'The Best of Pippi Longstocking'

'The best of Pippi Longstocking' by Astrid Lindgren. Three books in one, illustrated by Tony Ross. What a very unusual and refreshing character Pippi Longstocking is. I did enjoy her somewhat anarchic and dangerous adventures, particularly as she is so warm hearted, brave, kind and generous, not to mention a consummate liar, but worry a little about passing the book on. Pippi is definitely on the neuro-diverse scale, as is her father, King Ephraim Longstocking, King of the Canny Cannibals of Canny-Canny Island. There is something a little Peter Pan like about Pippi, who like Peter Pan, doesn't want to grow up. In fact she persuades her friends, Tommy and Annika next door, to take 'Awfully good pills for people who don't want to grow up.' The pills resemble yellow dried peas, and they all swallow them. She also jumps from great heights, eats fungi to see what happens, and drinks an assortment of medicines and embrocation as a sort of prophylaxis. But being the strongest girl in the world has its advantages. Tommy and Annika adore her, and they have the best sort of fun. First published in 1945, when the world was a very different place, there are themes in the book that belong to that time. But predominantly it's the really dangerous antics that presently hold my hand from depositing it back onto the charity stall.