The story of Heidi was written over one hundred years ago, however, it is far from a period piece. In the Swiss Alps, where it is set, a hundred years is just the blink of an eye. We see in her the daughter that every mother dreams of having and every little girl dreams of being. Her presence makes us happy, and so her story has endured. This deluxe Children’s Classic edition is produced with high-quality, leatherlike binding with gold stamping, full-color covers, colored endpapers with a book nameplate. Some of the other titles in this series include: Anne of Green Gables, Black Beauty, King Arthur and His Knights, Little Women, and The Secret Garden.
Heidi
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Johanna Spyri's classic story of a young orphan sent to live with her grumpy grandfather in the Swiss Alps is retold in it's entirety in this beautifully bound hardcover edition. Heidi has charmed and intrigued readers since it's original publication in 1880. Much more than a children's story, the narrative is also a lesson on the precarious nature of freedom, a luxury too often taken for granted. Heidi almost loses her liberty as she is ripped away from the tranquility of the mountains to tend to a sick cousin in the city. Happily, all's well that ends well, and the reader is left with only warm, fuzzy thoughts. Spryi's story will never grow wearisome--and this is a very appealing edition. --Naomi Gesinger
From Publishers Weekly
This truncated retelling of orphan Heidi's simple life in the Swiss Alps and her sojourn in the big city seems almost as indebted to the Shirley Temple film as to Johanna Spyri's 1880 novel. Krupinski's (A New England Scrapbook) heroine mimics Temple, curls, button nose and all, though she lacks the actress's expressive smile and gestures. Similarly blank-faced characters contrast with Krupinski's serene, lushly idealized landscape paintings: the people seem like wax dolls, but the glowing blankets of flowers make the Alps heaven on earth. The text emphasizes the sensual joys of fresh goat's milk, fir trees "with their piney scent," Heidi's sweet-smelling bed in her grandfather's hay loft, etc., but that is its only demonstrable strength. Both Heidi's relationship with her grandfather and the idealized subplot about wheelchair-bound Klara's learning to walk are woodenly described; little space is given to dialogue and even less to Heidi's emotions. The plot, too, is severely condensed: "Many more good things happened after that day." The book succeeds as a portrayal of the joys of mountain life, but otherwise fails to do justice to Spyri's story of a girl's courage and persistence. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Modern adaptations tend to reduce HEIDI to the distastefully saccharine--and as such do a tremendous disservice to Swiss author Johanna Spyri, whose original 1880 novel is a surprisingly sophisticated work founded on a solid plot line and including exceptionally well-rounded characters and memorably rendered descriptions of both the Alpine peasantry and the German aristocracy.
When hardnosed Aunt Dete has the opportunity to secure better employment, she wastes little time in unloading five year old and orphaned Heidi on the child's grandfather, a Swiss peasant whose personal tragedies have led him to a life of isolation in the Alps. Heidi quickly penetrates her grandfather's superficial gruffness; he quickly grows to love the child and she in turn becomes a local favorite. Several years later, however, Dete is motivated by guilt to have second thoughts about the child's welfare, and snatches Heidi from the Alps to become the companion of the wealthy but invalid child Klara, who resides in Frankfurt.
Transported to this alien city so abruptly, Heidi pines for both the Alps and her grandfather even as she comes to love Klara. She also upsets the rigidly ordered household, personified by housekeeper by the unpleasant but comical Miss Rottenmeier. When Klara's sensible grandmother suggests Heidi take her problems to God, the child does precisely that, and after several disappointments discovers that her situation is part of a larger plan that will lead to a greater happiness for all concerned.
HEIDI was written at a time when children were expected to be able to read far beyond the scope of that which we expect of modern children. As a result, it is a children's novel written that is indeed a novel in every sense of the word, including length. It is indeed "wholesome," but in the best sense of the word, and although it is not in the least preachy it works through its story to encourage honesty, intergity, kindness, and an uncomplicated religious faith.
Unfortunately, our own age leans toward such children's literature as the poorly written Goosebumps series and sets up "Bratz" doll imagery as appropriate role models. In light of such, it is a bit difficult to imagine children reading HEIDI by their own choice. Nonetheless, it remains a truly charming work--the sort of reading that parents should encourage but sadly seldom do.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
When hardnosed Aunt Dete has the opportunity to secure better employment, she wastes little time in unloading five year old and orphaned Heidi on the child's grandfather, a Swiss peasant whose personal tragedies have led him to a life of isolation in the Alps. Heidi quickly penetrates her grandfather's superficial gruffness; he quickly grows to love the child and she in turn becomes a local favorite. Several years later, however, Dete is motivated by guilt to have second thoughts about the child's welfare, and snatches Heidi from the Alps to become the companion of the wealthy but invalid child Klara, who resides in Frankfurt.
