Tove Jansson and the Moomins

Tove Jansson is an artist the moment she learns to walk. She is one of our times most prominent figures in children’s literature. During her youth, Jansson worked as an illustrator and artist in many different ways. Somewhere along the way during the 1930s, a small figure is seen amongst her illustrations. Tove calls it Snork and it has a long, slim snout and a whispy tail! As Tove begins writing the story about the little Moomins, the creature has gotten a rounder, and kinder shape.

The tale of the Moomins…

… begins during the 1940s in the book The Moomins and the Great Flood (1945) where we meet Moomintroll and Moominmamma for the first time, in the midst of their search for the missing Moominpappa, who’s gone off searching for a home for the family. The Moomins and the Great Flood brings the reader back to where it all started, when the Moominfamily finally finds Moominpappa in the valley by a big, blue house.

Midwinter in Moominvalley

The new exhibition “Midwinter in Moominvalley” opens June 3rd. Slide through the soft snowscape, roll around amidst snowdrifts or build a lantern of snow. Small and big winter creatures can roll giant snowballs together whilst the northern lights spreads across the sky. 

Crawl close, listen, rest and experience how sound and light comes together to awaken the senses. Do you hear the mystical echo under the ice? Or the crackling sound from the bonfire?

The exhibition is produced in creative collaboration with Null Division, Moomin Characters and Rights & Brands. 

The exhibition is based on Tove Janssons book Moominland Midwinter (1957).

Moominland Midwinter (1957)

The Moomins hibernate from November until April. But suddenly, a cold day in January, the Moomintroll wakes up and can’t fall back to sleep. At first he’s feeling scared and lonely in the desolate house, eventually he discovers a new, cold winter world filled with marvelous creatures.

Tove Jansson (1914-2001)

Tove Jansson is one of our times most prominent figures in children’s literature. She’s deeply impacted by the artists home in Helsinki she grows up in. The connection between livelihood and the arts is always prominent.

Her whole life, Tove writes, illustrates and paints. She publishes 9 novels about the Moomins between 1945 and 1970, and 3 illustrated picture books about Moomintroll and his friends.

Exhibitions at Junibacken

The Story Train

Get on the Story Train and hear about Madicken, Emil and the others. Beautiful, exciting and a little sad – exactly as it should be.

Storybook Square

Play, discover and fantasize as much as you want at the Storybook Square. Start exploring and enjoy your time together at Junibacken!

Villa Villekulla

Discover Pippis house, Villa Villekulla, at Junibacken – anything and everything can happen here!

Moomin’s play valley!

Enjoy the ocean view and fresh air as you have fun together outside in our magical Moomin play walley!

Bengtsson the baker at Junibacken

Welcome to the fascinating and word-filled world of Lennart Hellsing and Poul Ströyer! Step into Bengtsson the Baker’s bakery, where the dough bubbles over and the pretzels are bigger than you are! Amidst rhymes, rhythm, and play, there is room for both laughter and reflection.

Midwinter in Moominvalley

The new exhibition “Midwinter in Moominvalley” opens june 3rd. Slide through the soft snowscape, roll around in snowdrifts or build a lantern of snow. Big and small wintercreatures can roll giant snowballs together while the northerns lights spreads across the sky.