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A review by katykelly
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
4.0
Still relatable though dated in many ways - my son loved this Strong Girl (and her monkey).
Shame upon shame, I realised I'd NEVER ACTUALLY READ a Pippi Longstocking book when I decided to read this to my 7-year-old. Had to be corrected.
This is one of those books that is both still relevant but also so out-of-date in some ways. A mixture I was interested to watch being taken in by my son, who is a good listener and engages very well with all books I read to him.
We loved Pippi's independence - she's 9 but she lives alone! She cooks for herself, decides her own bedtime, decides to have adventures and goes out and HAS them. She chooses whether or not she goes to school. She's been around the world and has story after story. She talks to grown-ups without deference.
And of course she's also the strongest girl in the world - able to lift up and remove bullies and bulls with equal ease. We loved this!
There's also a lot of old-fashioned language and values, including those from Lindgren's home country, though references to names/places was not really a problem. I had to explain a few everyday items to my boy. Some of Pippi's stories go on for an awfully long time too! There are values here about girls and boys that clash with more contemporary attitudes. Not a bad thing to experience and discuss.
We are Tommi and Annika really, neighbours to Pippi who revel in her freedoms and devil-may-care attitude, enjoying off-the-cuff escapades. We are the Good Children who get a thrill watching all her antics while knowing we are being well-behaved ourselves and have the comforts of parents, cooked food and security that she doesn't have - though there will also be jealousy over Mr Nilsson the monkey!
Wonderful to finally experience this (when I had no idea that I never had), and to share it - my boy was very taken with Pippi's strength and lack of bedtime!
For ages 6-10.
Shame upon shame, I realised I'd NEVER ACTUALLY READ a Pippi Longstocking book when I decided to read this to my 7-year-old. Had to be corrected.
This is one of those books that is both still relevant but also so out-of-date in some ways. A mixture I was interested to watch being taken in by my son, who is a good listener and engages very well with all books I read to him.
We loved Pippi's independence - she's 9 but she lives alone! She cooks for herself, decides her own bedtime, decides to have adventures and goes out and HAS them. She chooses whether or not she goes to school. She's been around the world and has story after story. She talks to grown-ups without deference.
And of course she's also the strongest girl in the world - able to lift up and remove bullies and bulls with equal ease. We loved this!
There's also a lot of old-fashioned language and values, including those from Lindgren's home country, though references to names/places was not really a problem. I had to explain a few everyday items to my boy. Some of Pippi's stories go on for an awfully long time too! There are values here about girls and boys that clash with more contemporary attitudes. Not a bad thing to experience and discuss.
We are Tommi and Annika really, neighbours to Pippi who revel in her freedoms and devil-may-care attitude, enjoying off-the-cuff escapades. We are the Good Children who get a thrill watching all her antics while knowing we are being well-behaved ourselves and have the comforts of parents, cooked food and security that she doesn't have - though there will also be jealousy over Mr Nilsson the monkey!
Wonderful to finally experience this (when I had no idea that I never had), and to share it - my boy was very taken with Pippi's strength and lack of bedtime!
For ages 6-10.