Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren
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Book Reviews of Pippi in the South Seas
Book Review: IRREPRESSIBLE NORDIC PIXIE!
Summary: 2 Stars
This red-headed little rascal has charmed young readers all over the world with her high-spirited antics. Pippi Longstocking--only child of Captain Longstocking--is a freckle-faced little girl whose whose flaming braids stick out from her head as if starched! This in itself would make her somewhat unique in Scandinavia, I should think. But our heroine considers herself nearly perfect, as do most of the children she encounters. Self-sufficient, undaunted, and unflappable, Pippi amazes all comers with her outlandish skills: the abiltiy to "debate" and refute adult logic. And don't mess with this mini-mite: she possesses prodigious strength--she can easily heft her horse or toss two grown men around. You see, Pippi is the sole human occupant (and interior decorator) of Villa Villekulla, which boats its own signpost in the town center for curious tourists. While Captain Longstocking is off ruling his distant island somewhere in the South Seas, his spunky daughter entertains as an unconventional hostess in her ramshackle home. Her only residential companions are Mr. Nilsson (a monkey) and of course, the horse (no name) who hangs out on the front porch.
As a captain's daughter, Pippi is a natural at the helm. Her best friends (more like normal kids with casual parents) are Tommy (why does the boy always get mentioned first?) and Annika next door, who delight in her company and are entranced with her wacky schemes. Pippi amuses them during their be-measled quarentine; she later invites them to accompany her on a cruise to the South Seas to recover their lost color and share her vacation. They have delightful adventures on the island; the only down side of this prolonged excursion is that they miss Christmas and therefore --no presents! But Pippi makes it up to them in her own, inimitable fashion upon their return; she proves a loyal friend and a great hostess...
This book should appeal to most children who can read it for themselves, as well as kids who enjoy an active imaginati! on and a world where kids can outsmart adults! Peter Pan-like Pippi urges her friends to eat some magic peas so that they WON'T have to grow up. Even if the peas don't work for the neighbors, we somehow feel that Pippi will remain the eternal symbol of carefree childhood.
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