Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Heidi (c) 1880, 1881 by Johanna Spyri

Heidi by Johanna Spyri, first published in two parts between 1881 and 1882, is a delightful children's story about Heidi who comes to live with her reclusive grandfather in the Alps when she is just five years old.

Her grandfather is a bit bitter toward the world, but soon warms up to his little granddaughter, and the two become good friends. Heidi loves the mountains, and the little goats her grandfather owns, which are goat-sat every day in the spring and summer by Peter who takes all the goats of the town up to the pastures near where Heidi and her grandfather live. These two become good friends as well, but when people start to think that her grandfather is a poor guardian for her, and then come and take her away to live in Frankfurt with a young girl who is confined to a wheelchair and her caretakers, what does Heidi do?

Clara, her new friend is very sweet and kind, but Heidi still misses the mountains and her grandfather. Will she ever be able to get back to them, and will Clara ever grow strong enough to leave her wheelchair?

I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to readers young and old who enjoy stories of childhood and happy endings.