The Beat’s Moomin Study Guide

Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip Vol.1 Written and illustrated by Tove Jansson

Published by Drawn & Quarterly

Statement of Intent

Bizarre, silly, beautiful. Moomin is these things, a family of trolls whose carefree lifestyle keeps their comic fun during an endless parade of reversals of fate. Populated with inexplicable creatures, adoring nature, lavishly minimal, endearingly radical. Behind a veil of innocence, Tove Jansson questions what we desire and reflects on how we stand in our own way. Jansson herself is a role model for creative people, intellectuals, revolutionaries, human beings. This Moomin Study Guide is structured in reaction to reading the book, but it can (and should) be modulated to the interests of the student. Find what engages your student in the text and then follow that, not the book. Comics are a medium of visual storytelling- if your student wants to start with art, the plot will follow. In this lesson plan, you’ll find summaries of the story with analytical prompts, themes in the art and production of the book, and activities beyond the reading.

Read the rest of the study guide at the link above!