“The sky was almost black, but the snow shone a bright blue in the moonlight.”

There’s something a little bit magical about snow, isn’t there? Sure, it’s cold, slippery and causes the trains to stop working, but being the first person to step onto a crisp white field of snow is quite special. Imagine how much more special that snow would be if you’d never seen it before…

Moomins, as everyone knows, hibernate all winter. When Moonmintroll wakes too early, however, he discovers an unfamiliar world outside his door. Moomin Valley is covered in a blanket of snow, and there seems to be someone living in the bathing house. She introduces herself as Too-Ticky and begins to teach Moomintroll about the winter.

Their peace isn’t for long, however, as strangers begin to arrive, seeking comfort and companionship, including the tiny Salome, the dog Sorry-oo who wishes to be accepted by the wolf pack, and the gregarious Hemulen who just wants to teach people how to ski. As more arrive, Moomintroll has mixed feelings about the destruction being wrought on his house and what Moominmamma will think when she awakes, but also remains determined that he will be a good host until spring finally arrives.

Moomin tales are renowned for their sense of comfort. This is absolutely the perfect book to snuggle down with now the temperature has dropped, the world is as much as it is right now, and we need a little bit of security. The illustrations alone are worth it, and are utterly adorable, bringing Jansson’s magical world to life. The book transports you to a world where everyone is kind and gentle and means well. This is a world that has remained untouched from such things as hate, capitalism and war. You get the feeling that nothing can ever really go wrong in Moomin Valley. Although there are a few shadows, the general tone is one of the lightly comic, and it’s one of the few fictional worlds I’d like to fully submerge myself in.

Pure and charming; a must-read for adults and children alike.

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