Anja Salokannel (1947) is a celebrated Finnish publisher, author, and translator who has received the Order of the White Rose of Finland (gold cross with medal) and Estonia’s Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (fourth class). She has translated most of Jaan Kaplinski’s works, as well as books by Ülo Tuulik, Viivi Luik, A. H. Tammsaare, Leelo Tungal, and many others, into Finnish.

Estonian people are lucky, because they have so brilliant writers, who write also to children.
I appreciate above all two of them: Ellen Niit and Leelo Tungal. Both of them are poets and their works have been treasure already for several generations. Their optimistic outlook of life can be read from their books and it brings joy and safety to their tiny readers and listeners.