Bukva
Oummu rââst raaj – People cross the borders has produced new, much-needed Skolt Saami children's literature in the form of a Skolt Saami alphabet book! The book is called Bukva and it was published on Sámi National Day, February 6th 2026.
Bukva is a Skolt Saami children’s book which includes the alphabet used in Skolt Saami language with a word and a picture for every letter. With Bukva, children can get to know the letters and vocabulary of the Skolt Saami language and learn to read through an inspiring and interestingly illustrated book.
The author of the book is Taarna Valtonen, and the working group includes Kimberli Mäkäräinen, Mariann Bernhardt and Lempi Lehtinen. The graphic design was carried out by Oummu rââst raaj project with Lempi Lehtinen as the designer.
Bukva lij sääʹmǩiõllsaž päärnaiǩeʹrjj, mâʹst liâ puk sääʹmǩiõl bukva. Juõʹǩǩ bukva õhttvuõđâst lij sääʹmǩiõllsaž õuddmiârkksääʹnn da kaart. Ǩeʹrjj vieʹǩǩat paaʹrnid tobdstõõttâd sääʹmǩiõl bukvaid da ǩeeʹrjtemvuâkka di mättõõllâd lookkâd älšmõʹtti da miõl ǩieʹssi kaaʹrti vieʹǩǩin.
Ǩeeʹrj lij raajjâm Taarna Valtonen õõutveäkka tuâjj-jooukin Kimberli Mäkäräinen, Mariann Bernhardt da Lempi Lehtinen. Oummu rââst raaj -haʹŋǩǩõõzz tuâjjlaž Lempi Lehtinen lij tåimmam graaflaž plaaneeʹjen. Haʹŋǩǩõs lij ǩeeʹrj čõõđteei še.
E-book
Bukva is available for everyone as an e-book, free of charge. Below you can find Bukva as a PDF book. You can also find it from Google Play Books and Internet Archives, both links are below.
Kukka Kiprianoff reading Bukva at the book release in Äʹvv Skolt Saami Museum, Joni Gauriloff on the left. Photo: Äʹvv Skolt Saami Museum.
Bukva is available free of charge primarly to the use of early childhood education and schools around Finland and Sør-Varanger municipality, and a limited amount of the books is available for Skolt Saami children and families too. It is also available to be borrowed from libraries around Finland as well as Sør-Varanger bibliotek, the library in Kirkenes. In addition, the book is published as an e-book available for everyone free of chrage.
📍 DISTRIBUTION PLACES, FINLAND:
Inari Municipal Library
📚 Available for loan at the Inari Main Library and for order in any library in the network of Lapin kirjasto (Lapland Library).
🎁 Free copies available at the Inari Main Library.
Rovaniemi City Library
📚 Available for loan at the Rovaniemi Main Library and for order in any library in the network of Lapin kirjasto.
🎁 Free copies are available upon request from the service desk in the main lobby of the Rovaniemi Main Library.
Oulu City Library
📚 Available for loan at the Central Library Saari and for order in any Oulu City Library.
🎁 Free copies available at the Central Library Saari.
Helmet libraries, Helsinki capital region
📚 Available for loan at the Helsinki Central Library Oodi from week 10 onwards and for order in any library in the network of Helmet libraries in the Helsinki capital region.
Cultural Centre Caisa, Helsinki
🎁 Free copies available at the information desk in Cultural Centre Caisa.
📍 DISTRIBUTION PLACES, NORWAY:
Äʹvv Saaʹmi Muʹzei (Äʹvv Skolt Saami Museum), Neiden
🎁 Free copies available at the Äʹvv Skolt Saami Museum.
Sør-Varanger Library, Kirkenes
📚 Available for loan at the Sør-Varanger Library.
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