Pippi Longstocking



Last updated Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Author: Astrid Ericsson Lindgren
Illustrator: Louis S. Glanzman
Date of Publication: 1976
ISBN: 0670557455
Grade Level: 4th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2005

Synopsis: (from the publisher) Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is PippiLongstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for the outrageous that seems to lead to one adventure after another!

Note to readers:
•  This is a chapter book that you won?t be able to finish. Aim to read through chapter 2, or perhaps chapter 3 (although you do not need to reach that point), and tell the children that the book will be placed into their library if they would like to check it out and read the rest. If you would like, you could skip chapter 3, and read chapter 4.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What would you do if you lived on your own, with no parents? What would that be like?
•  Have you ever made up stories about your life? What kind of stories?
•  What is imagination? Who has a good imagination?

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What do you think of Pippi's behavior? How does it make you feel?
•  In the first chapter, Pippi twice says, "Don?t you worry about me. I'll come out on top." What does that tell you about Pippi?
•  How does Pippi handle the five boys hurting Willie? Would you have done something different?
•  What would it be like to have Pippi as a friend? How is your life different from hers?

Craft ideas:
•  Draw a postcard from Pippi to her dad, with a picture of what she's been doing on one side, and a letter on the other. Make another postcard from her dad, the Cannibal King.
•  Make a map of all of the places that Pippi has been.
•  How would your house look different if you lived there by yourself? Draw it.

Special activities:
•  Make up a group tall tale. Sit in a circle, the first person starts with the first sentence, and each person thereafter contributes the next sentence.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!