The Tomten and the Fox

Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002) was born in Sweden. Her most famous and beloved book, Pippi Longstocking, was originally published in Swedish in 1945 and has since been translated into 80 languages. It was followed by two sequels, Pippi Goes on Board and Pippi in the South Seas. The success of Pippi Longstocking led to a rapid growth of the publishing house Rabén & Sjögren, where Astrid Lindgren took over responsibility for children’s book publishing and thus had dual roles: she was a writer in the mornings and an editor in the afternoons. Astrid Lindgren had a long and prolific career, writing songs, screenplays, 34 chapter books, and 41 picture books. Her works have sold a staggering 170 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 100 languages. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, a literary prize established in her memory, has been awarded annually since 2003. The prize is worth five million SEK, making it the world’s largest international award for children and young adult literature.