The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking

Imagine being nine years old and living on one’s own. However do you handle it? Well, it might help if you’re the strongest and richest girl in the girl. This week I reread The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, which contains all three Pippi novels by Astrid Lindgren, as part of my ongoing study of literary anti-heroes. Pippi does whatever she desires, whenever she wants, which is a reason her character caused controversy when first introduced and to this day appears on lists of female anti-heroes. Yet there is no reason to worry she’ll corrupt anyone, for Pippi’s heart is always in the right place.What are some of Pippi’s more questionable habits? There is her penchant for making up stories, talking back to adults, and playing hooky from school. When Pippi first meets neighbors Tommy and Annika, she is walking backwards. In explaining her actions, Pippi declares, “Can’t a person walk any way she wants to? For that matter, let me tell you that in Egypt everyone walks that way, and nobody thinks it the least strange.” Annika reprimands her, saying it’s wicked to lie. Pippi looks sad and explains that she forgets once and awhile about the need to be honest. How could one expect anything different from a child whose mother is an angel, whose father is a cannibal, and who herself has sailed on the ocean all her life? As the two children become friends with Pippi, they come to realize that Pippi doesn’t always tell lies. When she does, it’s usually to weave a story for fun or make a point to a stranger. That leads me to her habit of talking back to adults. One day a stranger comes to Villa Villekulla and starts making plans to tear it down. When Annika and Tommy implore him to not chop down their old oak, he retorts that he doesn’t climb trees but also brushes off their concern because he intends to buy the place. When he finally starts a conversation with Pippi, he insults her red hair. Pippi in turn asks him, “Do you know in what way we are alike?” Then she tells him, “Both of us have big mouths. Except me.” Some might say that children should be seen and not heard; others might say the stranger deserved her back talk. Last, there is her truancy. Soon after Annika and Tommy meet Pippi, they convince her to attend school with them. The teacher tries to teach arithmetic to Pippi, but Pippi doesn’t understand how seven and five can equal twelve while at the same time eight and four can also equal twelve. Having tried to explain the rules of spelling to students, I can understand Pippi’s confusion: education doesn’t always make sense. Next, the teacher tries to teach reading to Pippi, but Pippi doesn’t understand how a letter that looks like a line with a fly speck over top can be an “i.” Both the teacher and Pippi decide that school is not the right choice for her. Is this ever a choice that should be made in the real word for children? No. Sometimes one has to just relax and enjoy a book’s fantasies.What are ways in which Pippi is the perfect role model? Pippi is always a good friend. Moreover, despite her somewhat flippant attitude with adults, she is kind and courageous. How is Pippi a good friend? She regularly surprises Annika and Tommy with treats, especially at the bottom of her oak tree. When her two friends are sick and stuck indoors, Pippi climbs outside their window and amuses them. In the third book, she invites them to vacation with her in the South Seas. When they return too late for Christmas, she decorates her house and blesses them with gifts. How is Pippi kind? During a shopping spree, a large crowd of children gather to watch her in the candy store. While the children’s parents probably don’t feel great about Pippi having fed their children enough candy to make them sick, the children sure learned to keep watch for her. Pippi next proceeds to the toy store, where she bought a little of everything to distribute to the children. Pippi isn’t just tender-hearted to children. One day, two burglars attempt to rob her. After they apologize, Pippi takes pity on them. She asks them to dance with her, then feeds them food, and even allows them to take one gold piece each. How is Pippi courageous? When the town’s Skyscraper caught on fire and trapped two children, Pippi tied a rope to a nearby tree and then placed a board between the tree and the house. Without blinking an eye, Pippi walked across the board and rescued the two boys.Few of us have the strength to attempt the latter feat. Most of us don’t have bags of gold that allows us to buy up the town. However, we can do right by our friends, stand up to mean people, and use our imagination to enrich our lives. In these ways, Pippi serves as an example of how to act. As for those other ways, well, isn’t it fun to pretend?

