After learning that Steig Larsson's character Lisabeth Salander (from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) was inspired by Pippi Longstocking, I was interested in seeing the similarities.
Mary and I both read Pippi Longstocking recently, which was a nice children's story.
Pippi's similarity to Lisabeth is more in the reaction from other characters than from any character similarity. They both have their own way of doing things, and a tendency to drive adults crazy who don't know how to deal with them.
Pippi's superstrong: she can lift a horse or show up the strongman at the circus. And Lisabeth knows everything, thanks to her hacking.
And they both have a sort of joy attached to reading about them, because you never quite know what they'll do next.
It's been awhile since I've read a children's story … makes me tempted to pick up Harry Potter again.