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Reading Rockets' children's literature expert, Maria Salvadore, brings you into her world as she explores the best ways to use kids' books both inside — and outside — of the classroom.
Happy birthday, Astrid Lindgren!
On this day 100 years ago a woman was born who would write dozens of books, including one about an extraordinarily strong, very red-headed, independent character who resonates still with young readers — Pippi Longstocking (Puffin).
Happy birthday, Astrid Lindgren!
In fact, the House of Sweden in Washington, DC, is hosting a weeks-long celebration of Pippi and children, called Children First! Rightly so; Astrid Lindgren — probably a lot like Pippi — is credited with having a significant and lasting influence on her native Sweden. The exhibit and programs continue until the end of November — and there's a lot going on there.
Though Pippi is truly a one-of-a-kind child, she was a forerunner of independent, strong, sometimes off-beat, and always engaging girls in books for young readers in both fiction and nonfiction.
In fact, Pippi is among a number of books on Miami University's Girls Voices Literature Database. So is fiction by Lindgren's American biographer, Johanna Hurwitz, and Katherine Paterson, winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, as well as many other authors whose books present female characters in engaging roles.
So again, happy birthday to the strong woman who created Pippi and helped change a country in the process.
