Jonna Björnstjerna
Jonna Björnstjerna has been scaring children since 2007 with her books about ghosts, trolls, monsters and whatever else goes bump in the night. Most of the time it is the family of the wonderful Rabbits that feature as the unfortunate protagonists, but sometimes Jonna writes about humans too. Apart from creating her own stories, Jonna also lends her drawing hand to other authors. Her illustrations are reminiscent of both Edward Gorey and John Bauer, with elements of fear and romance like in classics fairy tales, but her biggest influence as an illustrator is actually Quentin Blake. Jonna trained at Serieskolan in Malmö and at Central Saint Martins in London, where she studied illustration and graphic design.
Jonna has won multiple awards for her books. For example, her debut picture book The Tale of the Wonderful Rabbit Family and the Monster in the Forest was awarded the Bokjuryn prize (picture books) in 2007. The Sweetie Monster, another picture book in the same series, was the picture book category winner again in 2010. Bokjuryn Solna – Sundbyberg awarded her books The Ghost Train and The Spaceship first prize in 2019 and 2020.
Jonna is a total anglophile, which is why she has lived in the UK for over ten years. She spent most of them in London, before moving to Bristol in 2019 where she still lives now with a big dog and a man called Ben.
Books by Jonna Björnstjerna
Day of the Dead
Jonna Björnstjerna
It is finally time for All Hallows Eve, or The Day of the Dead, as it is called in the Fairy Tale Forest! It is the day when regular rabbits, gnomes and trolls can visit their graves in The Valley of the Dead without being chased by vampires or a hun…
Swedish title: Sagan om den underbara familjen Kanin och Döingarnas dag
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 01-10-2024
Format: 195 x 260mm, 32 pages, colour
Ella Dares
Lin Hallberg
Step into the magical pet store! Here there is an animal for every child and a shop keeper who knows exactly which animal each child needs. “The Magical Pet Shop” is a series of easy-to-read books that are perfect to kick start a desire to read. With…
Swedish title: Ella vågar
Series: The Magic Pet shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 01-07-2024
Format: 148 x 210 mm, 64 pages, colour
The Enchanted Castle
Jonna Björnstjerna
Every self-respecting royal family has a castle dragon. But now, the dragon of the Enchanted Forest has started nibbling at the courtiers and smashing towers in the castle. That simply won’t do!This year’s edition of the castle’s popular public festi…
Swedish title: Fångarna på slottet
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 18-09-2023
Format: 195 x 260 mm, 32 pages, colour.
Bo’s Best Friends
Lin Hallberg
It’s crowded at Bo’s house. He has lots of brothers and sisters, and there is definitely no room for a pet. So, naturally, the lady in the magic pet shop knows exactly what kind of animal Bo needs. Perhaps it will help him learn to count?This is the…
Swedish title: Bos bästis
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 04-07-2022
Format: 148 x 210 mm, 64 pages, colour
The Return of the Mummy
Jonna Björnstjerna
It’s Friday in Wonderwoods and Lillebror Rabbit is going to spend a cosy Friday evening and have a sleepover at Grandma Rabbit’s house. But in the middle of the night, he is woken by a terrible scream. To his horror, Lillebror discovers that Granny h…
Swedish title: Mumiens återkomst
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 24-09-2021
Format: 195 x 260 mm, 32 pages, colour
The Flora & Fauna of Wonderwoods
Jonna Björnstjerna
Welcome to the magical and fascinating world of Wonderwoods!A place for everyone who loves the Rabbit Family and enjoys following their adventures in both the beautiful and scary parts of the forest. This is the perfect introduction and key to unders…
Swedish title: Sagoskogens flora och fauna
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 24-09-2021
Format: 196 x 260 mm, 64 pages, colour
Look at Indy
Lin Hallberg
Animals, magic and clever illustrations all feature in these wonderful extra-easy-to-read books that are just perfect for awakening a love of reading.Step into the Magic Pet Shop. There is an animal for every child and a shop assistant who knows prec…
Swedish title: Titta på Indy
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 29-06-2021
Format: 148 x 210 mm, 64 pages, colour
Noa’s Journey
Lin Hallberg
Animals, magic and funny and clever illustrations all feature in these wonderful extra-easy-to-read books that are just perfect for awakening a love of reading. Step into the Magic Pet shop. There is an animal for every child and a shop assistant who…
Swedish title: Noas resa
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 01-07-2020
Format: 148 x 210 mm, 64 pages, colour
The Spaceship
Jonna Björnstjerna
It’s the most beautiful starry night in Wonderwoods and the entire Rabbit family have gone to the Observatory to look at stars and planets. Lillebror Rabbit loves everything about space. The moon looks so nice and round through the telescope. But wai…
