Over at Digitally Downloaded, I've reviewed the fantastic Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley. Spoiler: I rather like it (but maybe "fantastic" gave that away a tad, no?)
"One evening when Moomintroll was on his way home from the the bathing-house he stopped on the path and pricked his ears.
It was a cloudy, warm night, full of movement. He could hear the trees tossing their branches in the dark.
Far away from the south came a strong gust of wind, passing him on it's way across the valley. He lifted his snout and smelt a whiff of bare earth. Spring was really on its way."
from 'Moomin Midwinter', by Tove Jansson #MoominMonday
"One grey morning the first snow began to fall in Moomin Valley. Moomintroll stood on his doorstep and watched the valley nestle beneath its winter blanket. 'Tonight,' he thought, 'we'll settle down for our long winter sleep'. Moominpappa went round, closing all the doors and shutters. Then everyone crept into their beds and, making a cosy nest for themselves, pulled their blankets over their ears and thought of something nice."
from 'Finn Family Moomintroll', by Tove Jansson #Moomins
"Moominpappa had laid himself on his back and was staring up at the pale green leaves around him. Light, delicate leaves against a dark sky. In his easy-chair at home he had a cushion embroidered with fern leaves by Moominmamma. Pale green leaves against black felt. It was very beautiful."
"Moominmamma made Ninny a bed in the attic room, and her silver bell tinkled along as they climbed the stairs. At the bedside she laid out an apple, a glass of juice and the three boiled sweets everybody in the house got at bedtime.
She lighted a candle, and said:
"Now have a good sleep, Ninny. There'll be tea for you in the morning any time you want. If you get a funny feeling or want anything, just come downstairs and tinkle."
from 'Tales from Moominvalley', by Tove Jansson #Moomins
"Moomintroll felt greatly excited all evening. He padded from one room to the next and lit more candles than usual. He felt certain that all the mysterious people, all the light-shy and unreal, would come out of their holes and dens. They'd come padding up to the great bonfire that all the small beasts had lighted to make the dark and cold go away. And now he would see them."
from 'Moominland Midwinter', by Tove Jansson #Moomins#Bookstodon#Winter
"Snufkin got a feeling that he wanted to write songs. The faint whisper of rain and running water was there, and the same tender note of solitude and perfection. He listened and waited. He went on waiting without getting impatient because he knew what tunes were like. They had to come completely naturally as notes do when they have been left in peace. Now the time had come to take them out and let them become a song about rain."
from 'Moominvalley in November', by Tove Jansson #Moomins
"'I don't know what to do,' said the Snork Maiden to Moomintroll, giving him an imploring look under her fringe. She carried a wreath of violets around her ears and had felt bored since morning. 'Let's play that I'm a wondrous beauty who gets kidnapped by you,' she said.
'I don't know if I'm in the mood for it,' replied Moomintroll. 'But there's no need to pretend you're a wondrous beauty, because that's what you are.'"
from 'Moominsummer Madness', by Tove Jansson #Moomins
"They always slept from November to April, because such was the custom of their forefathers, and Moomins stick to tradition. Everybody had a good meal of pinecones in their stomachs, just as their ancestors used to have.
The silence was deep and expectant.
Every now and then somebody sighed and curled deeper down under the quilt."
from 'Moominland Midwinter', by Tove Jansson #Bookstodon#Quotes#Moomins#Winter
"Breaking camp in this way comes with a hop, skip and a jump! All of a sudden everything is different, and if you're going to move on you're careful to make use of every single minute. Before anyone can stop you or start asking questions, you start running, and finally you're on your way and suddenly quite calm, like a solitary tree with every single leaf completely still."
Snufkin, from 'Moominvalley in November', by Tove Jansson #Bookstodon#Moomins
'Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley' coming to Nintendo Switch and mobile devices
the story-rich musical adventure based on the beloved characters of Finnish author Tove Jansson previously announced for PC, will be coming to Nintendo Switch, as well as iOS and Android devices.