Tove Jansson: The woman who shaped my childhood
If you grow up in Finland, it’s almost impossible to avoid the Moomins. They’re everywhere. On coffee mugs. In gift shops. On television screens. In bookshops. At family dinner tables.
For as long as I can remember, the Moomins have simply been part of life. Growing up, my mum would read the stories to me before bed. I don’t remember every adventure or every plot twist, but I remember how those books made me feel. Safe. Curious. Comforted. The Moomins weren’t just children’s stories. They felt like a place I could escape to. As a child, I loved the characters. As an adult, I’ve become fascinated by the woman who created them. Because the more I learn about Tove Jansson, the more remarkable she becomes.
Most people know Tove Jansson as the creator of the Moomins. Yet reducing Tove Jansson to simply “the woman who created the Moomins” feels almost unfair. She was so much more than that. She was an artist, illustrator, writer, painter and cartoonist. A woman who lived life on her own terms long before that was celebrated. And perhaps what I admire most is that she never seemed interested in fitting neatly into any box.
Who Was Tove Jansson?
As a child, I didn’t think much about who wrote the Moomin books. The stories simply existed. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve found myself returning to Tove Jansson again and again.
Partly because I’m a Swedish-speaking Finn myself. There’s something special about knowing that one of Finland’s most beloved cultural figures came from the same minority community. But mostly because her life was every bit as interesting as the stories she created.
Born in Helsinki in 1914, Tove grew up in an artistic family. Creativity surrounded her from the beginning. Her father was a sculptor, her mother a graphic artist, and art wasn’t treated as a hobby – it was simply part of everyday life.
What surprised me most was discovering that Tove never really saw herself primarily as a writer. Even after the Moomins became a global phenomenon, she considered herself a painter first. And honestly, that tells you a lot about her. She wasn’t chasing fame. She was chasing creativity.
Why Tove Jansson feels so Finnish
If someone asked me to explain Finland through one person, I might choose Tove Jansson. Not because she was famous. But because so many of the things that appear throughout her work feel deeply Finnish.
The first Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood, was published in 1945. At first glance, it seems like a simple children’s story. But look closer and you’ll discover themes that still feel remarkably relevant today: family displacement, uncertainty, resilience and the search for belonging. The Moomins are deeply connected to nature. They live with the seasons rather than fighting them. They welcome strangers. They value curiosity over competition. They find joy in simple pleasures.
In many ways, Moominvalley reflects values that many Finns still hold dear. Tove spent her summers on a remote island (Klovharun) in the Gulf of Finland. There was no luxury. No crowds. No distractions. Complete silence. The island became both a sanctuary and a source of inspiration. Long before sustainability became a buzzword, she celebrated simple living, deep connections with nature and the freedom to live life on your own terms. Tove Jansson understood that nature isn’t simply scenery. It’s something we belong to. And that feels very familiar to me.
One thing I love about Finland is that nature is never far away. Whether you’re walking through a forest, spending a summer weekend at a cottage or sitting in a lakeside sauna, there’s a sense that the natural world isn’t separate from daily life. Tove Jansson understood that beautifully. That’s one of the reasons her books still feel so relevant today.
More than the creator of the Moomins
Of course, the Moomins made Tove Jansson famous. But they were only one chapter of her story.
She painted murals across Finland. She illustrated books and magazines. During the Second World War she drew political cartoons for the satirical magazine Garm, fearlessly criticising dictators (such as Hitler and Stalin) at a time when doing so wasn’t without risk. It was during these difficult war years that the first Moomin began to take shape. What started as a small doodle in the margins of her notebooks would eventually grow into one of the world’s most beloved literary universes.
Later in life, she wrote novels and short stories for adults. One of my favourites is The Summer Book. If you’ve ever spent time in the Finnish archipelago, you’ll recognise its atmosphere immediately. The story follows a young girl and her grandmother on a small island, and somehow Tove manages to capture the beauty, loneliness and freedom of island life better than almost anyone else. Reading it feels a little like spending a summer in Finland.
The part that I admire most
The older I get, the more I admire the life Tove Jansson built for herself. Not because it was extraordinary in a flashy way. But because it was authentic. At a time when women were expected to follow a very different path, she built a life centred around creativity, independence and freedom.
For nearly fifty years she shared her life with graphic artist Tuulikki Pietilä, at a time when same-sex relationships were far less accepted than they are today. Tuulikki would later inspire Too-ticky, one of the wisest and most beloved characters in Moominvalley. I think what inspires me most is that Tove never seemed interested in becoming a symbol or an icon. She simply lived as herself. And in doing so, became both.
The Moomin characters hit differently as an adult
The Moomins have endured for generations because they speak to something universal. On the surface, the Moomins might seem like simple children’s characters. Technically trolls but they look like cuddly, white hippos more than anything else. But they are anything but simple.
