The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking [Hardcover]

Astrid Lindgren (Author), Michael Chesworth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 1, 1997 | Age Range: 7 - 10 years | Lexile Measure: 840L (What's this?)

An enticing, newly illustrated collection of the enduringly popular Pippi stories. Since Pippi Longstocking was first published in 1950, the escapades of the incomparable Pippi,the girl with upside-down braids and no parents to tell her what to do, have delighted boys and girls alike. Now, for the first time, Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Goes on Board, and Pippi in the South Seas are all together in one bumper volume, with new illustrations in full-color and black-and-white. The collection is an ideal introduction for anyone discovering Pippi for the first time, while confirmed fans will enjoy revisiting their favorite episodes and recalling some they've forgotten. Her admirers will also find fascinating new biographical information about author Astrid Lindgren and the origin of the Pippi stories. Astrid Lindgren was awarded the 1958 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her contribution to international children's literature.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Pippi is an irrepressible, irreverent, and irrefutably delightful nine-year-old girl who lives alone (with a monkey) in her wacky house, Villa Villekulla. When she's not dancing with the burglars who were just trying to rob her house, she's attempting to learn the "pluttification" tables at school; fighting Adolf, the strongest man in the world at the circus; or playing tag with police officers. Pippi's high-spirited, good-natured hijinks cause as much trouble as fun, but a more generous child you won't find anywhere. Astrid Lindgren has created a unique and lovable carrot-topped character, inspiring generations of children to want to be Pippi. The first Pippi Longstocking was published in America in 1950, and this fine, newly illustrated collection includes Pippi Goes on Board and Pippi in the South Seas. Pippi makes reading pure pleasure. (Ages 7 to 10)

Product Details

• Age Range: 7 - 10 years
  
• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670876127
• ISBN-13: 978-0670876129
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing book that has had a lasting effect October 26, 2001

By "gsheps2"

Format:Hardcover

The first thing I have to say is that this book is the most extraordinary book I have ever read. I began reading these books as a very young child. I am now 25 and it has left a wonderful impression on my soul. As a young child I was so amazed at Pippi's spunk and ability to do things on her own free will. It wasn't until I was older that I was able to reflect on her influence on my life. Pippi shows children the value of self esteem and the power to do anything once you set your mind to it. Pippi never cares what people think of her and speaks her mind adamently. She is so loved by everyone that the effect of her quirky personality is above everything you could imagine. There are so many "lessons" in her stories that are hidden in little bits and pieces. I fiercly believe that Pippi allowed me, as a child, to open up to my imagination and become a strong individual. As I said, I am now in my twenties and am scavaging all her books in hopes of showing my "future" children the delights of her incredible behavior. I HIGHLY suggest these books to adolescents-you wouldn't believe the magic enclosed. Pippi did to me what Harry Potter is doing to the world now. Harry, unfortunately is just a little late.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chililug chugger is back... May 18, 2004

By K. Ostrowski

Format:Hardcover

Pippi Longstocking is a lot of things. She plays with sparklers, she plays with guns, she resists arrest, flaunts her supernatural power, manhandles bothersome adults, insults them and disregards them as silly. She's self-important, arrogant, callous, rude, undignified, and absolutely perfect.
Maybe the former LEADS to the latter, because I can't think of any other way she could be all of those things so perfectly. Pippi is the kind of character who, although she seems so terribly foolish, is somehow always right. Pippi is, in that respect, to elementary school children what Superman is to the people of metropolis. She so totally represents everything they hold dear that she can't help but become their champion, despite, or perhaps because of the fact that she's a universal "bad girl."
This book contains every one of her "popularly-recognized" adventures, with new illustrations by some fellow who's really good at drawing pictures of Pippi and her friends. The pictures are slick and cartoon-like in keeping with the sometimes-wacky-but-always-credible-somehow escapades of the girl wonder. Pippi owns an old, run-down villa and a horse and monkey. She keeps her horse on the porch, and her monkey on her shoulder when she goes for a walk. But the strangest thing in the house is Pippi herself, whose resources consist of a seemingly endless supply of gold, a vast collection of rare trinkets, and an endless supply of youthful energy and superhuman strength, probably equal to the task of lifting a small steamroller. She also possesses great durability and the seeming ability to leap great distances with enormous speed. Her skills in seemingly all tests of acrobatics and hand-eye coordination are top-knotch. In short, she was a self-insertion character before there was such a thing....
However, with Pippi, it works, because rather than pretend that she's up against some terrible foe or trying to add tension to the story, Pippi lives her life almost strictly for the humor and fun of it. Anything that keeps people from having fun is something Pippi will generally try to plow right through.
Pippi has the ultimate secret. She knows how to have fun, and if wisdom comes from the mouths of babes, than Pippi is indeed, faults and all, the wisest person who has ever lived.
As a closing note, I'm probably not the only person who hopes that Pippi's "Chililug" pills are real immortality medication, because that would mean that she is still around, and still having fun somewhere. Read more ›

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS SUCH A TREASURE January 29, 2002

By BeatleBangs1964 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I have loved Pippi since I was 7. Bright, high spirited and wonderfully creative and original, the red haired moppet literally shakes up the Swedish village she lives in. Blessed with incredible physical strength, Pippi lives alone and fends for herself. Indeed, her strength comes in handy when she throws would be robbers into the air like pizza dough. That part still makes me laugh!

She is a delightful, independent foil to her more timorous peers, siblings Tommy and Annika. When they invite Pippi to their school, she dazzles all with her creative, hit or miss spelling, her misprounciation of "multiplication" (she insists on calling it "plutification") and her wild stories. Indeed, Pippi has had her share of adventures. Her seafaring father travels the 7 seas, often leaving Pippi to her own devices. It is a good thing others are invited to travel along with Pippi!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Every child should read this book! October 11, 2001

By Cathy

Format:Hardcover

I grew up in a rural environment and each summer I waited for the weekly visits of our local bookmobile. I can't tell you how many times I checked out "Pippi Longstocking", but my mother worried that I would take root under the maple tree in our front yard, my favorite reading spot. I am now 47 years old and have recently finished Sena Jeter Naslund's "Ahab's Wife"--a brilliant companion to Melville's "Moby Dick"--and who should come to mind but my old friend Pippi.

My recommendation: Give this book to your children, especially to girls...let them grow up to be sailors, firefighters, dancers, mothers and fathers...whatever their souls dream of. We all need a little bit of Pippi these days.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the all-time best children's books! December 30, 2000

By KC

Format:Hardcover

These books (this hardcover edition is actually the three original books in one!) were some of my favorites when I was a child. I first encountered Pippi when my grandma took us girls to the movies to see the original film (starring Inger Nilsson - VERY hard to find!). Despite the painfully bad special effects and overdubbing from Swedish to English, I was enchanted by the story...naturally had to run out to the library and check out all the books! The "Pippi Longstocking" books transcend time - children today can still enjoy them. Only the finest children's books (Walter Farley's, Laura Ingalls Wilder's and Margurite Henry's come immediately to mind) can continue to captivate today's jaded youngsters.

I was fortunate enough to come across a copy of "The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking" as a Christmas present for my 9 year old niece. It's wonderful to see her enjoying Pippi's adventures with Tommy, Annika, Mr. Nilsson, and the rest of the characters as much as I did (more years ago than I wish to remember!)