Madicken
By Astrid Lindgren and Ilon Wikland.
Madicken is fearless and she often ends up in somewhat sticky situations that she has to use all her wits to get out of. She climbs trees, balances on rooftops, and parachutes with an umbrella. But more than anything, Madicken is sensitive and has a big heart. From her privileged position she observes the world and notices all the suffering and injustices. She has an endless capacity for empathy and kindness. In that regard, she practices what her Dad, the radical newspaper editor, writes about in his paper – solidarity with the poor and vulnerable.
The books about Madicken are Astrid Lindgren’s most political work. They tell the story of a class system in change through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl. The original books are illustrated by Ilon Wikland.
Interested in a collaboration with Madicken?
Rights & Brands is the licensing agent for Astrid Lindgren. Get in touch!
Anna Svenman
Nordic Retail Manager
Madicken News
Written by Astrid Lindgren
The first book was released in 1960
8 million
books sold worldwide
Illustrated by Ilon Wikland
2 Original books published
30 Languages
The books have been translated into 30 languages
Feature Film
and TV series about Madicken
79% Brand Awareness
In Sweden
About Astrid Lindgren
Astrid Lindgren’s achievement is unique and important. She was a committed humanist and a person who thought for herself. She fought for the rights of children, for equality, ecology and animal welfare, as well as against violence and oppression. She held on to her beliefs with both courage and seriousness, as well as humour and love.
Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren was born on the 14th of November 1907 on the farm Näs outside Vimmerby, in the county of Småland, and died on January 28, 2002, in her home on Dalagatan 46 in Stockholm. She wrote 34 chapter books and 41 picture books, which have sold a staggering 170 million copies and been translated into more than 100 languages.
About Ilon Wikland
Ilon Wikland is one of Sweden’s most popular illustrators of children’s books. Strangely enough, Wikland is rather unknown to the general public, despite the fact that she illustrated the beloved figures in the majority of Astrid Lindgren’s most-read books. Ilon Wikland is a versatile artist whose pictures span a wide range, from the safe idyll on Troublemaker Street to the breathtaking black depths at the Karma Falls in The Brothers Lionheart.
Wikland came as a refugee to Sweden from Estonia during the Second World War and was later trained at the art school Konstfack in Stockholm. In addition to Astrid Lindgren’s books, she has also illustrated many other authors’ works, including Edith Unnerstad’s children’s books, as well as written and illustrated her own children’s books.
Ilon Wikland has been awarded awards, prizes and other honors for her artistry and collective output. But the road to success was long and sometimes very dramatic.
– from Mardie‘The sun is bright and warm, and the air is filled with the wonderful smell of the sweet peas in the garden. The bees are humming over the grass, and the river flows quietly and gently past Junedale. You can feel summer on your whole body, Mardie thinks as she kicks her feet in the warm water.’
Madicken at Astrid Lindgren’s World
Astrid Lindgren’s World is a theme park located in Vimmerby, Sweden, attracting over 500,000 visitors each year. It is a place where the beloved characters created by Astrid Lindgren and brought to life by Ilon Wikland come to life. This park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sweden. Additionally, the Astrid Lindgren Store offers a wide variety of products featuring Madicken and other iconic characters.
