The Moomins are whimsical hippo-like creatures who go through many adventures, philosophise and discuss the bigger questions in life. I enjoyed the Moomin cartoon in the 90's after being scared witless of the 80's stop-motion animation and have a deep love for Tove Jansson’s creations.
One of the stories that really struck me was the short story ‘The Invisible Child’. It is the story of Ninny, an isolated and lonely girl who learns to love and be loved and appreciate the power of friendship after being neglected by her uncaring aunt. It’s a powerful story about being seen, heard and understanding equality and respect.
Tove’s story is read by her neice Sophia Jansson and is a great vehicle to discuss some questions about the themes covered.