The Moomins Have Crossed the Sea and Landed in Seattle

Growing up in rural Ohio as the daughter of a librarian, books were my escape. I could travel the world with a turn of a page. I now share the magic of reading with my 4-year-old daughter, who delights most in whimsical stories and adorable characters. It’s no surprise then that the Moomins captured her attention and sparked her imagination. We were thrilled to hear they landed in Seattle as part of a special exhibition at the National Nordic Museum, and couldn’t wait to spend an afternoon stepping inside the pages of the beloved books by author and artist Tove Jansson.

Who are the Moomins?

It’s easy to mistake the Moomins for a family of hippopotamuses, with their round snouts, wide bodies and brush-like tips on their tails. But they are, in fact, trolls. They’re the main characters in Jansson’s stories, and they’ve grown into cultural icons. Moominpappa, Moominmamma and Moomintroll live quiet lives in Moominvalley, hibernating in the winter and adventuring out in the spring. The Moomins are curious and kind, with a reverence for nature that I hope to instill in my daughter.

The stories have other recurring characters, including Sniff, Snuffkin and (my daughter’s favorite) Little My. You can expect appearances from quite a few of these magical characters in the “Moomins’ Sea Adventures” exhibition.

Exploring the interactive Moomin exhibition

The two connected rooms of the Barbro Osher Gallery in the National Nordic Museum have transformed into a peaceful escape to the shores of Finland.

A red and white lighthouse beckons inside, its yellow light turning in circles at the center of the room. My daughter was drawn to it immediately, hopping onto the “rocky” island around it. Oversized plush boulders and three little red rowboats surround the lighthouse and offer more ways to play. Climbing into one rowboat, my daughter let her imagination take the lead. “I need to get back to land!” she exclaimed, looking as lost at sea as a tiny Moomin in Jansson’s artwork. (The sea can easily be considered a character of its own in Jansson’s stories, and her connection to it comes through in both exhibitions.)

Illustrations and translated pages from five of Jansson’s books line the deep blue walls of the gallery. This is the first time that exhibitions from the Moomin Museum in Finland have traveled to the United States. But rather than original artwork, the exhibition displays high-quality prints, or “digigraphies.” The reason behind this is simple: When Tove Jansson passed away in 2001, she left her original artwork and illustrations to the city of Tampere, Finland, under the condition that they stay put. Still wanting to share her artwork and stories with the world, the Moomin Museum developed these prints for traveling purposes. (Seattle is currently the only planned stop for these exhibitions; they’ll return to Finland in September.)

My daughter marveled at the enchanting illustrations while I paused to read each book excerpt. Adding to the excitement, there are the life-size character cutouts throughout the exhibition, perfect for photo ops. My daughter greeted Moomintroll on the way in, and danced next to Little My once inside. These extra elements give younger kids ways to interact with the exhibition while parents and older kids read the stories on the wall.

Getting to know Tove Jansson

The connected room in the gallery houses the museum’s companion exhibition, “Tove and the Sea.”

While my daughter wondered how Jansson drew the Moomins if she’d never seen one in real life, this exhibition made it easy to see the inspiration behind the Moomins’ quiet life by the sea.

For more than 25 years, Jansson and her partner Tuulikki Pietila spent summers on the remote island of Klovharun in the Gulf of Finland. They both dedicated time to art, enjoying the quiet and slower pace of life on the island.

Photographs line the wall in this room, offering a glimpse into the idyllic setting where Jansson created much of her art. On one wall, a 43-minute film plays, highlighting the relationship between the two artists, the beauty of the island and the importance of being by the water. It has all the nostalgia of home videos from the ’70s through the ’90s, showing day-to-day tasks and playful memories. It replays every hour.

What else is at the National Nordic Museum?

Prepare to be carried by Moomin magic throughout the rest of the museum: A charming scavenger hunt is available at the front desk, with clues for finding small Moomin characters hiding in the museum’s other exhibits. Grab the sheet and follow the clues upstairs to the second floor, where 6-inch versions of the beloved characters are nestled in parts of the permanent “Nordic Journeys” exhibition. It adds a bit of whimsy and intrigue to displays that might otherwise be more interesting to adults (despite my best efforts to engage my daughter with the Vikings’ navigation techniques and tools).

