I am on a roll this year of reading books I missed out on as a child and just loving them. Heidi is another one that falls into this category. I was engrossed in Heidi's journey from the start and I was particularly taken with all the descriptions of the beauty and harshness of the Swiss Alps. This is a story full of heart and love and friendship and I will definitely return to this one again and again.

I don't know what it is about this book, but I just...didn't like it that much?

And I really like classics. And I really like children's books. And I REALLY like children's classics.

I also really, REALLY liked the other three books (A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables) in this collection.

But I...did not care for this.

It was just very boring, I didn't think the writing was that pretty, and I didn't care for the characters that much.

Being a 22 year old writing a semi-negative review of a children's book from 150 years ago feels absurd.

Bottom line: Not for me!

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i love plotless 19th century children's classics as much as the next girl...

but i still could have used a bit more plot in this one.

review to come / 2.5 stars

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honestly how could i NOT read a book with a cover this pretty

I cried a lot out of happiness reading this book....................

The tears flowed out of my eyes without me noticing them...........

The story begins well and is lively and after certain chapters (after the first half, to be precise), the novel contains only pure and innocent happiness. Each chapter in the second half gets better and the happiness begins and flows through the chapters making the reader very sentimental and longing for such lovely landscapes, friendships, relationships, and happiness.

I do not want to say anything about the plot. I just only want to make some observations.


This is a lovely book for the kids and as well as for the adults.

For Kids:

It will teach them first and foremost that Love is the foundation for happiness of man.
It will teach them to establish lovely relationships. It will teach them to love all.
It will teach them to love the landscapes, the environments and the animals.
It will teach them to pray.
It will give them much to cheer about.

For Adults:

It will speak to them of forgiveness.
It will speak to them of the vanity of riches, or rather it will teach them the right usage of riches.
It will teach them to appreciate the richness of relationships and the expansive nature.
It will take them to their innocent childhood memories.
It will give them much to cheer about.

Final Note:

It is a fact that nothing much is known about the author of HEIDI, Johanna Spyri. In her lifetime when she was asked to write her autobiography, she replied thus:

"The external path of my life is very simple, and there is nothing special to be mentioned. My inner life was full of storms, but who can describe it?"

And even if a star is very far and its details are hard to get by, still its shining splendor is more than enough for our limited vision. J. Spyri will always be remembered as the author of HEIDI and that is the greatest recognition. Thank you Johanna Spyri for giving us HEIDI.

A gentle, heartwarming children's story that made me want to move to the Swiss Alps, sleep in a bed of hay and live at one with the goats. I found the first half of this book much more enjoyable than the last, as I felt it became somewhat preachy and suddenly heavy on religious sentiments (which just isn't my thing) but other than that, I felt very nostalgic for the animated movie I grew up with (and have now purchased for £0.49 on Amazon.) I would also highly recommend Puffin's 2019 audiobook, which was beautifully narrated by Gemma Whelan.

***2021 favourite***

All the positivity I ever needed.

All the calmness I ever needed.

All the nature vibes I ever needed.

Heidi. She's such an amazing child who's kind, carefree but caring, generous, genuine and charming.

The story focuses on caring and sharing, the importance of domestic lives and nature, education and learning certain skills to survive, it's all about faith and celebration of life.


And don't believe in rumours about anyone, it tells.

I love Heidi's grandpa, the insecure Peter and his ailing grandmother.

I love Sebastian, Clara and her father, grandmother and the doctor. And I really, really, really do not like her mother at all. The only character who was really unlikeable.

The other side characters are fun. The story becomes more lively with each chapter. This middle grade classic is so much fun to read!

I feel the story will be more fun if you actually read along with the kids. The humour and the adventures! It's fun I say!

That ghost chapter!!!

I love this book so much more other than considering all these things is because of the way how most of the adult characters have faith in her and accept her as she is. This is enough. Letting the child become who she is at her very best. Her concerns, her thoughts, her dreams being respected is all that mattered. And not neglecting her when she looked troubled.

The story is so wholesome. I liked how most characters have been presented with so much maturity and understanding. I wasn't expecting this.

I just wish Clara was given more lines and parts. Being an only child and someone who needed assistance and company, it would have been interesting to know her thoughts as well, given her age and her time spent most with Heidi.

And yes, learning for kids should be this playful and meaningful. Kudos to Heidi teaching Peter. One of my most favourite parts.

