Lauren Child's Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgren)

Member Name: jensattaur

Product:	Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgren
Date:	11/08/09 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautifully Illustrated Gift Edition

Disadvantages: Might not appeal to children as much as to adults

Pippi lives in a house with no parents, a pet monkey, and a horse on the porch; she is stronger than the strong-man at the circus, much cleverer than the burglars who break into her house, and much too wiley for the police and school teachers who seek to subdue her...

A classic story of childish independence and superiority, Pippi's adventures are bursting with life. The book is one among a large number of stories in which the childish fantasy of adult strength, authority, and independence from childish constraints is played out, and the childish love of chaotic play is enacted.

Pippi Longstocking is a classic; however, I feel that in this case it is a classic which is inevitably going to be enjoyed more by adults than by contemporary children. The story is now dated, and has not aged as well as some other classics, such as Paddington Bear or Just William. I think a modern child might find the story somewhat puzzling, and less inspiring than the wealth of more modern children's fiction, in which there is more for him or her to relate to. For adults who read this as a child, however, the story will ahve lost none of its charm,

This is a wonderfully illustrated version of an old classic of which I have never been particularly fond. I must admit that Pippi's antics never much amused me, but Lauren Child's frenetic approach to illustrating this volume give the tales new life and are bound to appeal to children and old fans alike. Both the size and the presentation would, I think, make this an excellent gift edition.

*Portions of this review also appear on www.writeaway.org.

Summary: If you are fond of Pippi, this is a nice edition to purchase