I’m Swedish and one of my favorite writers is the world famous Astrid Lindgren. She would’ve become 100 years this November if she were still alive. My friend Maria wrote about it on her blog (no longer online) on the 14th of November and a lot of people did. I didn’t make a post then, but why not now? Happy Birthday Astrid, you will live forever in my heart.

Pippi Långstrump shelfie

I’ve started a Astrid Lindgren group pool over at flickr.com, please join if you too are a fan of Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking, Emil, Ronia, Birk, The Brothers Lionheart, Madicken, Lotta on Troublemaker Street, Mio my Mio – or any of her other characters. My favourits of flickr photos so far is two graffiti ones, this image of Peppi Pitkötossu in Finland and Pippi Langstrumpf in Germany. I think Pippi would love the the thought of her image being illegally put up on a wall.

Open up your window a page from my first Art journal, collage by iHanna

Open up Your Window – a page from my first Art journal, February 2005.

On the day that Astrid was buried in 2002 I was working in Stockholm. I think it was on my lunch break that I went out on the cold November day and stood with thousands of other people on the side walk, waiting to catch a glimpse of the black blank carriage that was drawn by several white horses. I guess I wanted to pay my respect to her by being there, standing in silence. The horses where speeding by, I didn’t see much but I think I took a blurry photo and then went back to work, in silence.

On of things that I really love about Astrid Lindgren was her beautiful voice. No one can read her stories like she could. I had all of them on tape when I was a kid (great for holidays with long hours in the car or at bed time), and I love how her voice sounds so nice and calm but at the same time very funny and full of mischief!

For example, listen to her Julberättelser – as Astrid reads the Christmas story from her book about Madicken (a.k.a. Meg of June Hill)… Now that is a sweet voice to hear.

I’m so glad I got to grow up with her stories, I think all children should be able to spend time with her characters.