Tove Jansson's Moomin stories are read and loved around the world, enjoying devoted attention in Japan, Europe and Jansson's native Scandinavia. Jansson's work is now seeing a further growth in popularity, with the Moomin chapter books republished in Britain and France, and new US editions released by FSG. The revival continues in North America with this new volume of comic strips from premium publishers Drawn & Quarterly. Originally published in London's Evening News, Jansson drew and wrote these strips in English. Written in the same period (1954-1960) as the chapter books Moominsummer Madness and Moominland Midwinter, these strips will entertain children with their familiar characters, while adult readers will appreciate their gentle wit and often satirical stance.
This volume is the first in an anticipated five-volume set, and collects the four stories Brigands, Family Life, Moomin on the Riviera and Moomin's Desert Island.
From School Library Journal
Grade 10 Up–Beloved around the world, the Moomins are fanciful creatures that look quite a lot like upright hippopotami. They are peaceful, dreamy sorts who occasionally yearn for adventure, but always come back to their home. This is the first collection of the comic strips, which were begun by Jansson in 1954 and carried by the London Evening News. Adventures in this volume include sophisticated issues, such as dealing with houseguests who have overstayed their welcome, a trip to the French Riviera, pirate attacks, and critiques on modern art. Whimsical, yet deep, they will appeal to fans of Charles Schultz's Peanuts strip. Black-and-white illustrations are simple, but stylistically unique and charming. Appeal may be mixed due to the slightly dated language and philosophical tendencies of the characters, which, in this incarnation, were written for adults, but teens with a taste for the absurd will find this offering quite adorable.–Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA
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In the 1950s Jansson (1914-2001) was world famous for her children's books about Moomin when the Associated Press contracted with her for an all-ages Moomin comic strip. Wide-eyed, sweetly thick-headed Moomin has the body of a hippo, the soul of a puppy. Unlike his friend Sniff, a sort of kangaroo-rat hybrid, Moomin cares naught for fame or fortune, though he isn't averse to mild adventure. The strip's story arcs are lengthy and complex but not confusing, develop the characters well, and hold up nicely after 50 years. In the first, "Brigands," Moomin is the only creature of his kind, but in the later "Family Life" and "Moomin on the Riviera," he has parents and a partner, Snorkel Maiden. Jansson's black-and-white images are most expressive; the characters arch brows and roll eyes tellingly, and settings glow with sunshine, glower with storm. The gentle ribbing Jannson gives midcentury Western culture--Moomin makes modern art, deals with a banker, is bested by a picnic pig's widow--delighted sophisticates then and should charm their progeny now. Francisca Goldsmith
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
About the Author
Tove Jansson (1914–2001) was born in Helsinki and spent much of her life in Finland. She is the author of the Moomin books, including Comet in Moominland and Finn Family Moomintroll. Born into an artistic family―her father was a sculptor and her mother was a graphic designer and illustrator―Jansson studied at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, and L'École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In addition to her Moomin books, she also wrote several novels, drew comic strips and worked as a painter and illustrator. In 1966, she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her body of work. Jansson had a studio in Helsinki but spent most of her time at her home on a small island called Klovharu.
