OK, time to talk about some children's classics! The little girls and I are working our way through the list of 100 favorite children's novels as determined by a recent poll on the popular Children's Literature blog, Fuse #8. We are currently on number 97, The Children of Green Knowe, but recently jumped ahead and read number 95 Pippi Longstocking. This classic by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren is one of the few on the list that I've never read before. A couple of years ago I bought new edition illustrated by Lauren Child (of Charlie and Lola fame) for the public library, and I've been itching to read it ever since.
I don't know how this edition compares to earlier translations, but we fell in love with it. Of course. Pippi lives the dream life of every child--no one to tell her when to eat or sleep or how to dress. She shares her house with a horse and a monkey. Various attempts to "civilize" Pippi come to disastrous consequences, with the adults involved being clearly put in their place. There's no question who has the power--Pippi. Child's brightly colored, exuberant illustrations capture Pippi's free spirit, with Pippi herself constantly breaking out of the frame.
Reading a book in translation, it is difficult to comment on the style--not knowing what to attribute to the translator and what to the author. Still, the overall feeling of slight irreverence and kid empowerment reminds me of authors like Roald Dahl. In this age of helicopter parents, I think a lot of kids could use a dose of Pippi.
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