Book About Moomin Mymble (Sort of Childrens Classics) [Hardcover]

Tove Jansson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sort of Childrens Classics

Finnish artist Tove Jansson's Moomin stories have been continually in print for more than half a century, in 35 languages. They are among Europe's best loved and enduring children's classics, and through the current TV animation (BBC2), the warm-hearted, whimsical creatures of Moomin valley have been brought to a new younger British audience. This book introduces the first Sort Of Children's Classic in a new English version by Sophie Hannah. Sort of Books proudly presents the original full colour Moomin picture book with its irresistible cut-out page designs and playful rhyming text in a new version by one of Britain's star poets.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First published in 1952, the late Jansson's first picture book to feature the Moomins returns with its droll, rhyming text and singular characters intact. Bringing home a thermos of milk, Moomintroll, who resembles a small, white hippopotamus, meets Mymble, searching for her lost sister, along with other creatures. Throughout, die-cuts create a spooky, layered effect, offering a tantalizing peek at what's to come. Readers are repeatedly asked what might occur next in the story, drawing them in further. From the bold colors and oddball creatures to expressive variations in font and inventive die-cuts, the book remains a kid-friendly package and a wonderfully weird vision. All ages. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Swedish --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 28 pages
• Publisher: Sort of Books (October 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0953522741
• ISBN-13: 978-0953522743
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,286,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

TOVE JANSSON (1914-2001) is revered around the world as one of the foremost children's authors of the twentieth century for her illustrated Moomin chapter books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for any Moomin fan, May 22, 2000

By 

Ben Elliss (Reading, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moomin, Mymble and Little My (Hardcover)

I ordered 'The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My' from Amazon.com in 1997 since the book wasn't (and still isn't) available over here in England. I own (and treasure) all eight of Tove Jansson's Moomin novels, and I was curious to see this picture book. 'The Book about Moomin...' was an early work, and is targetted at children far more than Tove's later, more complicated work. It's a colorful picture book, telling a simple story of Moomintroll, Little My and her sister the Mymble. The artwork is all by Jansson and is in the same style as 'Comet in Moominland' and 'Finn Family Moomintroll', but is brought vividly to life here with a palette of psychedelically bright colors. Every Moomin fan will enjoy this book!

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a crying shame..., February 16, 2003

By 

Tanya Lamnin (West Bloomfield, MI, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moomin, Mymble and Little My (Hardcover)

...these books are not known in this country. I, for one, brought my Moomin book with me from the former Soviet Union, and I fully intend to indoctrinate my future children into the Moomin Religion (even if they will have to learn Russian just for that). Tove Jahsson (who passed away last year, sadly) created a wonderful world, full of adorable and memorable characters.

The Moomins are...well, G-d knows what they are. They are little hyppopotamus-looking cute things that walk on their hind legs, live in the picturesquee little valley (and in houses, of course), do all the things that humans do (or that humans do in children's imagination) and wear hats. Sometimes. In fact, there is even a story about a magic hat somewhere. But I digress.

Muumi-Troll, the protagonist, is your average kid. Or a teenager. He has a Muumi-Mother, and Muumi-Father, and two best friends: Sniff (who looks like a rat and is a terrible coward--but always manages to overcome it at the last possible moment) and Snusmumrik (who looks like a duck and is a Traveler). He has a love interest, Froeken (Miss) Snork (Snorks are similar to Moomins, except that their color changes together with their mood), who has an obnoxious brother, you guessed it, Snork. There are also Hemul, who, like all Hemulen, wears his aunt's old dress (don't ask), and the Muskrat (I think that's what it is). There are predicaments and dangers and wonerful adventures.

The Moomins are known--and beloved--in all of teh world, from their native Finland, to Russia to Japan. Hopefully, the States will come around at some point--and Harry Potter (no offense, I love HP) will tremble in his shoes.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a children's book for an adult audience!, November 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Moomin, Mymble and Little My (Hardcover)

Having grown up in Scandinavia this was one of the first books I ever read, and I have read it many times since. It is a poetic wonderfully bizarre book, and when you read it along with the rest of Tove Jansson's books you realize that her magical world of mumins isn't really all that different from the one we live in. Best of all, Tove Jansson opens a window to the reader's soul in her writing, and you recognize yourself in her books.