As a child, I desperately searched for characters in books that aligned with my anxious outward ways and my happy reclusive interior. Charlie Brown came close, but he was always seeking connection. I was seeking alone time. Like Charlie, school terrified and exhausted me. Home, my room, my books were my calming tools. I found…
Tag: Astrid Lindgren
Lessons from Pippi- strength, generosity and gentleness…
Being Swedish,Pippi Longstocking has been an icon to me all my life. Yes, there are troubling racist elements in the books and, my God, as a child I would lay awake at night worrying about Pippi living alone, but Pippi’s character is glorious and hopeful. She’s ahead of her time- a give-no-fucks attitude combined with curiosity…
My favorite #illustrator: Björn Berg #MySwedishChildhood
I can hardly write this without being overcome by sentimentality and childhood memories. Björn Berg illustrated Astrid Lindgren‘s and Alf Prøysen‘s work and my Swedish world perfectly. His depictions of Emil and Teskedsgumman (Mrs. Pepperpot) are searing in their spartan simplicity. The role of the illustrator is to illuminate the text. Björn Berg says so much…