Discover the Magical World of the Moomintrolls

If you are looking for quirky fantasy books of great charm, considerable emotional depth and wisdom, and laugh-out-loud moments of fun and absurdity, and have not yet tried Tove Jansson’s books about Moomintroll and his family, seek them out! Moomins are small trolls who live in the forest of Finland alongside all manner of other most unusual persons. The central character is Moomintroll, one of the most relatable and lovable youngsters in all middle grade fantasy. He and his friends and family have all sorts of extraordinary adventures, some small in scale (like little clouds that appear one day and can be ridden on) and some epic and dangerous (like a comet that threatens to annihilate the world).

Tove Jannson begin writing about the Moomins in the aftermath of WW II, and in contrast to its horrors, she created a world where catastrophes and bizarre magical occurrences are balanced by sanity and love, one where even the most unusual and even scary characters can be welcomed into the warmth of friendship and family. Individuals are accepted as themselves, and this is an incredibly affirming message for kids who might wonder if they are so different that they’ll never find their calling in life or their own people. The problems faced are both big (the loneliness of being a small Moomin in winter, when all the rest of the family is hibernating) and small (is there any jam for the pancakes?), but all these problems are resolved through both the generosity and perseverance of the characters, and through the sort of self-reliance that having a community, and in particular a Moominmama of great unselfishness and practicality, allows. Adventures are had in plenty, but there is always home waiting at the end.

But the best part of the books, in my mind, are the wonderful images left in the mind of the reader by Tove Jansson’s illustrations and descriptions (like stilt-walking across the mud of a vanished ocean, a vain and beautiful seahorse, and the fearsome Groke, so cold that she can travel across the ocean by freezing the water beneath each footfall). If you read these young, you’ll have a magical legacy; if you come to them as a teen or an adult, you will be glad to have found them.
The Moomins and friends are also cute as can be, and kids in America today seem to appreciate “cute” more intensely and for longer than previous generations (I am probably not the only parent still buying tokidokies for a 14 year old). So perhaps the time has come for Moomins, lovable, relatable, and charming as all get out, to truly be embraced here as they are in Europe and Japan!

The Moomin world is told in a series of chapter books, with supplemental picture books, board books, and collections of comic strips.  The books for the very young, Moomin’s Little Book of Numbers, Moomin’s Lift the Flap Hide and Seek, Moomin’s Most Magical Pop-up Book, and Moomin’s Little Book of Words, are a fun introduction to Moomintroll that will make the chapter books all the more fun a few years down the line.
It’s the chapter books, though, that are key to Moomin enjoyment. Here are the eight chapter books currently available in the US.  I’d suggest reading the first six out loud to your six to nine year old, and letting them read the last two (which are more melancholy and introspective than the fun adventures of the earlier books) to themselves.

Comet In Moominland
When a comet threatens Moominland, Moomintroll and his friend Sniff set out to consult the professors in their observatory in the Lonely Mountains, with many adventures on the way.

Finn Family Moomintroll
The discovery of a hobgoblin’s magical hat brings fun to Moominvalley, as well as a most unpleasant visit from the sinister Groke.

Moominsummer Madness
When the Moominhouse is flooded, the Moomin family finds refuge in a floating theater.

Moominland Midwinter
Moomintroll wakes in the dead of winter while his family stays asleep in hibernation, and he must learn to cope with the strange cold world, and with an influx of visitors seeking refuge.

Moominpappa’s Memoirs
The exploits of young Moominpappa, full of strange and magical happenings, fill in the backstory for Moominpappa and other characters.

Tale from Moominvalley
These magical stories include one about a baby dragon that is just about the most touching story of true friendship I’ve ever read.

Moominpappa at Sea
The Moomins leave their valley for a lonely island where Moominpappa tries to be a lighthouse keeper, Moomintroll tries to befriend a beautiful seahorse, and the mysterious Groke.  This one is my favorite of the series; it’s moody, atmospheric, and beautifully memorable.

Moominvalley in November
When the Moomins are away, a collection of lonely folk are drawn to their house in Moominvalley, trying to find contentment.
Have you read the Moomintroll books?