The Moomins and the Great Flood (The Moomins, #1)

by Tove Jansson

those days they lived together with the house-trolls in people’s houses, mostly behind their tall stoves. “Some of us still live there now, I’m sure,” said Moominmamma. “But only where people still have stoves, I mean. We’re not happy with central heating.”

It sounded so sad that they all began to sob, and as they cried they began to think about a lot of other things that were sad, too, and that made them cry more and more.

Moominmamma went straight over to a brook that was completely white, since she had always been very fond of milk. (Most moomintrolls are, at least when they get a bit older.)

“Oh dear,” Moominmamma exclaimed, “I was in such a hurry that I forgot they can’t speak, or hear anything!” And she drew a handsome Moomintroll in the sand with a big question-mark after him.

“Now bow and thank the Hattifatteners for the voyage,” said Moominmamma. And Moomintroll made a deep bow, and the little creature wagged his tail gratefully.

After a little while a hatch in the door opened and a boy with completely red hair looked out. “Are you shipwrecked?” he asked. “Almost,” said Moominmamma. “But we’re most definitely hungry.”

Then the boy opened the door wide and invited them to come in. And when he caught sight of Tulippa, he made a deep bow, for he had never seen such beautiful blue hair before. And Tulippa curtseyed just as deeply, for she thought his red hair was absolutely lovely.