Page 50 - washington state wine

On the warm, sunny day that we vis- "They don't speak each other's language, One of Sweden's most beloved, prolific
ited Astrid Lindgren's World, children but they all know the stories and charac- authors, Lindgren, who died in Stock-
swarmed about the costumed characters ters." Thorstensson once met Lindgren holm at age 94 in 2002, was born in an
from the books, watched performanc- (who had lived her adult years in Stock- 18th-century red farmhouse and spent
es with their parents, climbed through holm, but is buried in the local church- happy childhood years in the yellow
Pippi's house, strolled the tiny streets, yard), recalling her as "a very nice, ordi- house next door (and which resembles
played on swing sets, slides, and in favor- nary, simple person, humble, very kind Pippi's Villa Villekulla). There's also the
ite replica storybook scenes. huge elm tree that Lindgren
climbed as a child, immortal-
One small girl intently read ized as Pippi's lemonade tree.
one of Lindgren's books as
she sat in a wagon, pulled by Lindgren based many of her
her mom and dad. Another stories on her loving, carefree
girl, about 3, was dressed like upbringing. In a short film
Pippi, red braided wig and all, she talks about the "magical,
as she walked hand-in-hand sensual nature, the security
with her mother. and freedom of childhood"
and notes that "children can
When the "real" Pippi ap- work miracles when they
peared, children immedi- read."
ately flocked around her.
One little girl stepped up to Including the Pippi series,
hand her a drawing she had Lindgren's books have sold a
done. Parents--many who
had come here themselves
as youngsters--clamored to take photos to the kids. She was a humanitarian and Top: Astrid Lindgren’s World, opened in 1981,
of their children with Pippi. Even grand- ahead of her time." is Sweden’s largest open-air theme park.
parents toured the area with their grand-
children, as Lindgren's children's stories Astrid Lindgren's Nas—a nearby culture Nearly half a million visitors toured it in 2014.
cross several generations of book lovers. centre, which includes her childhood Bottom: Every little girl who visits Astrid
home and exhibit hall with historic ex- Lindgren’s World wants to buy a Pippi doll--or
"It's interesting to see German and Swed- hibits related to her life and work, was a red pigtailed wig! Opposite: Photo of Astrid
ish children playing here together," ob- opened by Swedish Crown Princess Vic- Lindgren.
served our guide Christina Thorstensson. toria in 2007. Above photos by Sharon Whitley Larsen

50 Wine Dine & Travel Summer/Fall 2015