Have you read Heidi?

Once again, it was a beautiful day here. We spent a few hours playing at the park, had lunch, and then came home. We then spent the afternoon outside playing in the water, blowing bubbles and painting. It was a wonderful day.

I have stacks and stacks of books that I would like to share with you, and the one I have picked today we actually have three copies of. I have never read the unabridged version of Heidi by Johanna Spyri. I know right? I grew up with a copy of the book in it's entirety on my parent's living room bookshelf, and how I missed reading it, I will never know.

That being said, we now have three copies, one unabridged, and two abridged copies. All three are vintage books that I have found in my thrifting adventures. The book I am going to share with you is one I found last month, and so far it is the only copy we have read.





Heidi is a beautiful story about a little girl who grows up with her grandfather on top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps. She has a very happy life and plays with a boy named Peter who herds goats. Though one day Heidi's aunt comes to take her away from her grandfather to go to school in Frankfurt. There she stays with her ill cousin Clara who cannot stand or walk. Even though she learns to read, and  loves her cousin, she becomes more and more homesick for her mountain home and her grandfather.

One day she is finally able to go back home. Once home, Heidi wants her cousin Clara to visit, because she knew that the mountains would make Clara strong. One day Heidi gets her wish and Clara is brought up the mountain by a procession carrying her in a chair. With the help of Heidi, grandfather, Peter, the goats and the mountain air, Clara finally starts to get stronger. 

Not only is this story about courage and determination, it is about love. The love for family, friends, and nature. I just love the Little Golden Book version. The illustrations by Corinne Malvern are just lovely. My son has let me read this to him quite a few times since we acquired it last month. 

I am putting the unabridged Heidi on my to read list. I want to read the whole story for myself. I know some day I plan on reading the unabridged version to my son. I want him to grow up at least having "heard" the classics, but I hope he reads them for himself too.