We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(3) Base Camp
Surprised? We thought you might be. Especially since Pippi Longstocking can be read, enjoyed, and reasonably well understood by most eight-year-olds. The thing is though, that most eight-year-olds would miss the subtleties of the book, and yes, there are subtleties.
For one thing, the book was originally written in Swedish (Pippi Langstrump), so there are a few words and phrases that require some extra scrutiny in order to be fully appreciated. (Pippi, for instance, is Swedish slang for quirky.)
Additionally, there's more to Pippi—the book and the girl—than meets the eye. She's ridiculous and funny and infinitely amusing, but she's also a feminist icon, a worthy subject of in-depth analysis, and the inspiration for more than one modern day heroine.
So by all means enjoy the story and all of its silliness, but don't underestimate its significance.