Heidi

Orphaned at an early age, the young girl Heidi finds a home high in the Swiss Alps with her reclusive grandfather. There, each glorious day is filled with discovery, adventure and the friendship of a gentle goat boy, Peter. But when Heidi is sent away from her mountain paradise to a large, cold city, she is determined to find a way to return to the place she loves. For generations, children around the world have fallen under the spell of this small alpine girl. Heidi is the heartwarming story of an exuberant child's goodness, courage, and love. Filled with unforgettable characters and majestic scenery, it is an enduring classic of children's literature. Author Johanna Spyri lived her entire life in a small Swiss town near Zurich. Heidi, first published in 1881, is a largely autobiographical work that echoes Ms. Spyri's affection for the countryside, flowers and animals that surrounded her. John McDonough brings Heidi vibrantly to life, enriching this beloved tale with the warmth and drama of his narration.

High in the Swiss Alps, Heidi, a five-year-old orphan, comes to live with her grandfather. His neighbors say he is a fierce old hermit of whom they are all afraid. Heidi, however, proves to be a remarkable, unaffected child, who quickly charms her grandfather. In fact, for Heidi, nothing could be better than living with him. She has a genuine enthusiasm for life in the mountains: for the goats, which she helps Peter to tend, the spring flowers on the Alm, and the simple hay bed that she occupies in the loft. However, her Aunt Dete doesn't understand, and it is a sad day when she takes Heidi to live in a strange city with a strange family that wants a companion for their young invalid daughter named Klara. Heidi does her best to be a friend to Klara, but her longing for home becomes too much to bear. This beloved classic has delighted children and their parents for decades and will continue to do so with its winning heroine, memorable characters, and engaging portrait of a quaint Alpine village.