SYNOPSIS

She’s barely moved into Villa Villekulla (no parents in sight) and she finds two new friends, siblings Tommy and Annika.

Pippi is unbelievably strong – she can lift a horse, two policemen, a cow, and a circus wrestler.

Pippi invents the best adventures – being a Thing-Finder; going on picnics; making hideaways out of hollow tree trunks.

Pippi also saves herself and others from trouble – like getting beat up by bullies, being robbed, getting caught in a fire or going to school.

Sometimes she’s misunderstood by grownups, and gets disinvited from coffee parties or shooed out of the circus.

But life is always raucously fun and unavoidably messy when you’re friends with Pippi.

PERFECT AGE 7 – 12

We love

• Pippi invented the concept of “imaginative play” and has been teaching us all how to apply it since 1945.
• Here’s an example of the “good old days” in children’s books when grownups were either bothersome oafs, aloof disciplinarians or – best of all – nonexistent… 🙂
• Enjoyable stories not even remotely rooted in reality (unless absolutely necessary).
• But if you’re looking for teachable moments, you need not look far – Pippi is resourceful, brave, kind, defends other kids, loves animals, is generous, cooks. And all that at just 9 years of age!

WATCH OUT FOR (Language, Big / Sensitive Topics, Outdated Concepts):

• Just as it did 70+ years ago when it was first published, Pippi Longstocking may startle some with its irreverence or outright disrespect toward adult figures (with no malice, of course).
• Adults, similarly, are rather vacant in their adult roles – like caring for a parentless child or putting out a house fire with children about to perish inside.
• Pippi is without parents because her mom died when she was a baby and her dad mysteriously disappeared at sea; she believes he’ is a’s become king of cannibals…

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• Why did Pippi decide she wanted to go to school at first? Does this make any sense? Why or why not?
• Pippi got very bored at the circus – why do you think that was?
• Annika and Tommy really enjoy spending time with Pippi – what makes their time together fun?
• If you could spend one day with Pippi, which among the adventures in the book would you choose? Why?