I found this softcover in this Little Free Library in Tyngsboro MA while dropping off some books of my own, and nabbed it for another release copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, with its mix of joyful, quiet, and sometimes creepy moods. The opening scene of little Moomintroll awakening in midwinter while the rest of his family is deep in hibernation is marvelously atmospheric, reminding me of that otherworldly feel of being awake at an unusual time. "The silence was deep and expectant."

As Moomintroll explores this strange new world - having become used to the eeriness of the sleeping forms of his family - he comes across others who are awake during the wintertime, from a confused squirrel to "whatever lives under the sink". And then Too-ticky turns up, and he has someone to talk to (and get in trouble with!).

The story covers the beauty of winter as well as its terror; the scenes involving the Lady of the Cold are especially (pardon the expression) chilling. [Though I was amused at the footnote: "In case the reader feels this is too sad, pleases take a quick look at page 144." {grin}]

Lovely, eerie, funny, heartwarming... delightful!

[There's a TV Tropes page on the Moomin books, with some entertaining tidbits.]

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in the Little Free Library on this very warm day; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]