Book description
A Moomintroll is small and shy and fat, and has a Moominpappa and a
Moominmamma. Moomins live in the forests of Finland. One day Moominpappa
is feeling at a loss. He has no idea what to do with himself because it
seems everything has already been done. So he takes his family off to
start a new life in a lighthouse on a tiny, rocky island far out to sea.
It's rather quiet and lonely at first, but as they begin to explore
their unusual surroundings the Moomins discover some funny and
surprising new things about themselves. Tove Jansson, writer and
illustrator, was born in Finland in 1914. She began her Moomin series in
1945 and they became a huge success with their individualistic
characters, subtle humour, and an all-encompassing sense of freedom. The
Moomins were, to some extent, a reflection of Tove Jansson's own family,
who were bohemians and lived close to nature. Jansson became well known
in England for her Moomins comic strip, published daily in London's
Evening News
between 1953-59, continued by her brother Lars Jansson from 1959-1975.
Jansson also wrote adult fiction, short stories and memoirs, and was an
award-winning artist. Tove Jansson died in 2001.
