the first crocus

Homage to Tove Jansson for this weeks Illustration Friday ("homage").

Tove Jansson was the creator of the wonderful Moomin family. I love the books as an adult, but feared them as a child. My mother tried to read Moominland Midwinter to me, but it gave me nightmares, so I refused to hear it. I found it dark and scary; Moomin wakes up in the middle of winter, all alone and afraid. Everyone else is still sleeping, hibernating through winter. The furniture is covered in sheets, outside the snow lies deep, everything is very still and quiet. It's as if Moomin is all alone in the whole world.

Then after a while, he discovers that he isn't alone after all, other creatures are awake. And the story continues. And it isn't all scary – it's whimsical, warm and humourous too. But my mother never got that far. I didn't give the books a second chance until I was grownup, but now I appreciate them even more. Tove was a great artist and this is my tribute to her.