Swedish title: Sagan om den underbara familjen Kanin och Rymdskeppet
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 20-05-2020
Format: 195 x 260 mm, 32 pages, colour
Save Ruth
Lin Hallberg
Animals, magic and cool illustrations – this easy-to-read book by Lin Hallberg and Jonna Björnstjerna is perfect for making reading fun and exciting.Step into The Magic Pet Shop, where there is an animal for every child and the shop assistant knows j…
Swedish title: Rädda Rut
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 02-07-2019
Format: 148x210 mm, 64 pages, color
The Ghost Train
Jonna Björnstjerna
There is a rumor about a ghost train in Wonderwoods – can that be true? Well, that’s 100% true!Lillebror Rabbit is told about it at the local train club. Still, he accidentally jumps in that very train as he hurries home that night.Once the little Ra…
Swedish title: Sagan om den underbara familjen Kanin och Spöktåget
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 06-05-2019
Format: 195x260 mm, 32 pages, coloor
The Mischievous Bruno
Lin Hallberg
Step into the magical pet shop where there is a perfect animal for every child and a shopkeeper that knows which pet that is. Bruno’s mum says that he has to go out. He can’t sit at home in front of the computer all day. His mum thinks he should go a…
Swedish title: Brunos bus
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 02-07-2018
Format: 148 x 210 mm, 64 pages, colour
Uncle Grumpy
Jonna Björnstjerna
Believe it or not – the wonderful rabbit family are back. This time in a rather scary adventure with rabbit-eating trolls and a grumpy man in the woods. A fun, exciting and slightly scary world of pictures for youngsters.Mamma Rabbit is sitting at th…
Swedish title: Sagan om den underbara familjen Kanin och Farbror Elände
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 07-09-2017
Format: 195x260mm, 32 pages, colour
Ester’s Longing
Lin Hallberg
Every child needs a pet – and that’s something that the sales assistant in the magical pet shop knows. Ester sits and looks out of the window of the basement room her family now lives in. She can see the street outside and it’s new and unfamiliar. Ho…
Swedish title: Ester längtar
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 03-07-2017
Format: 148 x 210mm, 64 pages, color
A Friend to Leo
Lin Hallberg
Swedish title: En kompis till Leo
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 30-06-2016
Nova’s Secret
Lin Hallberg
Nova dreams of having a pet of her very own. Luckily there is a magic pet shop in town. This is a new series with magic, excitement and cute animals. Very easy-to-read with text in capital letters. Lin Hallberg, author of the immensely popular horse…
Swedish title: Novas hemlighet
Series: The Magic Pet Shop
Category: Children
Pub date: 01-07-2015
Format: 148x210 mm, 64 pages, color
The Silent Steps Behind
Jonna Björnstjerna
Why does Elsa have to move to the country just because mum and dad have decided to open a guesthouse? And the new house is of course a really old mansion with creaking walls, dismal rooms and winding hallways. It’s not even fun to explore the overgro…
Swedish title: De tysta stegen bakom
Category: Children
Pub date: 22-04-2015
Format: 125x197 mm, 160 pages
The Kraken
Jonna Björnstjerna
Lillebror Rabbit does not like swimming, it´s so wet. And especially not in the Deep Sea which is so scary. When Lillebror finally dares to jump in, Storebror yells “A monster!” scaring Lillebror who jumps out pretty quickly. But there was nothing th…
Swedish title: Djupsjöns hemlighet
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 15-04-2013
Format: 32 pg, 195x260mm, Colour
The Gobbler
Jonna Björnstjerna
Why are kids not allowed to eat sweets every day? Why can they only eat sweets on Saturday?Because it’s the only day in the week when THE GOBBLER sleeps. On any other day the monster will come and take away children who eat sweets!But can this really…
Swedish title: Godistrollet
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 16-03-2010
Format: 32 pages, 190x260 mm, colour
The Frightful Witch
Jonna Björnstjerna
Being brave is easier said than done… Lillebror Rabbit is visiting his lovely grandmother. Everything should be fine, but somehow he gets lost in the forest again. Luckily he meets the kind Delightful Witch, who invites him back to her house to rest…
Swedish title: Fru Skräck
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 16-03-2009
Format: 32 pages, 190x260mm, colour
The Monster In The Forest
Jonna Björnstjerna
This is a cozy and scary story for 3 – 6 year-olds – but it’s wonderful too!Lillebror Rabbit lives with his wonderful family in the wonderful part of the forest. But … there’s a terrible part too! In that part all the colours have disappeared, everyb…
Swedish title: Sagan om den underbara familjen Kanin och monstret i skogen
Series: The Dark Tales of Lillebror Rabbit
Category: Children
Pub date: 12-03-2007
Format: 32 pages, 190 x 260 mm, colour