Emil of Maple Hills (Swedish: Emil i Lönneberga) is a series of children's stories by Astrid Lindgren, covering 12 books written from 1963 to 1997. Emil, the title character, is a prankster who lives on a farm close to the Swedish village of Lönneberga (Swedish lönn, 'maple', berg, 'hill'.) Astrid Lindgren 1924 Astrid Lindgren â–¶(?), born Astrid Anna Emilia Ericsson (November 14, 1907 – January 28, 2002) was a Swedish childrens book author, whose many titles were translated into over 70 languages and published in more than 100 countries. ...

5-year-old Emil Svensson lives with his family on a farm in Småland. He's got fair hair and blue eyes and looks like an angel, but is not, as he also has a prodigous knack for getting into trouble. Emil's not malicious, but doesn't think about the consequences of his actions. For example, he gives away food - which is meant to be dinner for relatives who will soon come to visit the family - to the poor because in his view they need it more. Every time Emil plays a "prank", his father locks him in the barn. This is not a severe punishment for Emil, who likes sitting in the barn and takes to carving a wooden figure during each of his stays. He eventually accumulates 369 of them. is a historical province (landskap) in southern Sweden. ...

His parents are Anton and Alma Svensson, Ida is Emil's little sister - a very well-bred child, unlike him. His father, in particular, is often angry with his son, whereas his mother adores her boy and tends to say "Emil is a nice little boy, and we love him just the way he is." Alfred and Lina are servants. Alfred, who is very fond of children, is Emil's best friend, whereas stupid Lina dislikes the boy. She is in love with Alfred and pestering him with her wish to marry him.

Emil's father is portrayed as a very typical inhabitant of Småland - for example, he does not like spending money. In Sweden, this is regarded to be characteristical of people from Småland. Church is very important, and the priest is a regular visitor. Alcohol and swearing are strictly forbidden in the Svenssons' house. The books give a vivid impression of Swedish farmers' daily life in the beginning of the 20th century.