Tove Jansson's Tales from Moominvalley is a delightful collection of nine short stories about the Moomin family and their wacky friends.

Tove Jansson’s wonderful stories about the Moomins and their eccentric group of friends have delighted readers of all ages for over fifty years.

The Moomins are a Finnish family of trolls whose white, furry appearance coupled with their large round snouts, makes them look something like hippos. They live a happy and carefree existence in the countryside although their friendliness and naivety often leads them into adventure.

As well as a weekly comic strip that appeared in the London Evening News, Jansson produced nine novels and four picture books about the Moomins. Tales from Moominvalley is Jansson’s only Moomin short story collection and features nine charmingly wacky tales.

The Spring Time

Snufkin is looking forward to some moments of peace and quiet before he goes to visit the Moomin family so that he might work on a melody he has buzzing around in his head. Unfortunately for Snufkin, a lonely and inquisitive young squirrel that he meets has other ideas.

A Tale of Horror

The next-to-youngest Whomper sees danger and adventure everywhere and, despite the warnings his father gives him about telling fibs, loves to tell people of his troubles and exploits. One night the Whomper encounters Little My who has a dangerous tale of her own.

The Fillyjonk Who Believed in Disasters

The Fillyjonk is an extremely neat and methodical person who belives in tradition and the prestige of family connections above all things. An estate agent tricks the Fillyjonk into renting a summer house by the sea but once she gets there, the Fillyjonk develops an unmistakable sense of impending doom. It is only after disaster strikes that the Fillyjonk is able to be truly happy.

The Last Dragon in the World

Moomintroll discovers a tiny golden dragon with greens paws and knows immediately that they are going to be the best of friends. The dragon is content to stay with Moomintroll until Snufkin comes to tea and the dragon’s attention switches from Moomintroll to his best friend.

The Hemulen Who Loved Silence

The Hemulen whose job it was to punch the tickets did not enjoy working at the pleasure-ground as much as his boisterous relatives did. He disliked it so much that he retired to the Hemulen Grandma’s big park where he could build a beautiful doll’s house in peace. The Hemulen’s work in the big park soon attracts a lot more attention than he would like.

The Invisible Child

Little Ninny was treated so badly by the lady who was supposed to take care of her that she turned invisible. It is only through the help and attention of Moominmamma that Ninny begins to materialise again.

The Secret of the Hattifatteners

Feeling trapped and bored with his lot in life, Moominpappa sets sail with a mysterious group of Hattifatteners. The Hattifatteners are a silent group who are utterly absorbed in their voyage and it is only when they run into a thunder storm that Moominpappa realises that everyone is trapped by their lives in some way.

Cedric

After Moomintroll tells Sniff that a person’s generosity is returned to them ten times over, Sniff gives away Cedric, his prized stuffed dog. Sniff feels sad when he doesn’t get a reward for giving up Cedric and so Snufkin tries to tell him a story and how things always work out for the best.

The Fir Tree

The Moomin family awake from their winter hibernation to discover that the rest of the inhabitants of Moominvalley are getting ready for the arrival of Christmas. Missing the point as ever, the Moomins rush about copying the preparations of their neighbours so that they too might appease this evil “Christmas” character.

Tales from Moominvalley by Tove Jansson

ISBN 978-0140306095, Puffin Books, 1973, £4.99 pp176