Astrid Lindgren, author of many popular books for children, won the Hans Christian Andersen Award, among others, for her contribution to children's literature.ย Astrid wrote her first story, Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Lรฅngstrump) as a birthday present for her daughter, and inย 1945ย Pippi Longstocking won first prize at Rabรฉn & Sjรถgren's Best Children's Book Competition, age 6-10. Sheย then worked as children's book editor at Rabรฉn & Sjรถgren. Astrid Lindgren is the most often read Swedish author.