Comet in Moominland facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Tove Jansson |
|---|---|
| Original title | Kometjakten |
| Translator | Thomas Warburton |
| Illustrator | Tove Jansson |
| Cover artist | Tove Jansson |
| Country | Finland |
| Language | Swedish |
| Series | Moomins |
| Genre | Children's novel |
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Publication date
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1946 |
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Published in English
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1951 |
| Pages | 157 |
| ISBN | 0-14-030286-7 (English) |
| OCLC | 16589991 |
| Preceded by | The Moomins and the Great Flood |
| Followed by | Finn Family Moomintroll |
Comet in Moominland is the second book in the popular Moomin series by Finnish author Tove Jansson. It was first published in Swedish in 1946. This book is special because it introduces some important characters. These include Snufkin and the Snork Maiden.
The first English version came out in 1951. It was based on Jansson's original 1946 book. Jansson later updated the story herself. This newer version was published in 1968. It has a few small changes, like a kitten instead of a silk monkey.
Contents
The Story of the Comet
The story begins a few weeks after the first Moomin adventure. The Moomin family is now living happily in Moominvalley. Sniff, who lives with the Moomins, finds a strange path in the nearby forest. He and Moomintroll explore it together.
They meet a playful Silk Monkey. They all arrive at a beach, where Moomintroll goes pearl-fishing. Sniff and the Silk Monkey then find a cave. The three friends decide to hide Moomintroll's pearls there.
A Star with a Tail
The next day, they return to the cave. They find the pearls arranged in the shape of a star with a tail. Back at Moominhouse, the Muskrat explains what it means. He is a wise philosopher staying with them. His home was ruined when Moominpappa built a bridge.
The Muskrat tells them the pearls show a comet. He tells Moomintroll to go to the Observatory. This special place is on the Lonely Mountains. Professors there can tell them if the comet will hit Earth.
Journey to the Observatory
Moomintroll and Sniff set off for the Lonely Mountains. They travel by boat. On their way, they meet Snufkin, who joins their adventure. The river takes them into a cave under the mountains. They almost fall into a deep hole.
Luckily, a Hemulen accidentally saves them. He mistakes Snufkin's harmonica music for a rare caterpillar. He reaches his butterfly net into the cave to catch it. They find themselves in the Lonely Mountains. They then head towards the Observatory.
On the way, an eagle attacks them. Moomintroll finds a gold ring. Snufkin tells him it belongs to the Snork Maiden. He had met her a few months before.
The Comet's Approach
At the Observatory, a professor gives them bad news. The comet is going to hit Earth. He tells them the exact date and time. They realize they only have a few days left. They rush back towards Moominvalley.
They notice that the heat from the comet is drying up small streams. In a forest, they find the Snork Maiden. A poisonous bush is attacking her. Moomintroll saves her, and she and her brother join them.
Further on, they reach the sea. It has completely dried up. They use stilts to walk across it. The Snork Maiden saves Moomintroll from a giant octopus.
Back to Moominvalley
On the other side of the dry sea, they meet another Hemulen. They survive a tornado by using his dress as a glider. Finally, they arrive back in Moominvalley. The whole family, along with the Hemulen, the Muskrat, and the Snorks, go to the cave. They make it just in time to hide from the comet.
They believe the comet has destroyed everything. They fall asleep, feeling sad. But the next morning, they wake up to a wonderful surprise! The comet had missed Earth completely. Everything is back to normal, just as it used to be.
Different Versions of the Book
Tove Jansson first published Comet in Moominland in Swedish in 1946. This first version was used for some early translations, including the English one. Jansson later decided to update her book. She made many changes for the final version, which came out in 1968.
The 1968 updated version became the basis for many later translations. It has many small and some big changes.
- Some scary parts were removed. For example, a scene where crocodiles attack was taken out. Parts that made Snufkin seem like a thief were also changed. The new Snufkin is just a happy wanderer.
- The Silk Monkey character was replaced by a Kitten. The Kitten has a different personality. It also has different interactions with Moomintroll and Sniff.
- Many illustrations were redrawn. This made them look better and fit Jansson's newer art style. New drawings, like the Kitten, were also added.
- Mentions of the flood from Jansson's first Moomin novel were removed.
- References to real places (like Mexico) and religious figures (like Moses) were taken out.
- Descriptions of nature were updated to sound more like Finland.
- Some characters' personalities were made gentler towards each other.
- Sniff's personality was slightly softened. He became a little less annoying and greedy. However, his secret jealousy of Moomintroll was slightly highlighted.
- Moomintroll's and Sniff's friendship was strengthened. In the end, Sniff tries to find the Kitten, and Moomintroll runs to rescue him.
- The comet actually causes some damage in Moominvalley. It leaves marks on rocks and the ground. There are also scattered meteorites. The Moomins collect these as they watch the sea return.
Other Ways to Enjoy the Story
Tove Jansson also drew a black-and-white comic strip version of the story for newspapers. This comic strip, which lasted 86 days, doesn't follow the book's plot exactly. For example, the Moomins learn about the comet from a radio, not by visiting the observatory. Also, Little My appears throughout the comic. In this version, the comet actually hits Moominvalley directly, leaving the land bare. But soon, flowers bloom, and life begins again.
The novel has also been made into animated shows and movies several times.
- The 1978 series Mumi-troll was one adaptation.
- The 1992 film Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka: Mūmindani no Suisei is another.
- Twelve episodes of the 1977-1982 Polish TV series, The Moomins, were based on this story. This series used Jansson's updated 1968 version of the novel.
- These stop-motion episodes were later improved and re-recorded with new voices. They were then edited into the 2010 movie Moomins and the Comet Chase.
