Karlsson-on-the-Roof facts for kids
Karlsson with Lillebror (little brother) on a Russian stamp (1992).
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Karlsson-on-the-Roof Karlsson Flies Again Karlsson-on-the-Roof is Sneaking Around Again |
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| Author | Astrid Lindgren |
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| Original title | Karlsson på taket |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | Swedish |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
Karlsson-on-the-Roof is a famous character from children's books. He was created by the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. In Swedish, his name is Karlsson på taket.
Karlsson's stories became very popular, especially in the Soviet Union. Cartoon versions of his adventures came out in the 1970s. These cartoons are still loved in Russia today. Karlsson is seen as a national hero there, just like other famous characters such as Cheburashka.
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Meet Karlsson: The Flying Man
Karlsson is a small, round man who is very sure of himself. He lives in a tiny house hidden behind a chimney. This house is on the roof of a normal apartment building in Vasastan, Stockholm.
What makes Karlsson special is his ability to fly! He has a clever little motor with a propeller on his back. When he presses a button on his stomach, the motor starts, and he can zoom through the air.
Karlsson's Best Friend
Karlsson believes he is the best at everything. He becomes the best friend of a boy named Svante. Svante is usually called "Little Brother" (Swedish: Lillebror). In the Russian cartoons, he is called 'Malysh', which means 'baby' or 'little guy'.
Karlsson is quite a prankster. He often eats all the food and sometimes causes trouble. He even scares away robbers! He flies around on the roof, getting into all sorts of adventures.
Adventures and Mischief
Karlsson often gets Lillebror into tricky situations. But Karlsson always disappears just before Lillebror's family shows up. This leaves Lillebror to explain everything.
Another character who meets Karlsson is 'Fröken Bock' (Miss Bock). She is a nanny who is quite strict. However, meeting Karlsson changes her a lot.
The Karlsson Book Series
There are three main books about Karlsson-on-the-Roof. They tell all about his fun adventures.
- 1955: Karlsson-on-the-Roof
- 1962: Karlsson Flies Again
- 1968: Karlsson-on-the-Roof is Sneaking Around Again
Karlsson in Films and Cartoons
Karlsson's stories have been made into several films. A live-action movie called Världens bästa Karlsson came out in Sweden in 1974. An animated film was also released in 2002.
The two Soviet animated films are especially famous. They were made by Boris Stepantsev at Soyuzmultfilm studio in 1968 and 1970. These cartoons are among the most loved in Russia and other former Soviet countries.
In these cartoons, Vasily Livanov was the voice of Karlsson. Klara Rumyanova voiced Malysh (Lillebror). In the second film, Faina Ranevskaya voiced Fröken Bock. Karlsson was also brought to the stage in 1971. He was played by Spartak Mishulin at the Moscow Satire Theatre.
Karlsson Toys and More
Karlsson's popularity led to many fun items. The Russian designer Lev Razumovsky created a Karlsson toy in the 1970s.
The OJSC Minsk Watch Plant in Belarus even made Luch-branded watches. These watches had a picture of Karlsson right on the dial!
