1. Astrid Lindrgren 1907-2002 A Voice for the Voiceless
Leo R. Sandy

2. Astrid Lindgren
Pippi Longstocking made Lindgren one of the most popular children’s authors of all time. The book sold more than 130 million copies
Through her heroine, Pippi, Lindgren did much to advance human and animal rights
Lindgren was born in Sweden to parents who worked a small family farm, and her interaction with animals gave her a compassion for them that lasted a lifetime

3. Lindgren cont’d
When a farmhand’s daughter read Lindgren a fairy tale, she was captivated, and began reading and writing stories and acting them out. Her classmates believed that she would be an author
As the teenage years approached, Lindgren realized that she was too old to continue with children’s games, and by 19 she became rebellious, got pregnant while single, and not willing to marry the child’s father
She left her hometown and moved to Stolkholm where she worked as a secretary

4. Lindgren cont’d
Her salary was not enough to support her and her son so she gave him up to foster parents
Five years later, she married a businessman and was able to bring her son, Lars, back home. Then she had a daughter and became a stay-at-home mom
Her daughter once asked Lindgren to read a story about an imaginary girl she name Pippi Longstocking
Lindgren then created a colorful character with bright red hair and two braids sticking out on each side of her head

5. Lindgren cont’d
Pippi lived alone with a horse and a monkey, questioned authority, and was strong enough to lift her horse over her head
Her daughter, Karin, so loved the stories her mother made up that she kept asking for more
Lindgren sent the stories to a publisher and a revised copy of her manuscript was published
Every year after that for 30 years Lindgren wrote a new book, and some of her books were turned into movies

6. Lindgren cont’d
Lindgren’s stories featured freedom, fairness, and fun where problems are solved through cleverness, not violence. Although powerful, Pippi never abuses her power
After receiving the German Book Dealers Peace Prize, she told the audience a story about a mother who couldn’t find a switch to hit her son with. The boy went out and returned with a rock saying he couldn’t find a switch but she could throw the rock at him. In response, the mother wept and set the rock on a shelf as a reminder to avoid violence

7. Lindgren cont’d
Lindgren believed that raising children sometimes required firmness but never violence. In support of her belief, she alluded to dictators and tyrants who had bad childhoods (Hitler was severely beaten by his father)
Lindgren saw age 5 as the time character is formed. This prompted Sweden to make it illegal for parents to hit children (The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld corporal punishment)
Lindgren was not only against violence against children but also unfair taxation

8. Lindgren cont’d
While her income could have allowed her to live lavishly, she chose to live in a modest apartment she had lived in since 1940.
Her other crusade was against factory farming which contrasted greatly to her own farm when she was a child
She published newspaper articles decrying the severe confinement and brutal and inhumane treatment of factory farmed animals
She started a debate that resulted in Sweden’s passing of the 1998 Animal Welfare Act

9. Lindgren cont’d
This Animal Welfare Act became the most comprehensive animal welfare law ever passed. It covered animals used for wool, skins, furs, scientific experiments, sporting events, exhibitions, and food
The law also benefitted people because salmonella and other diseases that people got from animals raised inhumanely were significantly reduced
Lindgren also established the Astrid Lindgren Foundation for Better Animal Protection

10. Lindgren cont’d
In 1995 The Stockholm Hospital Administration named their newest, most modern hospital after her
Sweden also named two theme parks after her
In 1997, she was named International Swede of the Year
At age 94, Lindgren died in her sleep. One hundred thousand mourners lined the streets of Stockholm at her funeral procession

11. Lindgren Quotes
It makes no difference to me whether I meet a queen or a cleaning lady. I can’t judge people by what they are. I see them as the children they once were
I don’t consciously try to educate or influence the children read my books. The only thing I would dare hope is that my books might make some small contribution toward a more caring, humane, and democratic attitude in the children who read them
If we want to save face as a civilized nation, we have to resolve some questions – ethical ones, not economic

12. Videos Astrid Lindgren Tribute
Astrid Lindgren Biography, Books, and Facts

13. References
Astrid Lindgren Tribute. Retrieved at
Astrid Lindgren Biography, Books, and Facts. Retrieved at 0LEVr_YJWxYbCEAn2EnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0 aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNl YwNzYw--?p=YouTube+Astrid+Lindgren&fr=yhs- mozilla-001&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs- 001#id=12&vid=c1045aa c64e98584a1afb54 b6&action=view

14. References
Astrid Talks About Herself. Retrieved from lindgren/astrid-talks-about-herself
Beller, K., & Chase, H. (2008). Great peacemakers: True storied from around the world. Sedona, AZ: LTS Press