Most Beloved Sister [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Astrid Lindgren (Author), Hans Arnold (Illustrator), Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A new book from the author of Pippi Longstocking

Barbara has a secret friend who lives in the garden. It’s her twin sister, Lalla-Lee, and Barbara doesn’t have to share her with her papa or mama or brother. What’s even better is that Lalla-Lee calls Barbara her “Most Beloved Sister.” Together, the girls bravely ride their horses through the Great Horrible Forest, where the nasty Frights live, to visit the Kind Ones in the meadow. The Kind Ones always give them cookies and caramels. And best of all, Barbara and Lalla-Lee go to the Most Beautiful Valley in the World, where the trees and the flowers sing. At the end of this particular adventure, Barbara knows that she must say goodbye to Lalla-Lee for the final time. But when she arrives home, there is a wonderful surprise waiting for her.

Astrid Lindgren’s lovely story about imagination and friendship is accompanied by Hans Arnold’s bright and sweet illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Now I'll tell you a secret that no one knows except me: I have a twin sister." If this sounds like an imaginary friend story, it is! But Most Beloved Sister, written in 1949 by Pippi creator Astrid Lindgren and illustrated in the 1970s by Hans Arnold, is as enchanting an imaginary-friend story as they come. Arnold's gorgeous, color-drenched, child-friendly illustrations depict a lush, whimsical world, crawling with horn-snouted, bug-eyed creatures, hidden palaces, and benign dwarves. Barbara and her twin sister, Lalla-Lee, have many splendid adventures, speak a special language (the rosebush where Lalla-Lee lives is called Salikon), frolic in the Golden Hall, ride through the Great Horrible Forest... But what happens to Lalla-Lee when a new poodle puppy comes to live with Barbara's family? This original picture-book classic is a longish read-aloud, but the lively story of the lonely girl and her glorious flights of fancy is sure to captivate young readers. Highly recommended! (Ages 3 to 7) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Most Beloved Sister (1949) by the late Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren, trans. by Elizabeth Kallick Dyssegaard, is the nickname given to the heroine by her imaginary "twin sister." The author gives credence to this common childhood companion, while Hans Arnold's illustrations, added in 1973, create a lush world filled with magical inhabitants.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 28 pages
• Publisher: R & S Books; 1st edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9129655021
• ISBN-13: 978-9129655025
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) created the character of Pippi Longstocking to entertain her daughter. Lindgren was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her contribution to international children's literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes for excellent family bedtime reading, May 17, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Most Beloved Sister (Hardcover)

Charmingly written by Astrid Lindgren and beautifully illustrated by Hans Arnold, Most Beloved Sister is a delightful picturebook children's story, with stylized, gentle color illustrations about a young girl and her secret twin sister, who embark on a wondrous magical adventure. Warmly translated into English by Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard, Most Beloved Sister makes for excellent family bedtime reading and is an enthusiastically recommended addition to school and community library collections as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent well writen book with a gentle message-- a Rachel favorite, November 30, 2006

By 

esar (Santa Barbara, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Most Beloved Sister (Hardcover)

Others have already provided an adequate synopsis of the story. I just want to add that the "death theme" is in no way a heavy one here as it is encompassed in the fantasy elements of the storyline and actually is "resolved" with a message of rebirth and life. I first purchased this for my younger daughter when she was 6 two years ago. She loved it then and still does and had no problem with the fate of the sister. Also recomended by Astrid Lindgren (for a slightly older audience) is _Ronia, the Robber's Daughter_. One question: Is _Most Beloved Sister_ really now out of print and available as an expensive used book?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars child-pleaser, August 7, 2008

By 

L. Breneman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Most Beloved Sister (Hardcover)

As a child, I loved Pippi Longstocking, and my daughters, 5 and 7, adore "Most Beloved Sister". They sometimes plug their ears when Lalla-Lee's death is mentioned, and they don't want to look too long at the picture of the Frights in the Horrible Forest, but they'll ask for the story over and over again. The story seems a little mysterious to me; it reminds me of a young child coming up with an unpremeditated imaginary story. I wonder if Astrid's daughter came up with this one, as she supposedly invented Pippi. I don't understand all the psychology that must have been behind the story line, but I understand its attraction to my daughters. They can relate to it; it reminds them of their own imaginary wanderings.