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Tove Jansson

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About Tove Jansson

Tove Jansson (1914 - 2001) was born in Helsinki to artist parents. She was to become a celebrated artist, political cartoonist and author, but she is best known as the creator of the Moomins, one of the most successful and beloved children's book series ever written. Inspired by summers spent on the islands off Finland and Sweden, Tove created the unique world of Moominvalley and all its inhabitants. The Moomins and The Great Flood, her first book to feature the Moomins, published in 1945. Tove went on to publish twelve Moomin books between 1945 and 1977, which have sold in their millions and been translated into over forty languages. In the 1950's the Moomins became a successful cartoon strip, which was to feature in newspapers all over the world. As the Moomins' fame grew, they began to appear in television series, plays, films and a varied merchandise program soon followed. Tove also painted throughout her life and wrote novels and short stories, including the acclaimed Summer Book. But the Moomin world was never far away. As Tove said, 'You feel a cold wind on your legs when you step outside Moomin Valley,' In 1966, Tove received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for her lasting contribution to children's literature.

Tove Jansson books

Recent updates about Tove Jansson

National Bed Month

Picture books can make the most beautiful bedtime reads. My First Moomin: Goodnight Moomin, is a wonderfully illustrated bedtime read for all the family. From Tove Jansson, published by Puffin.

4 days ago

National Bed Month

Seeing as #NationalBedMonth has just started why not read My First Moomin: Goodnight Moomin by Tove Jansson from Puffin.

9 days ago

International Friendship Month

End #InternationalFriendshipMonth by reading My First Moomin: Best Friends by Tove Jansson. Published by Puffin.

10 days ago

International Friendship Month

End #InternationalFriendshipMonth by reading My First Moomin: Best Friends by Tove Jansson. Published by Penguin Random House Children's UK.

10 days ago

Love Your Pet Day

Whatever pet you have, read Tales from Moominvalley by Tove Jansson. Published by Puffin.

18 days ago

Love Your Pet Day

Whatever pet you have, read The Last Dragon in Moominvalley by Tove Jansson. Published by Macmillan Children's Books.

18 days ago

Tove Jansson

2 months to go until Tove Jansson will be releasing Moomin, Where Are You?. Published by Puffin.

18 days ago

International Book Giving Day

It's #InternationalBookGivingDay! You'll love The Moomins: The World of Moominvalley by Macmillan Children's Books and Tove Jansson. Published by Macmillan Children's Books.

24 days ago

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