That irrepressible, red-haired girl, Pippi Longstocking, is as much fun today as she was more than 50-years ago when I first discovered her adventures. Along with her little monkey, Mr. Nilsson, Pippi Longstocking lived in a home her missing sea captain father had purchased before he was lost at sea. Nine-years old, she did what she wanted to do, ate what she wanted to eat – caramel candy rather than cod liver oil, and listened to no one’s advice or direction but her own. She was everything that a child wanted to be and did everything a child wished to do.High spirited and imaginative, she exhibited all the characteristics of an independent, self-sufficient individual. Pippi was a girl ahead of her times and served as an inspiration to many.Astrid Lindgren’s three books have been collected in “The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking”. The volume includes “Pippi Longstocking”, “Pippi Goes on Board”, and “Pippi in the South Seas”. Each one provides the reader an enjoyable, laugh-inducing read; the appeal of each “book” is timeless and crosses the generations. I love reading these stories to my grandchildren and they love hearing Pippi’s adventures.Michael Chesworth’s illustrations add to the overall appeal of “The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking”. The black-and-white drawings appear to be pen and ink renderings. Larger illustrations are brightly colored and visually appealing.Be sure to read the “Afterward” which provides an interesting perspective on Astrid Lindgren and the difficulty she faced in having Pippi’s stories published.

I remember reading Pippi books myself as a child. I am looking forward to sharing the stories with my grandkids. Great price forthis all in one edition vs. Separate books.

i loved the pippi books as a child. i love sharing them with my children. this is 3 books in one, hard bound, coffee table style book. very sturdy and has lots of black and white illustrations throughout.pippi is a wild child raising herself without parents (her mother is in heaven and her dad is a pirate king). she has a house, a horse, a monkey, and lots of gold. she is very unconventional, yet endearing. she doesn't go to school (she tries it once, but it's just not her thing) and is full of wisdom and worldly knowledge. she has lots of stories to tell the neighborhood kids about her adventures on a pirate boat, meeting cannibals and such. they are so over the top and fantastic you never know if it's true or not (and you'll have to read the books to find out).reading it again as an adult, i find some things are a bit passe (pippi talks about spanking herself when she's been bad), but i just skip over or reword the parts I don't like when reading it to my children. it's still very entertaining and funny.

All the fun Pippi Longstocking adventures I remember as a child. My granddaughter loved it.

As a huge Astrid Lindgren Fan I was happy to come across this book of Pippi. It’s Beautifully illustrated and has a good letter size.

My 5yo daughter is reading this book now, and finds it rather entertaining -- though I do have to explain lots of the nuances or details, such as what a porch or pantry is (the perils of dense city living), cannibals, etc.I do appreciate the more jovial paintings and drawings than the original illustrations in the version I had while growing up.The text has some phrasing that is just slightly awkward to me (Canadian-born but grow up in both Canada and USA) but it's not intrusive to the story, and understandable given the book is actually a translation from the original anyhow.

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this as a little girl until I read it to my 7-year-old granddaughter, who thought it was hysterically funny! (She would not be ready to read it herself but loved having it read to her. )

I used this book to relive my childhood. At 73 I am a five year old cleverly disguised as a little old lady.

We Love pippylongstocking, true feminist

This hardcover version is a bit large and heavy to carry around (so a bit impractical for reading while traveling about), but is excellent for reading at home (and looks very good on and off the shelf). The drawing style is quite fitting and is artfully included throughout, even though many readers will no doubt be more used to the animation style that was used in the popular T.V. show and animated movie.For fans of Pippi or for those hoping to be introduced, this is a good resource.

All the Pippi books in one lovely hardcover collection. My 7yr old is enjoying reading these stories as much as I did as a child. Be aware, in case you've forgotten, there are a few problematic story lines that may result in some in-depth questions from your kids. Overall, the humor and fantastical nature of the stories endure.

I bought this book on a lark for my son's birthday (he is an adult but this book was a his favourite when he was a young child.) He read it cover to cover and loved it! Wonderful!