Heidi (Puffin in Bloom)

We purchased this book in order my daughter to read and write a book report about the virtues and Christian-values through her Catholic Home School program. We chose this copy of the book because it was original and unabridged. Both my daughter and I read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is so superbly well-written, with bits of anticipation and humor along the way. Heidi is about an orphaned girl in Switzerland, whose aunt took care of her until she obtained a better job, and decided it was Heidi's grandfather's turn to keep her. Heidi's grandfather lived up the mountain in a bit of remote area, with the town of Dorfli a trek away. Heidi meets Peter and his mother and grandmother and spends time with Peter, taking the goats to pasture. Heidi's aunt decided to later take her from the grandfather, who came to love her, to be come a companion to an "invalid" girl, Clara, in Frankfurt. Although Heidi is younger than Clara, Clara delights in the funny and inspiring things that Heidi says and does, and they become good friends. Heidi suffered terribly as she missed Grandfather and her life in the mountains, but came to know those in Clara's life, including her grandmother, who taught her to have hope and keep praying to God, and the kind, good-hearted doctor who took care of Clara. Heidi's simplicity, and the way she looked at life, made her long the matched simplicity of the mountains and life with Grandfather. No spoilers here, but good things happen in the story! The characters are very well-defined, and Heidi touches the hearts of all who meet her. If you have seen any versions of Heidi in movie form, you are missing a lot from the book. As much as I like Shirley Temple, the producers of the version she starred in did a disservice to original Heidi book -- it is like looking at a whole different movie. (Disney later came out with a much closer account of the Heidi book as a movie in later years.) Everyone who reads Heidi will enjoy it and walk away with something that touches them -- something to recall and remember as their favorite part of the book.

Wonderful story. Liked the references to God. Enjoyed the favorable descriptions of the Alps. Really liked the descriptions of so many kind people.

We are enjoying this book very much! I purchased it for our read aloud portion of our homeschool lessons and my girls are begging me to continue reading each day and even asking for it as a bedtime story! This is my first time reading it (somehow) and I find it to be very entertaining also and a very touching story. It is a great example for my girls to learn more about trusting God’s plans and his timing.

We love this book! I read it to my kids as they fall asleep. Here are the professional 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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. 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. I agree with both of those reviews.

As a 7 year old in 1937 - I saw Shirley Temple in the movie -- AND read the book. I reread the book in 1950 while a student in Elementary Ed. at the UW. (my boy friend at the time - now husband of 60 years - was horrified that I would carry the book around campus -- until I told him I was reading it for a class called Children's Literature -- and I got an A for the class making it OK) Once a few year ago I heard it said that each year a person should reread a book that was a childhood favorite. I have done that annually - what a delight. Guess what -- HEIDI was the first one to read, when I heard the concept. The book is full of compassion -- kindness -- sadness -- love -- actually a child's book that is good for 'children' of all ages. For those who like old movies -- watch Shirley Temple's version. Needless to say -- I love the story -- I have my original copy -- recommend it to many --- AND I will now carry it with me securely in my Kindle -- glad it was available to download. S E.

I read this for my lit class and I must say, what a masterful book it is. I definitely recommend this.

Am german but the book was easy to read. It is longer than every Heidi Movie I have ever seen. It got more Details. I also cried a view times. Thanks for this heart touching story.

Excelente

Item arrived in great condition!! Happy with purchase :)

I got this in the mail today and got pretty disappointed, this book is pretty big, thin and the text is very small, I don’t even want to read it because I know I’ll get a head ache and I’m definitely returning this product.

I love how everything was perfect in the end, and the characters are so great to read about. The story is amazing and it’s a favourite children’s classic!