Tove Jansson was born in Finland in 1914. She began her career as a cartoonist and drew her first Moomin in the 1930s, just for fun. In 1945 he became a character in a children's story. Tove became world-famous for her Moomin books which began with Comet in Moominland in 1946. She received many prestigious awards, including the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal. She died in 2001, aged 87.
Beautiful words. Anarchic illustrations. Tove Jansson is a genius. -- Jenny Downham It's not just Tove Jansson's wonderfully strange fairytale world that so appeals but also her beautiful line work and exquisite sense of design. -- Lauren Child They seem to grow in wisdom and delight every time I read them... a perfect marriage of word and picture. -- Philip Pullman