Moominland Midwinter

Moomintrolls usually sleep through the long winter, but when the moon shines upon him, Moomintroll awakes one January to discover an alien world of cold and snow while the rest of his family sleeps on. (Moomintrolls are not trolls as we commonly think of them, but handsome little round fellows - see the picture on the cover. That's Moomintroll on the left in the brown coat.) At first he feels terribly alone in this strange season, but he soon discovers companions in the form of Too-Ticky, a sensible creature who has taken up residence in the bathing house, and Little My, a devil-may-care little critter known from other Moomin books in the series. Alongside these friends Moomintroll faces the winter, with its freezing cold blasts, sledding on tea trays, equinox bonfires, ice fishing, and blizzards that promise spring. He soon discovers that the winter landscape is full of lonely, oddball (and comical) creatures who are not around at other times of year, and does his best to shelter and entertain them in the Moominhouse. Like all of Jansson's fine Moomin books, this one astounds me with its ability to convey power and subtle emotion with just a few choice words. Her exquisite attention to the aspects of the season, as well as to the sensitive inner worlds of her characters, render this a masterpiece. (Its subtleties, both comic and deeper, might perhaps be appreciated by slightly offbeat children who like a little peace and quiet sometimes to be alone with their thoughts.)

Moomintroll did what no other Moomin in the history of the world has ever done. He woke up in the middle of his Winter Sleep. He sees a world he never saw before. He is by turns frightened, lonely, persevering, and at times just a mite irritated. Thus begins this charming tale told with subtlety and grace by the talented Tove Jansson.The creatures may be strange and wondrous, but somehow we feel as if we might have met them before someplace. Haven't we all known someone like the Hemulen: large, cheerful, energetic without a mean bone in his body who always wants us to enjoy the cold brisk air and strenuous sports with him-and why is it we don't exactly like him very well?The descriptions of Moomin world are lovely and fanciful. Early spring clouds are "scatterbrained" rushing along. The Great Cold is beautiful, but ominous. This is a book for all ages. It saddens me my children are not young enough to be read to anymore. The Moomins, like Winnie the Pooh, are perfect read-alouds with assured discussions afterward.A lovely book. Highly recommended.

An imcomporable masterpiece of quiet, subtle children's literature, perhaps only equalled by other books in the series such as "Moominpappa at Sea" or the inexplicably out of print "Moominvalley in November." A perfect read for winter, embodying both its beauty and loneliness, and the way in which good souls can muddle through it, flaws and all. Sophisticated, sensitive children will most appreciate this unique world.

This book and its' companions changed my life. And many others. Tove Jansson's Moomin series is without doubt the finest children's literature ever. And it must be said that it's in the running for the finest literature ever, period. 'Midwinter' is somewhat more somber in tone than the earlier Moomin books, but does not yet approach the dark, lonely colors Jansson paints with in the last two parts of the series. Full of memorable sequences and fairy-tale imagery, this book is guaranteed to delight children and induce in adults a painfully strong yearning for the days of their childhood.

Moomintroll awakes in midwinter to find everyone else asleep, until he finds a whole different community that inhabits the land in winter, from the taciturn but kind Too Ticky to a lonely dog, a loud Hemulen, various little creeps, and our old mischievous Little My. The interaction among these characters is subtle and wonderful. So too are the alternating moods of winter, from joyous to severe and lonely. Particularly hilarious in an odd sort of way are "the lonely and the rum," a collection of outcasts. This is a great book for adults and children alike who appreciate subtleties and quirks.