They are children’s tales - which are designed to hide lessons and warnings on the dark side of life in a wrapper that does not traumatise - like an inoculation against what comes.

Everything the Grimms brothers collected and Disney sanitised still hides warnings.

I have read all my children “The Tiger who came to Tea” as well as taken them to theatre performances- and the author ran from Germany hours before the Gestapo came knocking and it affected much of her life and writing (“Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit” is the autobiography I think)

So yeah. It’s got layers onion boy, layers.

Still have fond memories of my kid hugging a six foot moomin in Covent Garden.

That’s a really interesting take on the Moomins. I agree that the misinterpretations of their tales are fascinating – it highlights how stories can be shaped by our own perspectives. I especially appreciate how you highlight the resilience of the family dynamic, even with its dysfunction. It’s a thoughtful and somewhat melancholic, yet captivating, perspective, and I can see how that resonates with you.

For anyone who has just seen the tv shows, I highly recommend reading the books. There are so many layers to her stories.

I had no idea it was such a large enterprise. I'm in Australia, and read one of the books as a kid. But other than that, I don't think I ever encountered any form of them, or even really heard anyone mention them, until the recent movie adaptation.

Just got done reading Moominpapa's Memoirs to my kid! Great book.

My favorite piece of Moomin lore is that the very first proto-Moomin sketch was a caricature of Immanuel Kant Tove made to tease her sister, who was a big fan of that guy.

Who will comfort Toffle is a very moving book about loneliness

https://www.moomin.com/en/blog/who-will-comfort-toffle-backs...

> But when he tries to write about how lonely he has been, About his house and Hemulen, the smooth white shell he’s seen,

> The Groke, the night he sailed the sea, he finds no words will come. He is too shy to write his tale. Poor Toffle is struck dumb.

> So Who Will Comfort Toffle now? Will someone lend a hand And help him write to Miffle so that she can understand?

I'll pass along a joke I read years ago.

Mozzarella is moomin meat.

The introduction of The Groke absolutely terrified me when I was younger. I put it up there with the Xenomorph in terms of a mysterious, capable, superior foe.

I never read any of the books, didn't actually know they were originally a book. I grew up with the TV show though. Hated it. I've never watched TV or film for the feels. Tv and film for me is escapism, I don't want to be depressed or have to think. I'm assuming this is why I never liked the moomins.