Monday, July 23, 2007

Tove Jansson and the Moomin Books




After reading The Summer Book and The Winter Book, I went immediately to look up the Moomin Books. And what a wonderful discovery this has been ... thanks to Simon of Stuck-in-a-Book for recommending this Finnish writer and illustrator. The Moomin stories have been translated into 35 languages. She was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen medal in 1966.

The characters who live in Moominland are entirely charming. Besides Moominpappa and Moominmamma and Moomintroll, there are Thingamy and Bob, Misabel and Hemulen, Too-ticky and Sniff, Snufkin and Groke, Little My and Snork Maiden who has taken a fancy to Moomintroll..

Moomins generally sleep through the winter, but one January morning, Moomintroll woke to find the valley covered in strange white-stuff. Little My is awake too and having a wonderful time sledding on Moominmamma's tea tray.

1 comment:

StuckInABook said...

I must admit, despite loving The Summer Book and A Winter Book, the nearest I have ever got to the Moomin books is watching the cartoon series as a child... and obviously they're worth seeking out! Jansson is swiftly becoming one of my favourite authors. Just bought Fair Play, which was translated into English and published this year. Can't wait.