Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren

The last couple pages had a kind of wistfulness to them, as the three children hope to never grow up, and Tommy and Annika take comfort in knowing that Pippi will 'always' be at Villa Villekulla. I particularly enjoyed the ending in which Pippi, as usual, completely and selflessly devotes her time and energy to making her dear friends Tommy and Annika happy. Thankfully, Pippi saves a bunch of children from disgrace with her usual good-hearted sense of justice.

In this day and age, it seems like such a terrible situation in which the poor kids are labeled 'good' or 'stupid', and completely traumatized if the latter. Pippi participates in a bizarre event in which some seemingly random person in town subjects all the school children to a high-stress verbal examination that results in either public praise or public shaming, depending on how well each child answers her questions. One chapter that stands out to me takes place before the children take their sea voyage. While on the island, Pippi faces down two sea-faring bandits who were up to no good, similar to the way in which she handled two would-be burglars in the first book. Pippi is as adventurous, optimistic, brave, selfless, and loyal as always. Even though the location has changed, most of the chapters had a bit of that 'more of the same' feel. ' I read this book to my son (aged just 5).In this installment, Pippi, Tommy, and Annika visit Pippi's father on Kurrekurredutt Island in the South Seas. They explore secret caves, play marbles with real pearls, and luckily the pirates and sharks they meet are no match for Pippi! Pippi, Tommy, and Annika are off on their greatest adventure yet - a trip to the Canny Canny Islands, where Pippi's father is king.

Have you ever given a shark a good telling-off? Pippi has! Do you know what a squeazle is? Pippi does! Can you carry your Dad on your shoulders? Pippi can! Finally, they eat Krumelur pills – then they’ll never have to grow up … In the third book about Pippi, the children are searching for a “squeazle” and organise a quiz – Pippi-style! Tommy and Annika get to go with Pippi to Kurrekurredutt Island in the South Seas and Pippi conquers the villains who want to steal the pearls that the Kurredutt children play marbles with.

Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren