Swedish Books for Young Readers 1
Swedish Books for Young Readers 16 Astrid Lindgre
n Karlsson on the Roof, ill. Ilon Wikland children’s fiction, 1955-1968, 3 titles, Rabén & Sjögren Rights: Rabén & Sjögren Agency In a perfectly ordinary building, on a perfectly ordinary street in town lives a little boy. He meets the unusual Karlsson, who is, in his own words, a handsome, thoroughly clever, perfectly plump man in his prime. That Boy Emil!, ill. Björn Berg, picture book, 1972, Rabén & Sjögren Rights: Rabén & Sjögren Agency That boy Emil, he got up to mischief almost every day. But he never had to play the same trick twice, because he could always think of a new one, like the time he hoisted his little sister Ida up the flagpole. astrid lindgren Långstrump Pippi Longstocking, ill. Ingrid Vang Nyman 1945-1948, 3 titles, Rabén & Sjögren, and 1 omnibus edition (24 of 32 chapters), 3 comic books, 7 board books, 7 picture books, 1 graphic novel, several anthologies, and more to come. Rights: Rabén & Sjögren Agency With her mismatched stockings, carrot-coloured hair and freckly face, not to mention superhuman strength and resilience, Pippi Longstocking has become a cultural icon. Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) wrote 34 chapter books and 41 picture books that have been translated into more than 100 languages. No Swedish author has been translated into as many languages, and the estimated number of her books sold to date worldwide is approximately 165 million copies. Astrid Lindgren’s achievement is unique and important. She was a committed humanist and a person who thought for herself. She fought for the rights of children, for equality, ecology and animal welfare, as well as against violence and oppression. She held on to her beliefs with both courage and seriousness, as well as humour and love. Mio My Son, ill. Ilon Wikland children’s fiction, 1954, Rabén & Sjögren Rights: The Astrid Lindgren Company A magnificent and beautiful adventure tale about abandonment, about being little and having to shoulder great responsibility, about parenthood, good and evil, and about the power of love. A new edition, illustrated by Johan Egerkrans, is launched in 2020. Photo: Roine Karlsson