Moomins! Did I mention that Jussi recently sent me a postcard from MoominWorld with an actual Moomin stamp and a Moomin postmark? Thanks, Jussi!

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.