Jansson, Tove. Moominsummer Madness

Jansson, Tove Moominsummer Madness
Square Fish/FSG/Macmillan 2010 175p 6.99
978-0-312-60891-0 elem Fantasy VG
One of the best Moominland fantasies. A great flood sends the anthropomorphic Moomins out on a boat that is in reality a theater complete with props, costumes, and “properties”. Humor, excitement and adventure will delight students in grades 3-5.
Just before the summer solstice, a volcano starts spewing ash and a great flood forces the creatures of Moominland to set sail taking many of their furnishings with them. Once their boat settles in to ride the waves, the inhabitants are given all sorts of clues that the boat is in reality a theater released from its foundation. Humor is interspersed with the travails of living in a spooky theater. They realize they are not alone and finally confront the “theater mouse” who explains what a theater is and how the scenery and curtains work. Moominpappa is encouraged to write a play and present it to others who are adrift in the floodwaters. The play resembles a Shakespearean tragedy - appropriate for the Midsummer Eve presentation. As always in Moominland, everyone gets what they need to be happy and hazards are overcome with compassionate force. This adventure will appeal to today’s children who will not even realize the story was written over 50 years ago. The author’s strong Swedish ties are evident in the celebrations of the summer solstice. After a disastrous dress rehearsal and equally rocky start of the play, the Moomins and their friends start acting out a real life adventure leaving the script far behind. The play is well received. As waters start to recede, the Moomins are able to return to their beloved home. All’s well that ends well. Grades 3-5. One of the best adventures of the creatures of Moominland. Rollicking good fun interspersed with the tragedy of losing one’s home and being adrift in a most unique boat. A reissue of Jansson’s work originally written in the 1940s-1960s. Grades 3-5. McNicol,Lois