Tove Jansson (1914 - 2001) was born in Helsinki to artist parents. She was to become a celebrated artist, political cartoonist and author, but she is best known as the creator of the Moomins, one of the most successful and beloved children's book series ever written. Inspired by summers spent on the islands off Finland and Sweden, Tove created the unique world of Moominvalley and all its inhabitants. The Moomins and The Great Flood, her first book to feature the Moomins, published in 1945. Tove went on to publish twelve Moomin books between 1945 and 1977, which have sold in their millions and been translated into over forty languages. In the 1950's the Moomins became a successful cartoon strip, which was to feature in newspapers all over the world. As the Moomins' fame grew, they began to appear in television series, plays, films and a varied merchandise program soon followed. Tove also painted throughout her life and wrote novels and short stories, including the acclaimed Summer Book. But the Moomin world was never far away. As Tove said, "You feel a cold wind on your legs when you step outside Moomin Valley," In 1966, Tove received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for her lasting contribution to children's literature.Described as 'a national treasure' by the Independent and as 'one of life's fact-finders' by the Scotsman, Philip Ardagh has written books on subjects ranging from archaeology to space flight, and has still found time to write the bestselling Eddie Dickens children's novels, now translated into over thirty languages, to review children's books for the Guardian ('on a regularly irregular basis') and to appear at events and festivals around the world. He won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2009. He is married with one son.Tove Jansson (1914 - 2001) was born in Helsinki to artist parents. She was to become a celebrated artist, political cartoonist and author, but she is best known as the creator of the Moomins, one of the most successful and beloved children's book series ever written. Inspired by summers spent on the islands off Finland and Sweden, Tove created the unique world of Moominvalley and all its inhabitants. The Moomins and The Great Flood, her first book to feature the Moomins, published in 1945. Tove went on to publish twelve Moomin books between 1945 and 1977, which have sold in their millions and been translated into over forty languages. In the 1950's the Moomins became a successful cartoon strip, which was to feature in newspapers all over the world. As the Moomins' fame grew, they began to appear in television series, plays, films and a varied merchandise program soon followed. Tove also painted throughout her life and wrote novels and short stories, including the acclaimed Summer Book. But the Moomin world was never far away. As Tove said, "You feel a cold wind on your legs when you step outside Moomin Valley," In 1966, Tove received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for her lasting contribution to children's literature.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce is an award-winning author and screenwriter. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the CILIP Carnegie Medal. He is also the author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, Cosmic, Framed, The Astounding Broccoli Boy and Runaway Robot. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Fiction Award (now the Costa Book Award) and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth was shortlisted for the 2017 CILIP Carnegie Medal and selected for the inaugural WHSmith Tom Fletcher Book Club.

Frank is a judge for the 500 Words competition and the BBC's One Show As You Write It competition. Along with Danny Boyle, he devised the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. He has written for the hit TV series Dr Who and was the screenwriter for the hit film Goodbye Christopher Robin.

A stunning gift book featuring lots of inside information and original drawings by Tove Jansson for all Moomin fans to treasure.

A stunning gift book featuring lots of inside information and original drawings by Tove Jansson for all Moomin fans to treasure.

Section - i: Foreword by Frank Cottrell-Boyce Introduction - ii: Introduction by Philip Ardagh Chapter - 1: In Search of the Moomins . . . Chapter - 2: Meet the Moomins and Friends Chapter - 3: The Darker Side of Moominvalley Chapter - 4: Music in Moominvalley Chapter - 5: Less Familiar Faces Chapter - 6: Moominvalley Magic Chapter - 7: A Year in Moominvalley Chapter - 8: Catastrophes Chapter - 9: Mysterious Creatures Chapter - 10: Moomin-isms Chapter - 11: The World of Tove Jansson Chapter - 12: Behind the Studio Door Chapter - 13: Inspiration and Imagination Chapter - 14: Beyond the Books Index - iii: Character Index Acknowledgements - iv: Acknowledgements Section - v: Picture Credits