Review: Karlsson on the Roof by Astrid Lindgren
High above the rooftops of Stockholm lives a little man with a big personality and a propeller on his back—his name is Karlsson. In this classic children’s tale, young Lillebror feels lonely and overlooked in his family until he meets Karlsson, a spirited, self-confident companion who literally flies into his life. Together, they embark on playful, mischievous adventures filled with laughter, surprises, and chaos. Karlsson isn’t your typical hero—he’s boastful, gluttonous, and stubborn—but he’s endlessly entertaining and brings joy and imagination to Lillebror’s world. Blending everyday childhood experiences with whimsical fantasy, Karlsson on the Roof is a heartwarming and humorous story about friendship, individuality, and the magic of believing in the unexpected. Perfect for young readers and families, this timeless tale by the creator of Pippi Longstocking continues to delight generations with its charm, wit, and unforgettable flying character.
Review:
Dear readers,
This will probably be a very short review, but I still wanted to bring to your attention this little children classic which also happens to be one of my childhood favorites.
Actually to be more precise the Russian cartoon version of this book was and is one of my go to comfort watching material and of course I read the book before in Russian translation and I consider it a very good children’s book, but the cartoon for me is on the whole other level.
For some reason I thought that Pippi Longstocking is a better known book by this author in the US and I watched that movie too, but neither the movie nor the book stuck with me. Karlsson though remains one of the brightest characters I have ever watched or read about.
I am trying to link to the YouTube version of the cartoon but for some reason without any success.
It was very popular with adults and children alike when I was growing up. Even the English speaking Wikipedia article about him talks about how very popular character was in Russia and it was absolutely correct.
Imaginary friend of the little boy who turns out to be very much not imaginary and very much alive and full of mischief and a love of sweets and very, very self centered just stole my heart. The book overall just full of charm and joy.
I also really liked the illustrations, although I wish kindle version had a table of contents as well.
Beware though it is a book for kids. If I never saw a cartoon and only read it now, I am not sure if I would have been as enamored of it as I remain for many years.
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I’ve never heard of this book, Sirius, though I did read a number of Pippi books back in the day. I can also appreciate not knowing whether something we’ve loved since childhood would grab us as a first time adult reader or watcher. Thank you for sharing!
@Kareni: Thanks for commenting so I was right, Pippi is more well known in the US than Karlsson :).
I spent as much time checking books out from school and public libraries as a little kid as was possible considering my need for (freely-given) adult transportation. I fondly remember reading Pippi’s adventures and I’m certain the librarians would have pointed Karlsson out to me if the books were in the catalog.
@LML: Thanks for sharing, so it is highly likely Karlsson just was not there :).
Pippi Longstocking is one of the few translated children’s classics that was known and loved in the US. Translated kid lit is sadly lacking in this country IMO, but I think it’s a combination of the country’s geographic isolation from other parts of the world and the ubiquity of the English language. Prior to globalization and the internet, there was less interest in other parts of the world than there is now. With so many English-language books being availalbe, there was also less impetus to seek out books originally written in other languages.
(A while back I reviewed the translation of Erich Kastner’s Das Doppelte Lottchen, Lisa and Lottie, as Jayne did more recently. Another classic that is almost unknown here, though the Americanized movie version, The Parent Trap, was popular. I think in many places Kastner was best known for Emil and the Detectives, but I can’t get my hands on a copy in English.)
@Janine: I have not read this book either but I did watch “The Parent Trap” after I came here :).
@Sirius: I wasn’t into the movie. As with many film adaptations, the book was better.
@Janine: I am sure, but since I have not read the book I was quite entertained by the movie.