65 years of Moomin adventure
Tove Jansson's first book about the beloved Moomin characters was published in 1945. As part of the Moomin's 65th-anniversary celebrations, Puffin Books is releasing a new series of boardbooks for young readers. "This is a good time to launch the series, right after vappu, the Finnish celebration of spring. Spring means that the Moomins are coming", says Francesca Dow of Puffin, referring to the hibernating species.
Sixty-five years after the first Moomin book appeared, Tove Jansson's Moomintrolls are more than just popular - they're classics. The well-meaning, optimistic and sociable Moomins seem to appeal not only to kids but to adults as well, the stories being full of themes such as friendship and adventure that are dear to most people regardless of age. Francesca Dow, managing director at Puffin, feels the Moomins are in 2010 as alive as ever.
”Moomins are unbelievably fresh and live the kind of life we yearn after”, she says. With the new series that uses Tove's original characters and artworks, Puffin hopes not only to widen the Moomin world to young readers, but also to bring readers back to the original books. Rights to the upcoming series has already been sold in 14 languages. In the UK, the new series will be out in July and September.
”Unexpected things happen in the Moomin world”
Sophia Jansson, a guest of honour at the official launch, was happy to be in the UK where Moomins enjoy one of their biggest fanbases outside Scandinavia. Jansson, who is Tove's niece and the creative director at Moomin Characters, reminded how the Moomins have captivated the British minds with several successful occasions.
For example, the original Moomin comic strip was created for and published in the UK newspaper The Evening News already in 1954 – and ran for twenty years. A new generation of Brits were introduced to the Moomin way of life when the BBC bought the children's TV series The Moomins, originally produced in Poland, and aired it from 1983 to 1989.
According to Sophia, the series of books Puffin is publishing would have been very much appreciated by Tove, to whom ”drawing was one of the most important things in life”. Jansson is certain that the new series of picture, board, activity and novelty books will take Moomins to places they've never been before. ”Which should be my job, really”, she laughs.
Text by Tiina Heinilä, Embassy of Finland
Photos: Moomin Characters Ltd, Markku Harju
For further reading, please visit thisisFINLAND's Moomin anniversary special:
http://www.thisisfinland.fi(Link to another website.)