Moominvalley in November facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
First edition
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| Author | Tove Jansson |
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| Country | Finland |
| Language | Swedish |
| Series | Moomins |
| Genre | Children's novel |
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Publication date
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1970 |
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Published in English
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1971 |
| Preceded by | Moominpappa at Sea |
Moominvalley in November (in Swedish: Sent i november, meaning 'Late in November'; in Finnish: Muumilaakson marraskuu) is the ninth and final book in the beloved Moomin series. It was written by the Finnish author Tove Jansson. The book first came out in Swedish in 1970 and in English in 1971.
This story happens at the same time as the previous book, Moominpappa at Sea (1965). What makes Moominvalley in November special is that the main Moomin family is not in it. Instead, the book focuses on other characters. These characters, including Snufkin, come to stay at the Moominhouse during winter. They interact with each other while the Moomins are away.
Some people feel this book has a more thoughtful or bittersweet mood than earlier Moomin adventures. It was written during a difficult time for Tove Jansson. Because of this, the book explores themes of growing up and learning to be independent. It also features a young orphan character looking for a mother figure. After writing this book, Jansson felt she could not create more happy Moomin stories. So, she decided to stop writing about the Moomins.
Contents
The Story of Moominvalley in November
This book takes place as autumn ends and winter begins. Several different characters start to feel a change inside themselves. They all decide to travel to Moominvalley to visit the Moomins.
New Visitors Arrive
First to arrive is Toft. He is a small orphan who lives alone in a boat. Toft has always dreamed about the Moomins, even though he has never met them. Next is Fillyjonk. She is usually very focused on keeping everything neat and tidy. But after an accident, she has a sudden realization. She decides she wants to "see people" and have a more social life.
The Hemulen also starts to question his usual way of living. He realizes that collecting and organizing things is not the most important part of life. An old man, who cannot remember his name and calls himself Grandpa-Grumble, decides to go to the "Happy Valley" he remembers. Mymble also visits the Moomins to see her daughter, Little My, whom the Moomins have adopted. Finally, Snufkin returns. He knows Moominvalley is the perfect place to find inspiration for a new song.
Life at Moominhouse
When everyone arrives, they find the Moomin family has left their house. So, the visitors decide to settle in and wait for the Moomins to return. Soon, their different personalities start to cause problems. Fillyjonk, for example, tries to tell everyone what they should do:
- Suddenly Fillyjonk shouted: 'You musn't touch old leaves! They're dangerous! They're full of putrefaction!' She dashed to the front of the veranda with the blankets trailing behind her. 'Bacteria!' she screamed. 'Worms! Maggots! Creepy-crawlies! Don't touch them!' The Hemulen went on raking. He screwed up his stubborn, innocent face and repeated loudly: 'I'm making the place look nice, for Moominpappa.'
Toft finds an old microbiology textbook. He misunderstands it as a story. From it, he creates an imaginary monster called the Creature. This Creature seems to come to life in his mind. Meanwhile, Grandpa-Grumble becomes very focused on fishing in a nearby stream. He insists it is a brook. He also wants to meet the Ancestor. The Ancestor is a three-hundred-year-old Moomin who hibernates in the stove, as Mymble tells him.
Fillyjonk gets scared there are insects in the house. She locks herself in the kitchen. To be more like Moominmamma and be liked, she cooks for the others. She also tries to care for Toft, who has no mother. The Hemulen asks Toft to help build a treehouse for Moominpappa. The Hemulen admires Moominpappa more and more.
A Party and Departures
Grandpa-Grumble gets a stomach ache. He refuses his medicine until the others throw a party for him and the Ancestor. At the party, each character performs something. The Hemulen reads a poem he wrote. Toft reads from his book. Mymble dances to Snufkin's music. Fillyjonk cooks Welsh rarebit. She also puts on a shadow puppet show about the Moomin family coming home.
However, the Ancestor does not appear. Grandpa-Grumble had mistaken his own reflection in a mirror for the Ancestor. He makes everyone toast to this reflection.
The morning after the party, Fillyjonk organizes cleaning the house. It soon begins to snow. She decides to leave, finally on good terms with the Hemulen. Grandpa-Grumble decides that winter makes people old. So, he chooses to hibernate in the clothes cupboard like the Ancestor. The treehouse the Hemulen was building collapses. Instead, Snufkin takes him sailing in his boat. The Hemulen realizes he gets seasick. After the trip, he leaves to go home.
The End of the Stay
Snufkin finds the last five musical notes he needed for his song. He finds them "more beautiful and even simpler than he ever hoped they would be." He then packs his tent and leaves the valley. Toft is left alone to wait for the Moomins. He finally understands that the perfect image he had of the Moomin family was not real. He accepts that even Moominmamma, whom he hoped would be his mother, has problems and gets angry sometimes, just like everyone else. Seeing that "the boat [upon which the Moomins are returning] was a very long way away," he walks down to the jetty to wait for them.
