the world is unfair because he has to go to kindergarten. But in reality, he would like to go to school and study business management like his father, who works in Japan. Instead, however, he is sent to a children's camp for the summer, where an invention competition begins, for which he must find inspiration from nature. But Maru is afraid of nature because he loves drawing cartoons and reading books instead. Fortunately, he finds a good solution.
The heartfelt story of Piret Jaaks shows us the way into the life of a special boy, which is made even more exciting by comic artist Joonas Sildre's illustrations.
"Mr Maru Blueberry Shop" was also nominated for the Tartu Children's Literature Award 2023.
"The Secret of the lost Sock"
Author: Piret Jaaks
Illustrator: Marion Undusk
Piret Jaaks's first children's book, which tells the Christmas story about the friendship between a modest sock named Volli and his rat companion. The book has inviting illustrations by Marion Undusk that convey both a fairytale and adventurous atmosphere.