About
The Book About Moomin, Mymble and Little My Synopsis
Finnish artist Tove Jansson's Moomin stories have been continually in print for more than half a century, in 35 languages.
They are among Europe's best loved and enduring children's classics, and through the TV animation (BBC2), the warm-hearted, whimsical creatures of Moomin valley have been brought to a new younger British audience.
Introducing the first Sort Of Children's Classic in a new English version by Sophie Hannah.
Sort of Books proudly presents the original full colour Moomin picture book with its irresistible cut-out page designs and playful rhyming text in a new version by one of Britain's star poets.
About This Edition
Press Reviews
Tove Jansson Press Reviews
'Brilliant new edition. Sophie Hannah's text teases and beguiles at every turn' Kate Kellaway - Observer
'Full of the particular magic that only Tove Jansson can evoke'. Philip Pullman - Financial Times
'An effective page-turner loaded with appealing psychedelic characters and exciting, eerrie locations' Times Educational Supplement
'Thanks to Sophie Hannah's wonderful verse adaptation appeals to children and adults alike' Daily Telegraph
'Delightful, and has an oddness to which modern illustrators might aspire' Sunday Times
'A most welcome new edition of this brilliant picture book. A real classic' Financial Times Pick of the Month
Author
About Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson (1914 – 2001), was born in 1914 in Helingsfors, Finland. Her mother was a charicaturist and the designer of many of Finland’s stamps, and her father was a sculptor. Tove studied painting in Finland, Sweden and France and later worked as a book illustrator, a designer and strip cartoonist, as well as being involved in theatre décor and making frescoes in public places. She drew her first Moomin in the 1930s, just for fun, to tease her little brother by drawing the ugliest creature she could think of. Moomin developed a nicer snout and character and in 1939 he became a character in a children’s story. The Finn Family Moomingtroll has been a hugely successful book, translated into many languages – many other Moomin stories followed.
In 1966 Tove Jansson was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal – an international award for the best children’s book of the year.
Most of the books were written on a small island in the Gulf of Finland where Tove, her mother and brother were the only inhabitants. Later Tove continued to live alone on the island - It takes an hour to row to the nearest island. Some years ago she wrote of the island:
‘It is so small you can walk around it in ten minutes. It is shaped like an atoll and surrounds a deep lake which in good weather makes a fine swimming pool, but in bad weather turns into a raging torrent surrounded by waterfalls. Then our boat has to be pulled right up to the house and tied to the veranda. We only have one tree, a rowan, which bloomed for the first time last summer. But we plant wild roses in the crevices, and potatoes. And we fish. We use rainwater for our coffee and driftwood for our fires. My favourite weather is fog, when the island seems to be afloat at the very end of the world in perfect silence and solitude. Only rarely does one hear the foghorns from the open sea where big ships go by for foreign countries.’
In this very special, beautiful and challenging environment Tove’s imagination and artistic talent flourished.
More About Tove Jansson
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