Heidi Book Review

Heidi is a classic tale that I remember from my childhood and it has recently been re-told in the latest edition from Barnes & Noble.

Orphaned Heidi lives with her gruff but caring grandfather on the side of Swiss mountain, where she befriends young Peter the goat-herd. She leads an idyllic life, until she is forced to leave the mountain she has always known to go and live with a sickly girl in the city. Will Heidi ever see her grandfather again?

This story from Johanna Spyri has been bought back to life with the utterly gorgeous illustrations from Jessie Willcox Smith.

I was immediately drawn in by the stunning front cover. It almost looks like a sort of diary. The gold edged pages and the beautifully detailed pages really invite you to simply open up the book and read.

When I had the opportunity to read this story I wasn't presented with the imagery that comes along with this version, the drawings in-between each chapter are simple but very effected in conjuring up further images in your own head.

Heidi is what I'd describe as a classic coming of age tale, perfect for young girls. It depicts family life and friendship in a way that will get you thinking. 

It is a story that never gets old, and for a tale originally translated from German, it still manages to appeal to children now just like it did back when I was young.

Children can learn a lot from Heidi, about love and about forgiveness. It is a heartwarming classic that can mean so much to anyone who reads it.