The Family Learning Alcove is the most captivating area for kids on the second floor. My daughter settled in at the table, stacking magnetic tiles and enjoying a break from my otherwise constant museum chorus of “Please don’t touch that!” We also spotted a Moomin book on the shelf in the corner, and took a break for story time that fit the theme of the day.

From the alcove, a quick trip back down the stairs led us right into the museum’s gift shop. My daughter happily spotted a Little My plush, along with other Moomin-themed merchandise and a selection of books. Meanwhile, my husband and I sampled chocolate-covered licorice.

Between the gift shop and the café, there’s another permanent installation to discover: Ginny Ruffner’s “Project Aurora.” The stunning light display sits 20 feet high and 10 feet wide and uses AI to show the beauty and unpredictability of the Aurora Borealis. While I’m still hoping to see the Northern Lights in person with my daughter, this was a fun and mesmerizing display to stop and admire.

It’s also worth mentioning that the first troll we spotted during our visit to the museum wasn’t a Moomin at all. Thomas Dambo’s own Frankie Feetsplinter stands guard at the museum entrance, one of six Dambo trolls in the public art exhibition, “Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King.” We spent time admiring him both outside and inside, as he’s easy to spot through the café window. Despite Frankie being in place for nearly three years, a steady stream of visitors still stopped for photos. We enjoyed people-watching over a slice of cardamom almond cake before heading home.

Special events at the museum

There will be special events at the National Nordic Museum to further enjoy the Moomins during their stay. Keep an eye on the museum’s website for details and mark your calendars:

• Thursday, May 7: Nordic Stories: “Moomin and the Wishing Star”
• Wednesday, May 20: Art After School: Character Creation
• Thursday, May 28: Moomin Movie Night
• Thursday, June 4: Nordic Stories: “Moomin and the New Friend”
• Wednesday, June 24: Youth Nordic Art Class: Nordic Folk Printmaking
• Thursday, June 25: Moomin Movie Night
• Thursday, July 2: Nordic Stories: “Moomin and the Birthday Button”

More ways to introduce your kids to the Moomins

If your visit to the National Nordic Museum leaves you wanting more time with the Moomin family, you’re not alone. The books are piling up in our house, and my daughter wants a bedtime story with her new favorite trolls nearly every night. Add this selection of books, shows and games to your queue:

Moomin books

• “The Moomins and the Great Flood” (1945): The first Moomin story follows Moomintroll and Moominmamma as they travel through a great forest and beyond in search of Moominpappa. They’re reunited in the valley, settling in together in what Jansson calls an inevitable fairytale.
• “Finn Family Moomintroll” (1948): Continue following the adventures of the Moomins in this story that is both magical and a bit chaotic. Expect an enchanted hat, a mysterious suitcase and more shenanigans.
• “Tales from Moominvalley” (1962): This is Jansson’s only collection of short stories, focusing on the Moomins with tales of friendship, holidays, music and more.
• “Moominpappa at Sea” (1965): The imagery of Moominpappa rowing in the vast sea, nearing a lighthouse and rocky island, is integral to the Moomin exhibition. Read the full story of Moominpappa’s desire for adventure and how the Moomins adjust to their new lives as lighthouse keepers.

Moomin shows

• “Moomin” (1990–1992): Millennials may recognize this slow-paced, whimsical series with all of the beloved Moomin characters. Stream on the Moomin YouTube Channel.
• “Moominvalley” (2019): With a different theme each season, this 3D animated series brings the Moomins to life for the next generation. Stream on Apple TV.

Moomin games

• Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth: Inspired by the novel “Moominland in Winter,” this game allows you to travel as Moomintroll through the snow, setting out on an epic journey and completing tasks as you go. The game will be released on Steam on April 27, 2026.
• Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley: Help Snufkin restore the valley through musical quests and interactions with familiar characters. The game is available on Nintendo Switch, Steam and more.