Beneath the whimsical adventures are stories layered with emotional truth. Stories about loneliness, belonging, friendship, anxiety, change and identity. As a child, I didn’t fully understand the loneliness of Moominland Midwinter or the fear of change in Comet in Moominland but I felt them. The characters aren’t perfect heroes. They’re dreamers. Wanderers. Outsiders. People trying to find their place in the world.
One of the funniest things about revisiting the Moomins as an adult is realising that the characters make far more sense now than they ever did when I was a child. Back then, they were simply quirky creatures having adventures. Now I see pieces of real people in almost every one of them, even myself.
Some days I feel a bit like Moomintroll: curious, optimistic and eager to see what’s around the next corner. Other days I’m pure Fillyjonk, stressing over things that probably don’t matter and desperately trying to keep life organised. I’ve met plenty of Snufkins in my life too. The free spirits who disappear for months, travel wherever the wind takes them and somehow never seem to own more than a backpack. And then there’s Little My. Tiny, wonderfully fearless and completely incapable of keeping her opinions to herself. And Moominmamma, the character I wish to channel more often, who always feel that no matter what happens, everything will somehow be okay. Even the characters that frightened me as a child feel different now. The Groke terrified me growing up. But as an adult, I don’t really see a monster anymore. I see loneliness. A character searching for warmth and connection but struggling to find it.
That’s what makes Tove Jansson’s writing so brilliant. The characters grow alongside us. At first they entertain us. Later, you realise they’re reflections of very human emotions: freedom, fear, belonging, insecurity, independence and love.
Tove Jansson’s lasting legacy in Finland
More than two decades after her death, Tove Jansson remains one of Finland’s most influential cultural figures. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages. Her artwork continues to be exhibited around the world. New generations keep discovering the Moomins every year.
But perhaps her greatest legacy is the values she championed. Creativity. Curiosity. Kindness. Freedom. A connection to nature. These aren’t just themes in her stories. They are qualities deeply woven into Finnish culture. For travellers wanting to understand Finland beyond the guidebooks, Tove Jansson offers a surprisingly good place to start. Because through her stories, you discover not only the Moomins, but also something essential about Finland itself.
Why I keep coming back to Tove Jansson
Maybe that’s why I keep returning to her books and artwork. Not because I’m searching for childhood nostalgia. But because her stories remind me of things that are easy to forget. To slow down. To stay curious. To spend more time outside. To embrace people for who they are. To accept that life doesn’t always have neat answers.
For me, she’s one of the people who helped shape how I see the world. And I suspect that’s why her stories continue to resonate with so many people, both in Finland and far beyond. They remind us that softness isn’t weakness. That being different is okay. And that a little bit of wonder is something worth holding onto.
As a Swedish-speaking Finn, I feel immense pride in what she accomplished. Not only because she became internationally famous, but because she never compromised who she was. She remained curious. She remained unconventional. She remained herself. The older I get, the more I appreciate what she was really teaching us. That nature is not separate from us. That creativity matters. And that there is courage in choosing your own path.
The Moomins may have introduced me to Tove Jansson. But it is her life, her values and her quiet determination that continue to inspire me today.
Frequently asked questions about Tove Jansson:
Who was Tove Jansson?
Tove Jansson (1914–2001) was an author, artist, illustrator and creator of the Moomins. While millions know her for the beloved Moomin books, Jansson was also a painter, political cartoonist and novelist whose work explored themes of freedom, nature, belonging and identity. She was born in Helsinki in 1914 and became one of Finland’s most influential cultural figures.
Did Tove Jansson create the Moomins?
Yes. Tove Jansson created the Moomins during the World War II. The first Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood, was published in 1945.
Was Tove Jansson Finnish?
Yes. Tove Jansson was Finnish and belonged to Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority. She spent most of her life in Helsinki and the Finnish archipelago.
Was Too-ticky based on a real person?
Yes. The character was inspired by Tove Jansson’s lifelong partner, Tuulikki Pietilä.
Tuulikki is widely believed to have inspired the beloved Moomin character: Too-ticky. She is a Moomin character that during the winter resides in Moominpappa’s bathing house. She loves the cold and can even sense the approaching chill with her nose. Too-ticky is known to be a deep-thinker, sharp problem-solver and lives in harmony with the world around her. She keeps her thoughts to herself, happy in her own solitude – she won’t tell anyone how to live their life.
What is Tove Jansson’s most famous book?
The Moomin books are her most famous works, particularly Finn Family Moomintroll, Comet in Moominland and Moominland Midwinter. Outside the Moomin series, The Summer Book is considered one of her greatest literary achievements.
Where can you learn more about Tove Jansson in Finland?
Visitors can explore the Moomin Museum in Tampere and Moominworld in Naantali.
Why is Tove Jansson important to Finland?
Tove Jansson helped introduce Finnish culture to international audiences through her books, artwork and storytelling. Today she is considered one of Finland’s most beloved artists and cultural icons.