about the book
The Moomins have a new neighbor named Mrs. Fillyjonk. Mrs. Fillyjonk does not approve of the Moomins and their messy ways, though, and she shames them into hiring a maid so they can become respectable.
When Misabel, the sad, miserable maid they hire shows up to help clean and organize the Moomins’ home, they quickly notice her glum and gloomy personality. Good thing the Moomins always know just how to cheer up sad, miserable maids!
about the author/illustrator
Tove Marika Jansson was born in Helsinki, Finland, at 11:55 a.m. on August 9, 1914. Her mother Signe was an illustrator, and her father Viktor was a sculptor. Her parents recorded Tove’s life in art from the day of her birth and onwards. Tove learned how to draw from her mother almost before she learned to walk. A letter from Viktor sent to Signe from the frontlines of the Finnish Civil War in 1918 says, “Maybe our Tove will grow up to be a great artist. A really great artist!” It seems her father had a good power for predicting the future!
By the time she turned sixteen, Tove had become good enough that her Uncle Einar thought she should help her mother with a few of her professional illustrations. Her mother became her coach, teaching her new techniques as a graphic artist and illustrator, as well as introducing her to publishing houses and editors. In her first year at Stockholm, Tove wrote, “I have to become an artist for the sake of my family.”
Tove and her younger brothers all became artists and creators. Tove and Lars are the original creators of the Moomin comic strips, with Tove writing them and Lars drawing the illustrations; they debuted in the 1940s. Later on Walt Disney wanted to buy the Moomin brand from them, but Tove and her brother refused. Instead, they set up their own company in Finland, “Moomin Characters,” which became a great success, so much so that Tove joked “I can’t help getting rich even if they keep cheating me.”
Tove Jansson died in 2001.
Sources:
Author website
Author spotlight: The Guardian
Also by Tove Jansson:
The Moomintrolls series. Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. 1990-2015.
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Sisters : 1 : Just Like Family by Christophe Cazenove
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