Why does this main city of Finland have two names? Helsinki - this is what they say most often, but also Helsingfors? Yes, it’s very simple - because this is a bilingual country, Finns live there, and also Swedes. And therefore, both languages are sort of equal there - Swedish and Finnish. And the country, Finland, is Finnland in Swedish. But in Finnish it sounds different - Suomi, the country of lakes. In this country of lakes, in the waters of which the dim northern sun is reflected, over which snow-white seagulls circle and reeds rustle along the shores, the girl Tove was born into a Swedish family on August 9, 1914. Her father was a sculptor, and her mother was an artist. It seemed that her fate was predetermined - to be an artist too, but how could it be otherwise? And so it happened. Tove Jansson started drawing and publishing her drawings in newspapers and magazines early, it seems, from the age of fourteen. And instead of signing her drawings at length, Tove Jansson began to depict a small, unknown, but very cute animal under the drawings. Imagine that in the future he became the Moomintroll! In the artist’s imagination, the fairy-tale world of the Moomin family and their extraordinary friends was gradually created. This is how Tove Jansson became a writer. Reading books about the Moomins, you, my dear reader, will understand how beautiful this world is. He is infinitely kind and affectionate, generosity, generosity and love reign in him. It is most important. And how many adventures, how many different characters! But what can I say about it? If you read it, you’ll find out for yourself. Sad news recently came: the wonderful Swedish writer who lived in Finland, Tove Jansson, has died. But her wonderful heroes remained with us - her priceless gift to humanity.