Finn Family Moomintroll facts for kids
First edition
|
|
| Author | Tove Jansson |
|---|---|
| Original title | Trollkarlens hatt |
| Translator | Elizabeth Portch |
| Illustrator | Tove Jansson |
| Cover artist | Tove Jansson |
| Country | Finland |
| Language | Swedish |
| Series | Moomins |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux in US, Penguin Books in UK |
|
Publication date
|
1948 |
|
Published in English
|
1950 (UK), 1951 (US) |
| Pages | 150 |
| ISBN | 978-0-14-030150-2 (English) |
| OCLC | 271863094 |
| Preceded by | Comet in Moominland |
| Followed by | The Exploits of Moominpappa |
Finn Family Moomintroll is a super fun book from the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was first published in Sweden in 1948. The original Swedish title means 'The Magician's Hat'. When it came to English in 1950, it was the first Moomin book many people read!
This book is the third in the Moomin series. However, it was the first one translated into English. Because of this, it was often thought of as the first book in the series until the 1980s.
In the 1961 English version, there's a special message from Moominmamma. She explains what Moomins are like. She also jokes about her English not being perfect. Elizabeth Portch translated the book into English.
This story was also used for the first eight episodes of the 1990 Moomin TV show.
Contents
The Story of the Moomins
Discovering a Magic Hat
The adventure begins when Moomintroll, Sniff, and Snufkin find a strange top hat on a mountain. They don't know it belongs to a powerful Hobgoblin. They also don't know it has amazing magic powers.
First, they throw an eggshell into the hat. Suddenly, it turns into five fluffy clouds! The children have a blast riding and playing on these clouds. The next day, the clouds are gone, and no one knows where they came from.
Later, during a game of hide-and-seek, Moomintroll hides inside the hat. The hat's magic changes him so much that no one can recognize him!
Dealing with the Hat's Magic
Once the Moomin family learns about the hat's magic, they decide it's too powerful. They try to get rid of it by throwing it into the river. But Moomintroll and Snufkin secretly get it back that night. They hide it in a cave by the sea.
In the cave, the Muskrat gets a big scare. His false teeth fall into the hat and turn into something very mysterious and scary!
New Adventures and Transformations
The Moomin family then takes a boat they found to the Island of the Hattifatteners. Back at the Moominhouse, something wild happens. Moominmamma accidentally drops some poisonous pink flowers into the hat. The house quickly turns into a wild jungle!
Luckily, the jungle withers away at night. The family uses the dried plants as firewood. They cook a giant fish called a Mameluke that the children caught earlier.
Meeting New Friends and a Ruby Mystery
Two tiny creatures named Thingumy and Bob arrive at the Moominhouse. They are carrying a big suitcase. Inside the suitcase is a very special treasure: the King's Ruby! They stole it from a scary creature called the Groke.
The Groke comes looking for her ruby. A court case is held, led by the Snork. In the end, the Groke agrees to trade the King's Ruby for the Hobgoblin's Hat.
Thingumy and Bob also take Moominmamma's handbag to use as a bed. But they return it when they see how sad she is without it.
A Party and Wishes Come True
The Moomins throw a big party to celebrate finding Moominmamma's handbag. During the party, the Hobgoblin arrives. He has a new hat and wants his King's Ruby back. But Thingumy and Bob refuse to give it to him.
To cheer himself up, the Hobgoblin decides to grant everyone at the party a wish. Not everyone gets exactly what they wished for. But the Hobgoblin is very happy when Thingumy and Bob wish for a second ruby, a duplicate of the King's Ruby. They give this new gem, called the Queen's Ruby, to him. It turns out the Hobgoblin can grant wishes for others, but not for himself.
Other Versions of the Story
This book has also been made into an audio story. In 2002, the BBC released a full, unedited audio book. It was read by the famous actor Hugh Laurie.
