Moominsummer Madness

by Tove Jansson

Fun and endearing, it's easy to see why Moominvalley has an enduring appeal for readers both young and old.
When a flood sweeps through Moominvalley, the Moomins must find a new house. And with typical Moomin good luck, one just happens to be floating by. It looks normal enough, but there are curtains where one wall should be, strange rows of lights, and other odd amenities. Behold—a theater! Then Moomintroll and the Snork Maiden disappear, and the family realizes that the house may hold the answers to more than they ever dreamed. The beloved classic explores creativity, self-expression, and community, all delivered with Tove Jansson’s signature blend of humor and gentle wisdom.

Moominsummer Madness was first published in 1954 and is the fifth book in the beloved Moomin series, which follows the adventures of the serene and whimsical Moomin family and their friends. The novel also marks the only appearance of the character Misabel.

Relaunched in hardcover with extra material, gorgeous painted covers, a fold-out map and a reading ribbon, Moominsummer Madness will appeal to all current Moomin fans and is sure to find new ones.

164 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Tove Jansson was born and died in Helsinki, Finland. As a Finnish citizen whose mother tongue was Swedish, she was part of the Swedish-speaking Finns minority. Thus, all her books were originally written in Swedish.

Although known first and foremost as an author, Tove Jansson considered her careers as author and painter to be of equal importance.

Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated her first Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood (1945), during World War II. She said later that the war had depressed her, and she had wanted to write something naive and innocent. Besides the Moomin novels and short stories, Tove Jansson also wrote and illustrated four original and highly popular picture books.

Jansson's Moomin books have been translated into 33 languages.