The Tales from Moominvalley is a book of short stories by the Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson, who is best known for creating the beloved Moomin characters and their whimsical world. The book, which was first published in 1962, is the seventh in the series of Moomin books and the only one that is not a novel. Instead, it contains nine stories that explore different themes and aspects of life in Moominvalley, such as friendship, adventure, mystery, loneliness, courage, and love.
The stories feature some familiar characters from the previous books, such as Moomintroll, Snufkin, Little My, Sniff, and the Hemulen, as well as some new ones, such as Ninny, the invisible child, Cedric, the flying squirrel, and the last dragon in the world. Each story has its own charm and magic, and together they form a rich and varied collection that showcases Jansson’s imagination and talent.
The stories are:
- The Spring Tune (Vårvisan): A story about Snufkin trying to compose a new tune as he is travelling north to Moominvalley.
- A Tale of Horror (En hemsk historia): A story about a young whomper meeting Little My and learning a lesson about fear and bravery.
- The Fillyjonk Who Believed in Disasters (Filifjonkan som trodde på katastrofer): A story about a fillyjonk who lives in constant anxiety of disasters and how she finds a new way of living after a storm.
- The Last Dragon in the World (Historien om den sista draken i världen): A story about Moomintroll finding and befriending a tiny dragon who is hiding in his room.
- The Hemulen Who Loved Silence (Hemulen som älskade tystnad): A story about a hemulen who is tired of his noisy life and decides to move to an island where he can enjoy silence and solitude.
- The Invisible Child (Berättelsen om det osynliga barnet): A story about Ninny, a girl who has become invisible because of mistreatment, and how the Moomin family help her to regain her visibility and confidence.
- The Secret of the Hattifatteners (Hatifnattarnas hemlighet): A story about Sniff joining a group of mysterious creatures called the hattifatteners on their journey to an island where they gather once a year.
- Cedric (Cedric): A story about a flying squirrel who falls in love with a silk-monkey and tries to impress her with his acrobatic skills.
- The Fir Tree (Granen): A story about the Moomin family waking up from their winter hibernation and celebrating Christmas with their friends.
The Tales from Moominvalley is a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, as it offers both humor and wisdom, fantasy and reality, joy and sadness. It is a book that celebrates the diversity and beauty of life in all its forms. It is also a book that invites readers to enter the enchanting world of Moominvalley and discover its wonders for themselves.
