School Library Journal's Top 100 Children Novels #91
Author: Astrid Lindgren
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Recipe: Annika and Tommy's world becomes much more interesting when their new neighbor moves in. An eccentric little girl with a pet monkey and the strength to pick up a horse, Pipi Longstalking takes the children on adventures they will never forget.
The Frosting and the Sprinkles: "Pippi Longstalking" is an easy read and I can see why kids enjoy it. Ppipi is funny and different and draws little children out of their normal, every-day lives with her wacky adventures.
The Hair That Fell Into the Batter: "Pippi Longstalking" has no plot and, therefore, is not very attractive to adult readers. It's really a series of short stories that have very little plot or meaning to them in themselves. About 75 percent through, I started just skimming the stories because they were plotless and all very similar. This, to me, is the mark of a poorly written children's novel. In my opinion, well-written children's novels appeal to readers of ALL ages, but are appropriate for children.
Pippi is supposed to be charming, and is somewhat, but she's also an annoying kid who won't behave and never faces the consequences for it. No wonder kids like her. She seems to mean well, but doesn't know any better. However, adults are portrayed as passive, impotent, fun-suckers, who don't need to be listened to.
The other two main characters, Tommy and Annika, are very flat and full of stereotypes of little boys and girls. Annika is always fearful and doesn't want to get her dress dirty while Tommy is ready for adventure. It's annoying.
My Rating:
out of 5 cupcakes!
Posts
"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest." -C.S. Lewis agrees with you. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never read this one simply because I was forced to watch the movie once is school and loathed it. There is a version out there illustrated by Lauren Child. That would tempt me if only it weren't so expensive.
I really don't like stories that suggest general disobedience is a positive character trait. Seems like the moms that I meet that like these kinds of books are the same ones that complain about how their children aren't nice to people.
ReplyDeletelittlechildstories.blogspot.com
ouuh i didn't read the books,
ReplyDeletebut still Pippi was the heeeeeero of my childhood. i watched it a hundred times i think!
she is so popular here in germany, i think every child knows and loves her :D
so don't think to bad of her and watch her movies (those, not the cartoon version of course)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqlKORHDMXg
Katharina
posted the wrong video, i was thinking of this
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJL6okfmdPo
Katharina
I was always bothered by stories with kids who misbehave. Why would I want to give those to my kids to read?
ReplyDeleteI bet it comes as no surprise to you that I was Pipi for almost every Halloween growing up. Easiest costume EVER for a redhead.
ReplyDeletei like that book
ReplyDelete