Finnish children’s book loans break records for fourth consecutive year

Finnish libraries have set a new record for children’s book loans for the fourth year in a row, with over 40 million loans in 2025, according to figures from the copyright organization Sanasto.

Kaisa Laaksonen, director of the Finnish Institute for Children’s Literature, attributes the sustained growth to a diverse and high-quality selection of books for all ages. “Finland has an exceptionally strong range of children’s and young adult literature,” she said.

The trend is visible in local libraries, including in Pori, where children’s fiction loans exceeded 624,000 last year—nearly 38,000 more than in 2023. In Turku, loans reached 1.27 million, an increase of 175,400 from the previous year. Nonfiction loans for children in Pori also rose by over 8,000.

Salla Wahlman, children’s and youth services librarian at Pori’s main library, noted that while classics by authors like Mauri Kunnas, Sinikka and Tiina Nopola, and Timo Parvela remain popular, newer titles—such as Danish author Thomas Brunstrøm’s humorous Sallin isä series—are also in demand. She highlighted the growing diversity in children’s literature, reflecting varied family structures and identities.

Rising book prices, partly due to a VAT increase from 10% to 13.5% in 2025, may also be driving more families to borrow rather than buy. Wahlman added that libraries provide a safe space for children to explore reading, with staff offering recommendations beyond well-known series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.