The definitive guide to The Moomins to be published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Discover the magical world of Moominvalley this Autumn, with this beautiful and unique book – the ultimate guide to The Moomins for diehard fans and newcomers alike to treasure, forever.

Written by award-winning children's author Philip Ardagh with a foreword and contributions from best-selling children's author, screenwriter and Moomin devotee, Frank Cottrell-Boyce. The World of Moominvalley is a fun, fascinating and unprecedented look at the wonderful world of the Moomins and their creator, Tove Jansson. This sumptuous hardback is filled with illustrated maps and family trees, facts about Moomin behaviour and habits, all you could wish to know about each beloved character and the world in which they live.

Find out how to spot a Moomin, all about Moomintroll's adventures, Moominmamma's handbag, Moominpappa's diary and meet the extended Moomin family including Snorkmaiden, Snufkin, Sniff and Little My.

The World of Moominvalley also takes the reader behind the studio door of the uniquely talented, Tove Jansson, giving insight into the Moomin creator’s own life, whose magical stories of adventure, friendship and innocence have delighted generations of children since the first book was published, in Swedish, in 1945. With original Moomin drawings, rarely seen colour studies, spreads from Tove’s original sketchbooks and stunning character sketches, this book is the essential bible of Moominvalley. The book also includes fascinating family photographs, maps and Tove's childhood drawings from the celebrated Moomin archive in Finland.

Philip Ardagh comments,

To work on such a comprehensive book about The Moomins, with access to such amazing source material from Tove Jansson’s archive, is a dream come true. It's a wonderful opportunity to explore the characters and stories themselves, along with the remarkable illustrations. I really hope we've created a fitting tribute to Tove Jansson’s truly unique books.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce adds,

Tove Jansson turned Finland into a magical, improbable land, and reminded us – more vividly, more joyfully than anyone I can think of – of just how magical and how very improbable life itself really is.

Sophia Jansson, the niece of Tove Jansson and creative director of Moomin Characters, says:

Life in Moominvalley is all about family and friendship, being kind to one another, a deep love and respect for nature and a passion for adventures – but always returning home to a nice warm meal and a cosy bed at the end of the day! We couldn’t have hoped for a better author to this guide than Philip Ardagh, who I’m sure would be welcome in Moominvalley any time and who I trust will do a wonderful job of sharing the original values and charm of Tove’s stories with his readers.

The World of Moominvalley is published at the peak of a year filled with exciting Moomin events, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence from Russia: an interactive exhibition at Southbank Centre, a Moomin-themed Easter festival at Kew Gardens and the UK’s first Jansson retrospective at the Dulwich Picture Gallery this Autumn, bringing together 150 works of art from Tove Jansson.

Step into the magical world of Moominvalley with this beautiful one of a kind book; a fun, fascinating, behind the scenes look at the wonderful world of the Moomins and their creator, Tove Jansson.

Filled with illustrated maps and family trees, facts about Moomintroll behaviour and habits, this gorgeous book contains all you could wish to know about the beloved characters from the original Moomin stories and the world in which they live. Find out all about Moomintroll's adventures, Moominmamma's handbag and Moominpappa's diary and discover all the favourite Moomin characters, including Snork Maiden, Snufkin, Sniff and Little My.

Written by the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Philip Ardagh, with contributions from bestselling children's author, screenwriter and Moomin devotee, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, The Moomins: The World of Moominvalley is a highly illustrated, beautifully designed gift book for all Moomin fans to treasure.