Do you know the Moomins? Last year the Snook introduced me to this utterly charming series of children’s books from Finnish author Tove Jansson. I had never heard of them in the US before, and I’ve never come across anyone outside of his family that have heard of them here in Australia. (I am sure Jussi will chime in with a comment about their popularity in Finland.) I can’t get enough of these stories. He reads them to me at bedtime, and we’re nearly at the end of Comet in Moominland. They’re some of the funniest children’s books I’ve ever come across, and in a just world Moomintroll, the Snook Maiden, Sniff, and Snufkin would be as popular as Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger. And check it out: there’s an actual Moominland! We’re so going to Finland. If you like children’s books – and we’re talking Dahl, Milne, Lewis territory here – I highly recommend you pick one up.
9 responses
I grew up in britain, and got to watch the moomins on tv, I never read the books, I loved them. My Estonian cousin in law, read the books, and has stuff for her kids. Totally great stuff, and love to hear that you enjoy the stories too.
i’ve never read the books, but like kathy, used to watch the moomins on television. i had a moomin mug for a while. that was cool.
I have never heard of them. Are they picture books to novels for children?
Hmmm, provoke. Should i… ;-))
Mostly novel type books, but they do have some pictures. Come on Jussi, tell us about the Moomins! (If we do make it to Finland, you MUST take us to Moominland!)
The Snook has good taste! I used to read these books as a child too.
I LOVED those books when I was a kid. And when I grew up, I bought a Moominhouse complete with Moomin action figures for a friggin’ fortune on eBay. And it was worth it.
There was a Moomin figure for sale at San Diego comiccon a couple of years ago and the salesman said that I was the only person who knew what it was. I don’t know if that makes me really cool or the biggest geek there.
I just write a three different version abaut moomins, non of those works, it’s
not easy. I need a little more time.
I hope you don’t mind if i send you an
e-mail next week, then you can publish
it (or part of it) if you like. Is that ok?
My son (age 37) still loves moomins. I found bound copies of the original newspapers for him in a book store in Seattle, WA and have just presented him with a moomin toy from Eric Snook in Covent Garden, London. He has demanded a moomin lunch box for his next birthday. I would dearly love to find the tv series on DVD but have yet to discover where to obtain one.