Tales from Moominvalley (1962)

Sweet, funny, occasionally profound. Just discovered this series featuring the amazing Moomintroll family and their neighbors in Moominvalley. This volume is a collection of short stories - a perfect introduction even though it's the last volume in the series. Book one's on hold already.

As Z said, "there was no violence, none at all, not even a fight or battle. I really liked this."

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A collection of short stories about our favorite Moomins and the other creatures who inhabit their world. I liked hearing about the fillyjonk, the hemulen, and other such critters, but my favorites were about the last dragon (I heart Snufkin!) and Moominpappa’s journey with the Hattifatteners. The latter was particularly satisfying, as it’s referenced in many of the other Moomin books. As with all things Moomin, I am a terrible reviewer because I just love them so much. The characters, for all their flaws and foibles, are absolutely charming. I can never seem to get enough Moomin. ( )

Just gorgeous; stories for kids that have at their heart deep metaphorical resonance for adults. ( )

Delightful.
Enchanting.
I wish I had met the Moomins, the Hemulens, the Fillyjonks and the Mymbles when I was nine. Of course, when I’m reading these stories, I *am* nine again, lost in wonder and completely engrossed.
From the very beginning, where Snufkin’s fledgling tune (“one part expectation, two parts spring sadness, and for the rest just the great delight of walking alone and liking it”) is disrupted by the nameless Creep (“Two shy eyes under a mop of hair. Just the look people have who are never noticed.”) to the end, where the Moomin family is awakened from their hibernation to be told Christmas is coming—as if it’s a dire emergency—and they try to prepare themselves with the sketchy information they glean from their frantic neighbors (“At home, Moominmamma had dug out the verandah with a shovel and laid out life belts, aspirin, Moominpappa’s old gun, and some warm compresses. One had to be prepared.”), I was utterly captivated by these charming little stories.
Of all the places, real and imaginary I would like to go someday (Narnia and Green Gables, Elvinwood and Neverland), Moominvalley has moved to the top of the list. ( )

This is a collection of nine short stories -- a direct translation of the original title would be "The Invisible Kid and Other Stories".

These stories are just great, Tove Jansson is a literary genius and a philosopher. There are deep thoughts hidden in every tale, and the topics cover a wide range. They're clear, fantastic, humorous. I could relate strongly to the "Hemulen who loved silence" -- I just had to wonder how Jansson could know how I have sometimes felt -- and of course to Moominpappa who discovers the conflict between the romatization and the reality of adventuring. ( )