Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson a Must-R
A Delightful Book for Reading Lists for All Ages
Apr 22, 2009
The adventures of Moomintroll, who is somewhat like a troll, but cuter and smoother and likes sunshine, along with his lovable Moominpapa and Moominmama, have kept readers young and old enthralled for over forty years. Today, in a transactional world where old values are losing their meanings, the book comes like a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Finn Family Moomintroll: Delightful Reading for All Ages
It’s great as a read-aloud at five, it continues to fascinate at fifteen, and at fifty it opens up a whole new perspective on life, apart from being delightfully full of whimsy and fantasy.
The preface opens with the coming of winter in the Valley of the Moomins, and the reader is introduced to Moominpapa and Moominmama preparing the household for hibernation in the hush of the night, as the snowflakes start falling, soft and thick. With spring comes life and adventure, and exploration, and, of course, a bit of magic, with the discovery of the Hobgoblin’s Hat! With the lightest of touches, the author takes us through a series of whimsical adventures woven to delight a child - and, perhaps, to set an adult musing, once in a while.
The Moomin Family: Effortless Portrayal of Value Systems
Central to the book is the nonchalant strength of character displayed by Moominpapa and Moominmama, tongue-in-cheek descriptions notwithstanding. Affable hosts, kind, caring and disciplining parents, easygoing, fun, yet tough - morality is no big deal here - it’s just the way they are. It’s not just the Moomin family, it’s just a given that folks are kind and good to each other, easily and naturally. Moominmama sees what she thinks are a pair of mice scurrying into her cellar, and sends up someone with a platter of milk for them. The Musk Rat gets into a rage and wants to go away to the Cave to be by himself - and Moominpapa asks whether he should send up some furniture along with food. Privacy and independence are also respected; Snufkin wants to go away on a journey, will he be gone long, they wonder.
Twist in the Tale: Surprise Ending with the Visit of the Hobgoblin!
With unhurried charm, the book builds up to the grand finale, the visit of the Hobgoblin. And what a finale! So unexpectedly sweet and touching in today’s world of action and chase and villainy.Considering the rest of the book, though, the amazing ending is not really surprising. In the world of Moomin Valley and Tove Jansson’s magic, all is as it should be.
Written and illustrated by Tove Jansson (copyright 1948), Finn Family Moomintroll was first published in Finland as Trollkarlens Hatt (The Magician’s Hat) by Holger Schildts Forlag. The English translation was published in Great Britain by Ernest Benn Ltd (copyright 1958). The book was first published in the United States by Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., in 1952, under the title The Happy Moomins. It was published by Henry Z. Walck, Inc., in 1965, under the title Finn Family Moomintroll.
