Tove Jansson’s unparalleled skills of illustrating the story with words effortlessly opens the winter in Moomin Valley with its snowy hills and gloomy winter nights in front of the reader’s eyes. When the spring sun, with its miraculous power, slowly melts the thick layer of snow and gently awakens the rest of the Moomin family, they are greeted by a new, more adult Moomintroll. At times, sadness and loneliness take over the mind of the little Moomintroll, but new friends and acquaintances found in the magical winter keep him busy. No Moomin has dipped their paws in that marvelous white called snow before or heard wolves howling far away on a dark winter night. Moomin Valley, covered with a thick, white snow blanket, feels strange for Moomintroll but is also full of new adventures and opportunities. Fortunately, Moomintroll awakened to a whole new kind of world where there are also those who stay awake. The Moomins, as well as a large number of other inhabitants of the Moomin Valley, snuggle in their warm beds as winter approaches and fall into a deep, peaceful hibernation.

At the beginning of the new year, it feels right to start with Moominland Midwinter. Because Tove Jansson’s books, illustrations, and stories are a source of inspiration for Moomin by Lovi, we want to highlight a few of Tove’s works that are especially close to our hearts. With these words, Moominland Midwinter begins, Tove Jansson’s story of how Moomintroll wakes up in the middle of his hibernation and can no longer sleep. But spring was quite a bit away because the year had only just got a little past New Year. The sea lay asleep under the ice, and deep down among the roots of the earth all small beasts were sleeping and dreaming of spring. The sky was almost black, but the snow shone a bright blue in the moonlight.

Moominland midwinter