Synopses & Reviews
On his birthday, Moomintroll wakes up full of excitement. It will surely be the most wonderful day. But when his friends all seem to be too busy to help him celebrate, it doesnt feel wonderful at all—until a happy surprise comes knocking. Kids will be amused to see that even in placid Moominvalley, birthdays can be emotional roller-coasters.
Review
"Bright, digitized colors replace some of the darker shades of Janssons earlier books, giving readers of a new generation a friendly footpath into Moominvalley." --Publishers Weekly “Jansson was a genius of a very subtle kind. These simple stories resonate with profound and complex emotions that are like nothing else in literature for children or adults: intensely Nordic, and completely universal.” —Philip Pullman “Tove Jansson is undoubtedly one of the greatest childrens writers there has ever been. She has the extraordinary gift of writing books that are very clearly for children, but can also be enjoyed when the child, like me, is over sixty and can still find new pleasures with the insights that come from adulthood.” —Sir Terry Pratchett “Clever, gentle, witty, and completely engrossing.” —Jeff Smith, author of Bone “The adventures of the easygoing Moomintrolls have all the crispness and tart surprise of a lingonberry, thanks to Janssons ineffably light touch, her uncanny sensitivity to universal childhood emotions, and her gift for terse, naturalistic dialogue.” —Entertainment Weekly “[Tove Jansson] is a master.” —The Times Literary Supplement (London) “The most original works for children to be published since the Pooh books, and possibly, since Alice.” —Saturday Review “You will declare yourself a citizen of Moominvalley & call the stories your own—Moomin world is that compelling.” —Riverbank Review
Synopsis
Moomintroll wakes up bursting with happiness on his birthday...but his friends seem to have forgotten all about it
On his birthday, Moomintroll wakes up full of excitement. It will surely be the most wonderful day. But when his friends all seem to be too busy to help him celebrate, it doesn't feel wonderful at all--until a happy surprise comes knocking. Kids will be amused to see that even in placid Moominvalley, birthdays can be emotional roller-coasters.
This adorable book introduces young children to beloved characters from Swedish author-illustrator Tove Jansson's beloved Moominworld. Every book celebrates curiosity and promotes Moomin's core values: imagination, tolerance, humor, friendliness, and independence.
Look for these other Moomin books for young children
Moomin's Little Book of Words
Moomin's Little Book of Numbers
Moomin's Lift-the-Flap Hide and Seek
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 LÉcole 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.