First published in Finland as Muminpappas bravader (1950) and Muminpappans memoarer (1960). Translated by Thomas Warburton. First published in English by Ernest Benn 1952. Published in Puffin Books 1969. Paperback, 135 pages.


The blurb:

’I decided to run away. There simply wasn’t anything to do.’

Here at last is Moominpappa’s promised life story — from the days he was abandoned in a newspaper parcel at the doorstep of a Moomin orphanage, to when he ran away to see the world and was lucky enough to meet Moominmamma.

“They seem to grow in wisdom and delight every time I read them ... a perfect marriage of word and picture.”
— Philip Pullman

***
Moomins are Finland’s gift to the world: Even though Moomin books are meant for children, both grownups and kids love them.
Most of us Finns have read these books as translated versions because Tove Jansson wrote in Swedish.


Tove (Marika) Jansson (1914—2001) at Pegasos — A literature related site in Finland
Tove Jansson at Wikipedia

Moomin at Wikipedia

The Moominvalley of the Tampere Art Museum
Moomin Museum at Wikipedia

With some Finnish BC’ers, we’ve been wondering if Moomin books are too culture-specific. They are written for children but in Finland also grown-ups read, re-read and love them. For us, they are philosophic statements. We see a kind of Moomin ideology in them; something about tolerating and accepting diversity, being just what you are, etc. And we were wondering if it’s even possible for a non-Finn to see them in the same way.
That’s why I hope that whoever reads this book, they’ll make a journal entry telling how they liked it. And if they didn’t, I wish they won’t hesitate to say so. I’d just like to know. :-)


***
The Exploits of Moominpappa do continue. Yesterday, he left my place for Canada. His estimated travelling time is 4 to 10 working days.
Enjoy the Moomins, ajsmom!

Unbelievable! This delightful little book showed up at my house with two different kinds of chocolate! I love Moomins, especially when they arrive bearing chocolate!!

Thank you so much, Tarna. I am already reading the book, and will pass it along to AJ when I'm done as she is now a full-blown chapter-book fanatic. We looked up Tampere on the map and she was amazed a) how far away you are from us, b) how much water there is around you and c) how close you are to the ocean (and therefore beach). She's 8 and I haven't explained the concept of scale to her yet, so she imagines you weekend at the ocean. :) We will journal it when we are done!

This delightful little book spent 10 years on my bookshelf. I shared it with AJ, and then with her little brother and finished reading it again last night. I have a Little Free Library on my front lawn and it is frequented most often by neighbourhood children, so I will wild-release it to there tomorrow. I am hoping it gets journaled as it travels! Thank you again, Tarna!

Released to the LFL at 422 Redden.

Left in the LFL. Happy travels, little book!