One of my earliest favourite books is Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. I must have been about seven or eight when I first borrowed it from our local library and I remember borrowing it many times before I was lucky enough to own a copy. I still remember how in awe I was of Pippi’s strength and wild sense of adventure. As a child it was of course intoxicating to read about a child who had no adult supervision and could do what she liked whenever she liked. I had a great appreciation for her mischievous nature and of course I thought it was a riot that her best friends were a horse and a monkey.
It still makes me smile when I think of Pippi Longstocking and I’m very much hoping that my little girl enjoys reading about Pippi’s adventures when she’s a little older. And judging by my little girl’s desire for great adventures, I think she might just embrace Pippi. I think it’s a timeless story to be discovered by future generations, much like Charlotte’s Web and the Famous Five, although maybe I’m a tad biased because they’re also favourites of mine.
If you feel like leaving a comment and sharing your favourite childhood reads, please do, I’d love to hear what they are.