The Moomins and the Comet: A Pop-Up Adventure

Tove Jansson (1914 - 2001) was born in Helsinki to artist parents. She became 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, was 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 1950s, the Moomins became a successful cartoon strip, featured 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.

Elena Selena divides her time between paper engineering, illustration, writing, and scenography. Of Lithuanian origin, she studied at the Estienne School (ESAIG) in Paris after first training at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vilnius. This is where she discovered the world of pop-up books and began to create pop-ups for readers of all ages. Her publications include Jardin Bleu (2017), Jungle (2018), Neige (2019), Voyage (2021), and Matin Rose (2023) in collaboration with Gallimard Jeunesse.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.