Edgar Valter - Pokuraamat and Pokus

Pokuraamat and Pokus

First published in 1994, the Pokuraamat (book of pokus) tells the tale of pokus. A poku is a grass mound that grows in south-eastern Estonian bogs. In the book, Valter interprets pokus as animated childlike creatures, the grass actually being their golden head hair, which grows down to their feet. Its central theme, other than amusing its readers, is emphasizing the need to respect and to live in harmony with nature. The Pokuraamat was the first book that was both written and illustrated by Edgar Valter. In 1996, the Pokuraamat won the prestigious Nukits contest award for best children book of the year. Edgar Valter wrote two subsequent poku-related books: Pokuaabits (poku alphabet) (2002) and Pokulood (poku nature) (2004).