Pippi Longstocking Written by: Astrid Lindgren. Translated by: Florence Lamborn. Illustrated by: Louis S. Glanzman. Genre: Classic Book. Pages: 160. Copyright: 1950.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live all on your own at age nine? To have a giant house with no one to tell you what you have to do? If you needed to clean the kitchen floors, all you would have to do is throw some water and suds on the floor, strap scrub brushes to your feet, and just skate. What if you had your own horse to help mow the lawn and take you to town and back? What if you were so strong you could pick that horse up high above your head and take him places if need be? This is exactly how Pippi Longstocking lives. With just her, Mr. Nilsson (her pet monkey), and her horse living together at Villa Villekulla, they discover that so many adventures can be had! And just wait until she befriends the neighbor children, Tommy and Annika! If you want to find out what kind of adventures the five of them go on, be sure to read Pippi Longstocking, it’s an adventure you will surely not forget!
Summary:
When Pippi Longstocking’s father was lost at sea, with nothing more than the clothes on her back, over sized shoes on her feet, her pet monkey Mr. Nilsson, and a trunk full of gold coins, 9-year-old Pippi moves into Villa Villekulla. Living alone is a 9 year olds paradise, especially for a precocious child such as Pippi. Shortly after moving in to the Villa, Pippi befriends two neighborhood children, Tommy and Annika. Although both of them were raised in a very sheltered and uniform home, they instantly fall in love with Pippi’s sense of adventure and dependence. Together the three grow from one another, Pippi teaching them the importance of letting go and being a free spirit and Tommy and Annika teach Pippi that there is more to life than just having fun, like school. Pippi, Tommy, and Annika have many adventures together, from becoming thing-finders, to going on picnics, to going to the circus. And everywhere they go, Pippi spreads her magic on everyone they encounter. From the neighborhood bullies to the acrobats in the circus, Pippi has a way of showing others that there is a lot more to her than just being a little girl. A couple of burglars find this out the hard way! Life isn’t always easy for Pippi though. She has learned that although she always has the best interest at heart, sometimes she is misunderstood and considered a nuisance by others. Her sadness at feeling this way makes her such a real and young girl, even if she is somewhat magical. Her troublesome ways however helped her rescue two young children from a burning building when the fire brigade could not help. The story ends with Pippi inviting Tommy and Annika over for her birthday. They celebrate with ghost hunting and discover an old chest that belonged to her father. Pippi is a master storyteller, often making it difficult for others to distinguish between fact and fiction. She has a rich and vivid imagination and seems to be uninterested in boundaries. At the end, as she says good-bye to her guests, Pippi declares that when she grows up, she will be a pirate, a declaration that leaves every reader wondering, will she?
My Assessment:
I absolutely loved reading this book. Pippi is such a delightful image of child wonder and imagination. She is so creative and spunky that although she is not one to follow rules, she is still a terrific role model for children. Astrid Lindgren did such a great job writing the story that you want to continue to read to find out what happens next. The book also ends in such a manner that there is a perfect transition into creating a series out of it. I love the element of fantasy that this book entails. The way that Pippi stands up to bullies is also fantastic! This is such a great story and I recommend it to boys and girls alike!
Teaching Tips:
I think that one of the most important things that came out of this book can be a lesson on character. Each character in the book has a strong and rich personality that I think is great to share with kids. Although Pippi is a leader, and the kids Tommy and Annika hang on to her every move, they still question her when they are unsure about things. They also try to teach her the importance of an education. One of the best moments in the book is when Pippi confronts the bullies. And although she has magical strength, it was more the power in her words that sopped them in their tracks. Here is this little girl, standing up to what is described as giant boys. What a beautiful lesson to teach our students!
