Chapter 1

           OnaperfectlyordinarystreetinStockholm,inaperfectlyordinaryhouse,livesaperfectlyordinaryfamilycalledEricson. ThereisaperfectlyordinaryDaddyandaperfectlyordinaryMommy andthreeperfectlyordinarychildren—Bobby,Betty,andEric. 

           "I’mnotatallanordinaryEric,"saysEric. Butheiswrongthere.Ofcourseheisordinary. Theworldisfullofboysofsevenwithblueeyes andpugnoses—boyswhohavenotwashedbehindtheirearsandwhoareforeverwearingholesintheirtrousers. So,ofcourse,Ericisperfectlyordinary—therecanbenodoubtaboutthat. 

           Bobbyisfifteenandisfondoffootballanddoesnotdoextrawellatschool,soheisperfectlyordinarytoo. Bettyisfourteenandwearsherhairinalongbob,exactlylikeotherperfectlyordinarygirls. 

           Thereisonlyonepersonintheentirehousewhoisnotordinary—andthatisKarlsson-on-the-Roof. Helivesontheroof,Karlssondoes.Thisaloneisoutoftheordinary. Thingsmaybedifferentinotherpartsoftheworld, butinStockholmpeoplehardlyeverliveinalittlehouseoftheirownontopofaroof. ButKarlssondoes. Heisaverysmall,veryround,andveryself-possessedgentleman—andhecanfly! Anybodycanflybyairplaneorhelicopter,butonlyKarlssoncanflyallbyhimself. Hesimplyturnsabuttoninthemiddleofhistummy and,presto,thecunninglittleengineonhisbackstartsup.