 | |
| Author | Astrid Lindgren |
|---|---|
| Original title | Mirabell |
| Illustrator | Pija Lindenbaum |
| Language | Swedish |
| Publisher | Rabén & Sjögren |
Publication date | 2002 |
| Publication place | Sweden |
Published in English | 2003 |
Mirabelle (original title: Mirabell) is a children's book written by Astrid Lindgren.
Britta-Kajsa's greatest wish is to get a doll, but a doll is very expensive and her parents don't have a lot of money.
One day, when Britta-Kajsa's parents are at work, Britta-Kajsa meets a strange little man. The latter asks Britta-Kajsa to open a gate for him so that he can drive through it with his carriage. Britta-Kajsa does as she is told. The little man explains that he can't give her any money, but a tiny little seed that she can plant into the garden.
Some time after Britta-Kajsa planted the seed, a doll grows out of it. Britta-Kajsa shows the doll to her amazed parents who cannot believe what they see. Later, Britta-Kajsa takes the doll into her room. Suddenly the doll starts to speak and says that her name is Mirabelle. From then on, Britta-Kajsa and Mirabelle do almost everything together. Britta-Kajsa thinks she has the greatest doll in the world.
Mirabelle was first published in 1948 in the Swedish magazine Vi . In 1949 it was published in the fairy tale collection Nils Karlsson Pyssling . In 1950 Astrid Lindgren was awarded the Nils Holgersson Plaque for this book. [1]
A picture book was published in Sweden in 2002 and was illustrated by Pija Lindenbaum. [2]
The book has been adapted into several theater plays. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
According to Jens Andersen the doll Mirabelle is a manifestation of Britta-Kajsa's "need for closeness, friendship, and affection". [9]
Gabriele Cromme said Britta-Kajsa shows the characteristics of a well-behaved girl. She wants a doll as a toy, is helpful towards strangers, has intuition and accepts her parents' values without contradiction. The female aspects of Britta-Kajsa become even stronger when she starts behaving like a caring mom who loves her pretty daughter (the doll). At first the doll is only interested in her new clothes. Later the doll shows self-confidence (the doll insists on the name Mirabelle), wildness, naughtiness and self-determination, for example when she tells Britta-Kajsa what she doesn't want to eat. [10]
Maria Ribbeck praised the illustrations by Pija Lindenbaum, calling them wonderful, with rich colors and a crazy chicken appearing on every page. [11]
Galline Volanti praised the illustrations and text by Astrid Lindgren. She said that the story never gets boring and is never exaggerated, never bland, often brilliant and always meaningful. [12]