What I Liked the Most:
I honestly loved everything in this book. At first there was a couple of concerns about what kind of message this is sending to students about the importance of education (she chooses not to go to school), but then I realized that there was so much more to her than just that. She is an amazing example of creativity, following your dreams, and standing up for your self and for others. Love, love, love this pint sized feminist!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live all on your own at age nine? To have a giant house with no one to tell you what you have to do? If you needed to clean the kitchen floors, all you would have to do is throw some water and suds on the floor, strap scrub brushes to your feet, and just skate. What if you had your own horse to help mow the lawn and take you to town and back? What if you were so strong you could pick that horse up high above your head and take him places if need be? This is exactly how Pippi Longstocking lives. With just her, Mr. Nilsson (her pet monkey), and her horse living together at Villa Villekulla, they discover that so many adventures can be had! And just wait until she befriends the neighbor children, Tommy and Annika! If you want to find out what kind of adventures the five of them go on, be sure to read Pippi Longstocking, it’s an adventure you will surely not forget!
Summary:
When Pippi Longstocking’s father was lost at sea, with nothing more than the clothes on her back, over sized shoes on her feet, her pet monkey Mr. Nilsson, and a trunk full of gold coins, 9-year-old Pippi moves into Villa Villekulla. Living alone is a 9 year olds paradise, especially for a precocious child such as Pippi. Shortly after moving in to the Villa, Pippi befriends two neighborhood children, Tommy and Annika. Although both of them were raised in a very sheltered and uniform home, they instantly fall in love with Pippi’s sense of adventure and dependence. Together the three grow from one another, Pippi teaching them the importance of letting go and being a free spirit and Tommy and Annika teach Pippi that there is more to life than just having fun, like school. Pippi, Tommy, and Annika have many adventures together, from becoming thing-finders, to going on picnics, to going to the circus. And everywhere they go, Pippi spreads her magic on everyone they encounter. From the neighborhood bullies to the acrobats in the circus, Pippi has a way of showing others that there is a lot more to her than just being a little girl. A couple of burglars find this out the hard way! Life isn’t always easy for Pippi though. She has learned that although she always has the best interest at heart, sometimes she is misunderstood and considered a nuisance by others. Her sadness at feeling this way makes her such a real and young girl, even if she is somewhat magical. Her troublesome ways however helped her rescue two young children from a burning building when the fire brigade could not help. The story ends with Pippi inviting Tommy and Annika over for her birthday. They celebrate with ghost hunting and discover an old chest that belonged to her father. Pippi is a master storyteller, often making it difficult for others to distinguish between fact and fiction. She has a rich and vivid imagination and seems to be uninterested in boundaries. At the end, as she says good-bye to her guests, Pippi declares that when she grows up, she will be a pirate, a declaration that leaves every reader wondering, will she?
My Assessment:
I absolutely loved reading this book. Pippi is such a delightful image of child wonder and imagination. She is so creative and spunky that although she is not one to follow rules, she is still a terrific role model for children. Astrid Lindgren did such a great job writing the story that you want to continue to read to find out what happens next. The book also ends in such a manner that there is a perfect transition into creating a series out of it. I love the element of fantasy that this book entails. The way that Pippi stands up to bullies is also fantastic! This is such a great story and I recommend it to boys and girls alike!
Teaching Tips:
I think that one of the most important things that came out of this book can be a lesson on character. Each character in the book has a strong and rich personality that I think is great to share with kids. Although Pippi is a leader, and the kids Tommy and Annika hang on to her every move, they still question her when they are unsure about things. They also try to teach her the importance of an education. One of the best moments in the book is when Pippi confronts the bullies. And although she has magical strength, it was more the power in her words that sopped them in their tracks. Here is this little girl, standing up to what is described as giant boys. What a beautiful lesson to teach our students!
What I Liked the Most:
I honestly loved everything in this book. At first there was a couple of concerns about what kind of message this is sending to students about the importance of education (she chooses not to go to school), but then I realized that there was so much more to her than just that. She is an amazing example of creativity, following your dreams, and standing up for your self and for others. Love, love, love this pint sized feminist!