The last chapter is just gold. I feel really blessed after all this time!

A perfect read for me in 2021. I needed this warmth and calmness.

One of my all time favourite books. As a child I longed to live in the Swiss Alps after reading Heidi, daydreaming about wandering among the spring flowers, to the magical accompaniment of cow bells. Still a wonderfully uplifting read all these years later.

et je termine le quatrième livre du marathon de lecture d'aujourd'hui.

je suis en train de lire Heidi

– Pardon ?

– Heidi, tu sais la petite fille dans la montagne…

– Mais c’est pas de ton âge !

– …

25 ans! Oui ! Il m'aura fallu avoir 25 ans pour enfin lire le roman de l'auteur suisse allemande Johanna Spyri.

Heidi est un grand classique de la littérature pour enfants , un roman magnifique

Heidi is the epitome of heartwarming, absolutely relaxing and uplifting reading. I didn't grow up with this story (but I've heard of it of course) and was quite surprised to enjoy it as much as I did as an adult. The depiction of mountains and peaceful country life hits you with a sense of nostalgia you may not know you had before.

I rarely dwell in the world of children's literature, but I would recommend this one to anyone. I felt very special. Some of the religious themes explored towards the end are a little heavy, if not a bit preachy, but weren't that disturbing to the overall flow and warmth of the story.

Sweet and wholesome. It made me want to go to the Swiss Alps so much!

Such a beautiful, uplifting tale of life in the mountains.

I only read the first Heidi book. I quite enjoyed the story but as far as it goes with young orphaned kids with a heart of gold, this book is my least favorite. But that isn't to say it wasn't a good book, because it really was. Might continue the series but don't have a desperate need too

FREE good-quality audio recording of Heidi, narrated by Kara Shallenberg:
http://librivox.org/heidi-by-johanna-...

Heidi is a childhood favorite.

All the evils of the world might be cured by mountain air, kindness, and goat's milk.

Vividly descriptive. Just whisk me to the Swiss Alps, bright with myriad blossoms, fragrant with fir and pine, alive with birdsong. The blessings of nature surround, the sun shines down all around, and never an unkind sound.

Heidi is five — pale and small — when she first moves to Grandfather's simple alpine home, where the heavens twinkle right into her sleeping loft. Soon she's running barefoot, limber as the goats, burnished in the sun, glowing with health. Happy.

Then the dark days, abducted by nasty Aunt Dete, hustled away to dreary Frankfurt and Fraulien Rotten-weiller. Heidi, wasting away, miserably homesick, day after day.

Young Klara, wheelchair-bound and brave. Klara's kind grandmama. A foolish houseman, afraid of ghosts. The wise doctor.

The reunion. Even now, I choke up when Grandfather and Heidi are reunited. If he can cry on the sly, then so can I. Tenderhearted but gruff is Grandfather, an outcast with a shameful past. The Prodigal Son, neatly simplified and personified for children.

Young Peter, a boy on the verge. His kind, blind grandmother. Bread and hymns.

A timeless classic for children, a non-romantic romance, for on Grandfather's mountain, everything ends well. Somewhat sappy, slightly preachy, probably idealized, yet I fall for it every time. Spyri surprised a few chuckles out of me, too.

Based on the true story of Heidi Schwaller, who was 92 in 2008:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/heidi-loo...

Movie with Shirley Temple. Brava!

MORE free audio recording by Kara Shallenberg at LibriVox.org. Here is the list:
http://librivox.org/reader/19?primary...

There are some stories that whenever you read them, they leave you warm all over your body and soul, fill your mind with hopeful thoughts. This is one of them.
As an adult grown with cartoons of Heidi, I feel peaceful when I pick up such classics that make you feel nostalgic and return to the good old days. This was a favorite of mine when I was child and it still helps me feel optimistic and positive.
Heidi, recently orphaned and abandoned by her aunt to the sullen grandfather residing on the Alps learns a new way of life while reminding a harsh man that he had a heart and feelings, shining like a bright star in a community that seems to be grayed out by dark clouds. Her energy burst out of the pages, creates a ray of light, changing lives of many people and we readers feel this unique experience, as well. The pastoral themes, cozy atmosphere, warm relationships, coming-of-age of the little girl create a safe comfort zone with walls made up of nostalgia. Loving this so much!