Far too good for children!! - Rated 
A friend suggested that I should re-read the Moomin books of Tove Jansson (after 40 years or so), and I'm SO glad that I've started.
Comet in Moominland (apparently the second in the series) is not only a superbly written and well rounded story, but it also introduces most of the characters that appear in the rest of the series.
Moomintroll and his friend Sniff begin an adventure that takes in an unbelievable variety of things including discovering a cave, fishing for pearls, being attacked by alligators and giant lizards, crossing the seabed on stilts and much more besides. All the time there is the menacing knowledge of a comet speeding towards the Earth and threatening to destroy the beautiful Moomin Valley.
Along the way we meet the Muskrat, Snork and his sister the sweet Snork Maiden (who Moomintroll saves from a deadly bush) and of course the wonderful Snufkin (Snusmumriken).
The groups adventures continue after they have reached the observatory at the top of the mountain, and include some touching scenes at a little shop, and also at a woodland dance.
Will they survive the comet?
This is such a well crafted story, and given the time it was written (shortly after the apocalyptic end to the second world war) carries the fears of the loss of so much innocence and beauty. This is shown most poignantly when the group find that the sea has dried up, and most of the sea creatures gone. Snufkin (normally aloof and not given to sentiment) sits down and cries 'as if his heart will break'.
Often un-remarked is the fact that Tove Jansson's illustrations are equally as excellent as her writing.
All in all........Far too good for children !!
The best of the series and the stuff that dreams are made of - Rated
"This star with a tail must be either a warning or a threat. Perhaps someone is angry with us for some reason - a secret society for instance" (p31)
This story changed my life as a child - I saw possibilities and adventures that I didn't think possible. If you want your child to grow up outside of the Walt Disney path of cliches, you will want to read this to them in their formative years.
there's a comet heading for earth but don't worry, mother will know what to do - Rated 
Moomintroll is one lucky kid. He gets to go off and have adventures with his pals and no grownups to tell him what to do and what not to do. When I was a kid I loved that he could go sailing down a river in his own little boat with enough food to last him a week. That's what I wanted to do but of course Mother said No. The success of this book for me is that it reached me as a kid and continues to delight me as a adult for just this reason. It's a story about kids who can do pretty much what they want (and don't end up being destructive because of it) because the dangers of our society simply don't exist in the realm of Moominvalley. And the childlike joys of constant discovery and the simple pleasures of a joyful moment are celebrated. The first Moomin book is also one of the best and has the comet as a strong narrative core. At 31 I love these books as much as I did when I was 9. Here's to a simple life.
Perfect for children! - Rated
I remember every birthday as a child when the eagerly awaited package from Finland finally arrived. Inside the package, I knew that there would be a Moomintroll book, translated into English. This was the first one of the series that I read, and - though the thought of a comet striking the earth is a frightening prospect, indeed - it was an amazing adventure. Tove Jansson weaves elements of humor, ecological awareness, and tolerance in her Moomin books to create magnificent children's literature that is destined to withstand the test of time.
This is the first book in the series! - Rated
Despite the page on this Puffin book listing the Moomin books in order, this is actually the first book in the series.
This is a wonderful book with an uncanny topicality. It is environmental, phliosophical, funny yet dark. Recommended for children of a mature seven years to adult.
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