Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

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Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren


                A nine year old, freckled faced, red haired girl just moved into the Villa Villekulla, the house at the end of town, with her monkey named Mr. Nilsson and a horse. That young girl is Pippi Longstocking. She has spent her life on a boat with her father and has now moved into the home he purchased for them after he was lost at sea. Her mother is in heaven and she believes her father is now a cannibal King who will one day return for his darling daughter. She has gold pieces in a suitcase and doesn’t see the point of school. The brother and sister that live next door, Tommy and Annika, are her only friends. It is with them that Pippi recounts her adventures, creates new outlandish games to play and above all, has fun.             
Pippi Longstocking is such a great book. The characters are well developed and lovable. Pippi is outrageous and hilarious. Tommy and Annika are her willing sidekicks by her side at every turn lost in her little world. There is such a sad element to the story with the death of her mother and the loss of her father. Yet Pippi brings joy and a little mayhem to everyone in the story. She is caring but hazardous at times. Above all she is genuine and though a little misguided she means well and loves the people around her.
                This story just makes me smile. I grew up loving this movie and had to Youtube “Scrubbing Day” halfway through reading this story. It just brought back so many memories of being a little girl and being so enchanted by this young girl full of strength and hope with a wide smile plastered on her face. Joy radiates from the pages of Pippi Longstocking. I don’t know what made Lindgren creates this story but I am glad she did. Children need to be above all entertained while reading, especially if introduced to it a young age. I can’t imagine any child not being swept away by the young girl in these pages. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to the young ones or the young at heart.

                

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