The Moomins are troll-like characters from a Finnish children’s book series that became popular around the world in the 1950s. But they never really took off in the United States. The author Tove Jansson rejected Walt Disney’s offer to buy the brand. Now, a bookstore chain in the US is trying to popularize the Moomins here. Will Coley reports on the themes in the Moomins series and why they continue to find new audiences.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.