I have had a love affair with books since I was a child growing up on my grandparents farm in Pennsylvania. After the daily chores were done, I could be found swinging in the hammock with my nose stuck in a book, visiting far off lands and being someone other than my human self. A princess, a warrior in a galaxy far away, an orphan traveling the world, living off the kindness of strangers. Whatever my character in the book was doing, I could literally transport myself into their shoes and feel as though I was actually having their adventures.
To me, that is the mark of a good author. If you can become that enthralled with the story, with the characters, that you forget your surroundings, living in the moment as you read – that is what I look for in a good book and what will keep me coming back for more from that author.
About the Author
Astrid Lindgren, the creator of Pippi Longstocking, Emil, and dozens of other world-famous characters, has thrilled three generations of children with her storytelling. She is the only children’s author with a literary prize, a theme park, a museum, a satellite, and a minor planet named in her honor. (After this last honor, she suggested changing her name to “Asteroid Lindgren.”) A jury appointed by Swedish Radio’s Culture Department to elect the “Author of the Millennium” voted Astrid Lindgren second after William Shakespeare. She was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal and heaps of other awards and honors.
About the Book
Rasmus and the Vagabond is a softcover book (180 pages). After running away from an orphanage, nine-year-old Rasmus finds the world a cold and unfriendly place until he befriends an extraordinary tramp called Paradise Oscar. Together they meet more adventure than they ever imagined, solve a mystery, and catch the culprits. Rasmus dreams of finding a family and a home someday that will love a straight-haired boy. But when he does, will he be able to part with his new friend and life on the road?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brought back so many of my own childhood memories of adventures with Pippi Longstocking, and Astrid’s profound love of children and the antics and adventures that they can get into are plainly evident in this smashingly great novel. The ending was absolutely wonderful, and I won’t spoil it by telling you what happens except to say that Rasmus does find the family that he wants – but you would never in a million years believe who it is.
Rasmus and the Vagabond is definitely a book that you and your child can enjoy together – would make for an excellent bedtime novel to read over the course of a few weeks. It is most definitely the stuff that fanciful dreams are made of!
Rasmus and the Vagabond is published by Plough Publishing, and you can visit the official Rasmus and the Vagabond website here.
Enter the Giveaway Below!
This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada age 18 and older. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, February 20, 2015. Winner will be chosen at random and sent a confirmation e-mail to the e-mail address you provided on entering. We are not responsible for e-mails that go to your spam folder. To ensure that you do not miss the e-mail, add kimatliah@gmail.com to your safe sender list. If winner does not respond within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.
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