Heidi

Heidi tells the story of a young girl who is taken to the Swiss Alps to live with her bad tempered and reclusive Grandfather. She meets Peter, a goat-herder, and they soon become friends. Grandfather gradually softens towards his grandchild and when Heidi leaves to become a companion to a sick child, Clara, in Frankfurt, everyone in the mountains is heart-broken. However, although Heidi develops a friendship with Clara, she pines for the life she has left behind and at last, is allowed to return home.

Jeanne Willis has done an excellent job of breathing new life into this much-loved classic, whilst retaining the essence of the original. The beauty of the mountains, running free with the goats, the inner spirit and joy of Heidi - these things shine through and Briony May Smith's gorgeous illustrations do much to capture these things, making the book a real pleasure to read.

Heidi's blossoming relationship with her grandfather, who gradually warms to the little girl and gains so much himself from her company, is particularly well handled. Clara's mysterious illness and her seemingly miraculous cure due to fresh air and friendship is one of the more puzzling elements of the original book. Frozen with grief by the loss of her mother and denied the opportunity to speak about her loss, particularly with her much loved father, she has been confined to a wheelchair for years and this version implies that her mental health is the root of this rather than a physical disability.

Perfect for sharing or reading independently, this version of Heidi is beautifully presented and is sure to tempt readers into trying the original version, or, if not, will allow them to share in the joy of a story they might never otherwise have known!

96 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+