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Heidi Audiobook
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(4.12) - 82 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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.
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"I will admit that I never read this as a child, and now I feel bad. It's such a happy little book. I think I would have loved it. Very charming. I liked Heidi because even though she was bright little girl, she wasn't precocious and cynical like a lot of little girls are in books today. She was just a five-year-old girl, curious about the world and life."
— Melanie (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Heidi has charmed and intrigued readers since its original publication in 1880…Spryi's story will never grow wearisome.”
— Amazon.com
Heidi Listener Reviews
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" I thought this book was a great story because if you put your best into it every day you'll bloom.Also it is a great story of sadness.It is a great story for people who get homesick. "
— Kiara, 2/11/2014 -
" I loved this quaint story about the girl from the mountains. I very much related to the story as a child, but I don't think I have ever read the book before. I found it especially refreshing after all the depressing novellas I read last month (though I enjoy a depressing novella as well :)). "
— Shauna, 2/2/2014 -
" I edited out a lot of the back story of the grandfather and various stereotyping. I liked some of the discussion of God and prayer, but edited out some of that too. We read the unabridged version and it was fine. "
— Selvi, 2/1/2014 -
" It may be a children story, it still has amazing readibility and I challenge anyone not to get sucked in the very simple storyline of Heidi. The cartoon I used to watch when I was a kid is very true to the book, so childhood memories abounded. Passed the book to my 10 year old book marked 'must read'. "
— Olivier, 1/30/2014 -
" Ms Spyri has a son who died at age 29 and her husband died shortly after. A tragedy. Stories like Heidi are great comforts to all. The mountain has come alive. "
— Slow, 1/28/2014 -
" This is one of the loveliest stories ever. "
— Angela, 1/18/2014 -
" my favorite book from when i was a little kid; read it again recently, still a great story. "
— Irina, 1/15/2014 -
" This was a favorite of mine as a child, so I thought I'd reread it to see if it held over time. It definitely did. Although originally written in German in the late 1800's, it is well written, well translated and conveys a wonderful message. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it again. "
— Lois, 1/9/2014 -
" It's a book that makes you happy "
— Mari, 1/9/2014 -
" A beautiful scenic setting for a heart warming tale of a little girl and her grandfather. "
— Lili, 1/2/2014 -
" I had read it when I was a kid, but I still remember it made me feel happy. "
— Romy, 12/30/2013 -
" I adore this book. It's so light hearted and absolutely beautiful to read. I am always transported to a wonderful world full of hope beauty and innocence "
— Elizabeth, 12/30/2013 -
" Read this because I felt I should. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. If only we could send all our kids to live in the Swiss Alps. Then all their problems would be solved by simply living off goat's milk, sleeping on hay, and breathing fresh air. "
— Sunny, 12/27/2013 -
" One of my favourite books growing up, I must have read it at least 20 times. "
— MissStan, 12/20/2013 -
" it's a really good, emotional and a inspiring book! "
— Anusha, 12/10/2013 -
" very boring, i didn't like it, maybe because i read it when i was 24 :D but i guess it's great for a 6 or 7 years old child "
— Diana, 12/8/2013 -
" I'm pretty sure I loved this when I read it as a child, but I don't actually remember for sure so I'm giving it a 3. I'm not curious enough about it to read it again either. :) "
— Francie, 12/1/2013 -
" The story of Heidi is inspirational and heart-wrenching, but I also remember loving the fact that they had goats for pets. "
— Laura, 10/25/2013 -
" I was named after the character in this book! "
— Heidihurl, 9/5/2013 -
" This story of love, forgiveness and friendship touches our deepest emotions. However, it is also extremely predictable and dry writing. An ok book. "
— Haley, 9/5/2013 -
" Loved this book as a child - read it many times over "
— Nikki, 1/25/2013 -
" this book is a little slow but very good has a great uplifting message! It is just a fun feel good read! "
— Andy, 12/20/2012 -
" Beautiful. There is a reason why this story is a classic. The very light story shows the the inner beauty kindness brings "
— Nevena, 8/22/2012 -
" I loved this little book, although halfway through it got a dash preachy, it was adorable, simple (in the most positive way) and genuinely heart warming. "
— Debore, 4/25/2012 -
" its a magical and wonderful book. a certain must read! "
— R, 4/3/2012 -
" Its a wonderful story and i enjoy reading it many times over the years "
— Sandra, 4/2/2012 -
" I loved this book when I was a young girl. My girls didn't really enjoy it so much but somehow it just spoke to me. "
— Mommy, 2/15/2012 -
" This was another amazing, down to earth book :) "
— Emma, 11/28/2011 -
" Like many people, I absolutely loved this book as a kid, and I read it many, many times. Rereading it as an adult, it IS a bit sappy, but still.... I mean, it's Heidi, for goodness' sake! "
— Jenna, 11/25/2011 -
" This book is amazing I love it. It is about a young girl who lived back an the old days. it is not a true story. she is a very nice girl always thinking on the up side. read to see what happens to her "
— Maureen, 10/13/2011 -
" This lively, inviting novel talks about a young girl that meets a true friend, a nice neighbor, and where she lives a simple life in the mountains with her grandpa. "
— Gabriana, 7/7/2011 -
" I loved it. I read ahead because I just had to know what was going to happen next. "
— Darren, 5/10/2011 -
" I remember this was the first book I ever read! "
— Emily, 5/7/2011 -
" Very cute! and very adorable!! "
— Rachel, 5/5/2011 -
" I like the movie with cute little Shirley Temple waaaaayyy better! lol "
— Maddy, 5/2/2011 -
" This was the first English book I have ever read in school, I think I was 7 years old. I remember enjoying this book and many many images from this book have been wired into my memory, like her grandfather grilling cheese for her :P "
— Deyaa, 4/30/2011 -
" A wonderfull tale. Heidi is a great character, very natural "
— Singing_shadow, 4/28/2011 -
" This is a classic story the children will still enjoy. "
— Sarah, 4/28/2011 -
" I still can't read this one without crying. "
— Roseanne, 4/28/2011 -
" One my favorite books my Grandma give it to me for Christmas with hand painted illustrations. "
— Amanda, 4/23/2011
About Johanna Spyri
Johanna Spyri (1827–1901) was an author of children’s stories, and is best known for Heidi. She was born Johanna Louise Heusser in the rural area of Hirzel, Switzerland in 1827. As a child she spent several summers in the area around Chur in Graubünden, where she would later set Heidi. She married in 1852, and her first story was published in 1871.
About Johanna Ward
Johanna Ward (a.k.a. Kate Reading) is an Audie Award–winning narrator and has received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine. She is also a theater actor in the Washington, DC, area and has been a member of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company since 1987. Her work onstage has been recognized by the Helen Hayes Awards Society, among others. She and her husband live in Hyattsville, Maryland, with their two children.