Product Description

A comet is speeding towards Earth and nobody knows what to do! Will it destroy everything and everyone? Moomintroll decides to find out. So, with Sniff, he sets out on an expedition that promises to be packed with adventure and excitement!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15617 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-27
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: Swedish
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

Start here for Moomins
I hadn't read a Moomin book in 30 years, and (like so many) started again because my own son was of an age for them.

They're quite, quite, beautiful.

As children's books, they work well. Small peculiar creatures have amusing adventures, in stories just the right size for bedtime. They're not the only series of such tales, but they're one of my favourites.

It's as an adult reading them though, that their true quality becomes apparent. Until you read something of this quality, it's hard to remember that children's fiction doesn't have to be trite. There are many little themes in these books about real fears that children have, about approaching friendship, separation and loss or bravery and loyalty.

I'm tired of reading children's books (particularly for bedtime) that are just no fun for the adult doing the reading. Moomins are so much better - it's the sort of book where you read one chapter aloud, then finish the rest of the book on your own afterwards.

Thoroughly gorgeous
Life without the Moomins is unimaginable - so wonderfully weird in a Scandawegian way. Moominmamma is there with her handbag, the shy and coy Snork Maiden, strident Littly My, Snufkin with his hat. They are practically members of our family. Comet in Moominland is exciting and dark - the world teeters on the edge of oblivion and all nature is upended as a vast comet rushes on its fiery way towards the Moomins' valley. I love the chapters where they stalk across the mysteriously drained sea bed on stilts with accompanyingly creepy illustrations: scary but not badly enough to give the children nightmares. Tove Jansson's writing is delightfully droll, packed with wry humour.

Of course, as with all of the Mooming books, the adventures end with everyone back and safe and Moominmamma firmly in place as protector of them all. Simply lovely.

An excellent introduction to Moomin Valley
As an avid fan of those lovable characters, the Moomins, this has to be one of my favourite Moomin books. It has a most enchanting plot through which we learn how Moomin came to meet his dear friends Snufkin and the Snork maiden on his quest to stop a comet from destroying his home. Children and adults alike will be delighted by this book which works on two levels, that of the simple storybook, and that which considers many deeply philosophical concepts. No book collection is complete without this unique and brilliant tale.