Transported to this alien city so abruptly, Heidi pines for both the Alps and her grandfather even as she comes to love Klara. She also upsets the rigidly ordered household, personified by housekeeper by the unpleasant but comical Miss Rottenmeier. When Klara's sensible grandmother suggests Heidi take her problems to God, the child does precisely that, and after several disappointments discovers that her situation is part of a larger plan that will lead to a greater happiness for all concerned.
HEIDI was written at a time when children were expected to be able to read far beyond the scope of that which we expect of modern children. As a result, it is a children's novel written that is indeed a novel in every sense of the word, including length. It is indeed "wholesome," but in the best sense of the word, and although it is not in the least preachy it works through its story to encourage honesty, intergity, kindness, and an uncomplicated religious faith.
Unfortunately, our own age leans toward such children's literature as the poorly written Goosebumps series and sets up "Bratz" doll imagery as appropriate role models. In light of such, it is a bit difficult to imagine children reading HEIDI by their own choice. Nonetheless, it remains a truly charming work--the sort of reading that parents should encourage but sadly seldom do.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A while back when I was in my 30's (never mind how long ago that was!) I was sick with the flu, and I found a copy of HEIDI, so I crawled into a nice warm bed and re-read the book -- as an adult.
What insight into human nature! And as an adult I appreciated the dry, understated humor. I also appreciated the spiritual insights -- that God will give us what we desire, but sometims uses circumstances we don't like to teach us truths that we couldn't learn otherwise.
When I was a girl I was often turned off by what was called "good reading," but for some reason, I enjoyed Heidi and it never seemed sappy or corny.
Very much worth reading!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
A Kid's Review
Format:Hardcover
Heidi is a very good book about a girl who is being switched from
family to family because nobody really wants her but she teaches
a little girl how to walk instead of using a wheelchair and teaches a boy how to read when nobody else believes she can do it
but she does and everybody learns to believe you can do something
if you just put your mind to it.
family to family because nobody really wants her but she teaches
a little girl how to walk instead of using a wheelchair and teaches a boy how to read when nobody else believes she can do it
but she does and everybody learns to believe you can do something
if you just put your mind to it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Threw it in the trash
This is an amazing book in its original form and I was halfway through reading it to my four year old but had to return it to the library. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Blueberry Dew Drop
5.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful book
This book arrived on time an in great shape. Books in this series are sturdy and beautifully illustrated, and I was not disappointed
Published 7 months ago by jmai
5.0 out of 5 stars
A compelling story in an idyllic setting
Johanna Spyri wrote an all time classic in the book Heidi. The story is about a young girl who was orphaned and sent to live with her grandfather in the idyllic Swiss Alps. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Battleship
2.0 out of 5 stars
not the best edition
I decided to read Heidi with my 9 year old, but thought the unabridged version might be too long and drawn out for her to sit through. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ninja
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heidi (Children's Classics)
I remember this great little story read by my 2nd grade teacher (in 1948). She read aloud for about 30 minutes each day and all the kids related to it. Listening to Mrs. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Sonny M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still enjoying it as a young adult
I first read Heidi a slightly watered down, but beautifully illustrated abridged children's edition I received as a Christmas gift when I was about 8. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Emily
5.0 out of 5 stars
The excellent story review
Heidi is a very good book. It's about a girl named Heidi. she lives with her grandfather that was miserable.
they lived on the mountains. Heidi did not know how to read. Read more
they lived on the mountains. Heidi did not know how to read. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Chocolate
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet classic
Heidi is less-known among the classic books, but it is definitely worth reading and about a cute orphan girl who goes to live with her grandpa. Read more
Published 22 months ago by M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring Tale
I received a beautiful, hardbound, colorfully illustrated copy of Heidi (Children's Classics) when I was just a girl. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Utah Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
sweetly abridged
We love Heidi - I read it to my family a few years ago, so they are familiar with the story. This book is fine for a younger reader to read alone. Read more
Published on April 28, 2011 by M. Heiss
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