Little My

from the Moomin books by Tove Jannson

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"Little My took a deep breath in through her nose and let it out between her teeth in a very unpleasant manner, which meant to say, 'I’ve never heard anything so stupid in all my life.'

" 'Where’s Mother?' he asked. 'Somebody ate her,' replied Little My untruthfully. 'Have you any food?' " 

" 'She can't get angry, that's what's wrong with her. You’ll never get your own face unless you learn to fight. Believe me.' ”

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I have painted Little My before. What to say about her? She is sassy and feisty and totally unrepentant. My oldest loved her, and I think that one of the reasons is because she says all the crazy things we can't, and still be welcomed in polite company. To a very quiet and well-behaved child, Little My is the perfect form of self-expression.

She's incredibly small, but makes herself heard and her opinions known so that she can't go unnoticed. In one of the stories she's in, Little My meets an invisible girl who's sent to the Moomin family to rest and hopefully become visible again. Instead of letting her relaxing in peace and quiet, Little My urges her to be loud and feisty until eventually she regains her normal form. Little My is a good reminder to make your voice heard and to express your feelings.... although I'd stop short of the biting.