JANSSON, TOVE (MARIKA)

born Aug. 9, 1914, Helsinki, Fin., Russian Empire Finnish artist and writer-illustrator of children's books (in Swedish). In her books she created the fantastic self-contained world of Moomintrolls, popular especially in northern and central Europe, although translations in 20 languages have provided a worldwide audience. Her comic strip Moomin ran in the Evening News, London, from 1953 to 1960. Her Moomin world was praised for its individualistic characters, complicated plots, and sophisticated humour. Jansson won the Stockholm Award for best children's books in 1952, the Selma Lagerlf Medal in 1953, the International Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1966, and many other honours. Her first book, Mumintrollet och kometen (published in English as Comet in Moominland ), was published in 1946. Along with numerous other Moomin books, she wrote an autobiography, Bild-huggarens dotter (1968; Sculptor's Daughter), short stories, plays, and adult fiction.