“We bought this book.
Pippi Longstocking is a classic that's becoming increasingly overlooked. It's an offbeat tale (in the vein of Roald Dahl's works, but more whimsical and less creepy) of a little girl whose father is lost at sea and who lives alone in a villa in a typical (older) suburban neighborhood. Her best friends are her neighbors Tommy and Annika, who are transported to a wild mentality when they're around Pippi that breaks free of the rigorous demands and roles the rest of the world is putting on them. There's no doubting that Pippi is a black sheep, at times nonsensical, and badly behaving. But likewise she also encourages Tommy and Annika (and the readers through Tommy and Annika) to look at things a new way, question why things are as they are, and encourages them not to forget to have fun.
While it's true that Pippi is becoming dated, the situations, especially socially, that the children in this book face are still real. Speaking as a girl who always wanted to be as strong, brave and clever as Pippi when I grew up these books can still make a great, fun read for kids, and can give kids a sorely needed role model in the literary world (especially girls, who are a little light on literary heroes to begin with).
We read it before bed at night over the last few weeks and my kids looked forward to it every night. They enjoy Pippi's silly logic, but most of all her indomitable spirit and her willingness to try anything and face up to the scariest of situations. Highly recommended for older, but still child audiences, Pippi Longstocking is a great teacher of not judging a person by their looks, but how they support and empower the people around them.
Recommended for: 7 and up (loose)
Contains: Kids playing with guns (briefly)”
MicheleLee wrote this review Sunday, January 23, 2011.
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