Pippi Longstocking

With her mismatched stockings, carrot-coloured hair and freckly face, not to mention super-human strength and resilience, Pippi Longstocking has become a cultural icon. Pippi is regularly voted as one of the world’s favourite children’s characters; self-sufficient, quick-witted, generous and never letting anything – or anyone – shake her self-belief or take advantage. Her fans range from astronauts and politicians to Madonna, Lady Gaga, CocoRosie, Caitlin Moran, Amy Poehler, Maggie O’Farrell and Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki. Her rebellious nature also inspired the character of Lisbeth Salander in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. No stranger to counter-culture, Pippi can be seen around the world in tattoos, celebrity photographs, works of graffiti and on catwalks as a symbol of female strength, resilience, kindness, fairness and acceptance. ©The Astrid Lindgren Company™. Illustrated by Ingrid Vang Nyman