Pollyanna

by Kathleen Olmstead (adapter), Jamel Akib (Illustrator), Arthur Pober (Afterword)

""Once you start looking for the happy things, you don't think about the bad ones as much."" That's the joyful way Pollyanna sees the world: no matter what happens, she plays her "Just Be Glad" game and finds the sunny side of any situation. But when she's orphaned and forced to live with her rigid Aunt Polly, will high-spirited Pollyanna succeed in melting her Aunt's cold heart?

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Christian, Retellings

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Kathleen Olmstead is the author of several Classic Starts books, including Anne of Avonlea and Moby Dick, as well as Jacques Cousteau: A Life Under the Sea and Matthew Henson: The Quest for the North Pole, both in the Sterling Biographies series.

Reviews

[Willow Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Pollyanna, both the girl and the book. It's such a sweet story about a young girl whose bright personality is able to better the lives of all those who she meets, both young and old.

Similar to what happened when I accidentally read the abridged version of Pride and Prejudice (which I explain in my review of it), I didn't realize that this book was abridged until just last week while I was re-organizing my bookshelf. I've reread this book so many times, but I've never realized before now that it was abridged. However, this doesn't change the book at all in my eyes, as it's still a loving story of family and friendship that touches my heart each time I read it.

[Alia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice book I finished it in one day and a half

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wanted to appreciate this book i read in my childhood and have never forgotten it. Somehow, this one stuck with me. As a little girl navigating this world cautiously and curiously, i was so moved by Pollyanna. I wanted to be her friend. Her optimism inspired me, by the end of the book i felt like i knew her, i was worried about her. i was determined to be just like polly, i wanted to find the silver lining in things. From a child’s perspective, it’s definitely great. Obviously, at my current age i would find the optimism a little too much but that does not mean this book is giving off a wrong message. Other storybooks id read as a child (enid blyton, roald dahl, etc) were all full of such inspiring messages that maybe only a kid can truly feel and appreciate. Maybe, when we grow up, we take off those rose coloured glasses of childhood. I think i’ll re read it someday.

[Lita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl brings joy to a whole town. Nice!

[Leon Adamczak · Rating 2 out of 5]

To było mega dziwne. Szkoda tylko że Pollyanna nie zamieniła się w lalkę : (

[Maegan Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried at the end, and even though I cried every time I watched the movie…I didn’t expect to cry this time. Pollyanna syndrome is sometimes used to describe a person with somewhat overpowering positivity and it is a negative thing. I’ve known this story for most of my life and have always been inspired by Pollyanna’s perspective and influence over the adults near here. I’m here for the positivity and the joy that reading this book brought me. Thanks Eleanor!!!

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read it for the third time and I still enjoy it! I really love the story 🌞

[Maitha Mayed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was amazing I like the way that Pollyanna’s aunt changed and became a good aunt at the end of the story. I did not expect that she would change that way. I loved reading it and I enjoyed. I might read it again if I did not find other nice book to read.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always be happy, and look forward to help others and make them happy.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story!

[Maria (i Mikri Vivliofagos) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το λάτρεψα! Συνδέθηκα τόσο πολύ με την Πολυάννα που πιστεύω ότι ο παιδικός μου εαυτός θα έκανε σίγουρα παρέα μαζί της.
Είχα διαβάσει στο παρελθόν, στο Δημοτικό, ένα σύντομο ολιγοσέλιδο παιδικό βιβλίο με την Πολυάννα και τώρα αναζητούσα την εκτενέστερη ιστορία της, γι’ αυτό και ξεκίνησα να διαβάζω αυτό το βιβλίο. Συγκινήθηκα πάρα πολύ με την αισιόδοξη ματιά της πρωταγωνίστριας. Την συμπάθησα, την συμπόνεσα και έπιασα τον εαυτό μου συχνά πυκνά να ανησυχεί γι’ αυτή.
Διαβάζοντάς το ένας ενήλικας ίσως βρει την αισιοδοξία της λίγο υπερβολική χωρίς όμως αυτό να σημαίνει ότι η συγγραφέας περνάει λάθος μηνύματα. Είναι ένα βιβλίο το οποίο σίγουρα μαθαίνει σε έναν μικρό αναγνώστη πως να είναι ευγνώμων για όσα έχει, να εκτιμάει οτιδήποτε έχει στη ζωή του, να χαίρεται με κάθε μικρό και μεγάλο θαύμα της ζωής και να είναι συμπονετικός, υποστηρικτικός, ευγενικός και καλός.
Μέσα από αυτό το βιβλίο έμαθα ότι ακόμη και οι πιο σκληροί, δύστροποι και δύσκολοι χαρακτήρες μπορούν να λυγίσουν μπροστά στην αγάπη! Και αυτό πιστεύω ότι είναι και ένα από τα πιο σημαντικά μηνύματα που περνάει το βιβλίο.
Η Πολυάννα είναι πρότυπο για κάθε αναγνώστη, μικρό και μεγάλο! Διαβάζοντας την ιστορία της δεν υπάρχει περίπτωση να μην μιλήσει στην καρδιά σου, να μην σε κάνει να αναθεωρήσεις για κάποια ίσως λόγια που έχεις πει σε κάποιον και τον πλήγωσες, ή για κάποια άδικη συμπεριφορά που έδειξες… Η Πολυάννα είναι ένας χαρακτήρας που μπορεί πραγματικά να εμπνεύσει πλήθος κόσμου με την αισιοδοξία της και να αλλάξει τον τρόπο που βλέπουμε τον κόσμο γύρω μας.
Τελειώνοντας το, μου άφησε ένα πανέμορφο αίσθημα αισιοδοξίας και ευγνωμοσύνης για μέρες.

[Laura Tripi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Semplicemente meraviglioso...

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved this one! It was a really well done abridged version for younger readers. It brought up some good teaching lessons about being thankful and finding joy even in disappointments.

[Marissa The Great · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.7/5.0!!!

I love the story of Pollyanna so much. Her unwavering optimism and love for everyone is truly inspiring.

(Review to be continued)

[Ștefi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️🥹

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always wanted to be pollyanna, even starting to try and play the game like she did, although I wasn't the best at it...still am.

[Vi Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The delightful tale of an orphaned 11 year old packed off to stay with a maiden aunt determined to do her duty. Little Pollyanna is determined to make the most of it and along the way raises the spirits of the whole town.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pollyanna" by Kathleen Olmstead is about a passionate and cheerful girl names Pollyanna. She believes to always look on the bright side and that playing "The Glad Game" can always get you out of any rut you are in. When Pollyanna unfortunately becomes orphaned, she has to go and live with her Aunt Polly. Aunt Polly is quite the opposite of Pollyanna, with an uninviting personality and pessimistic views. Throughout the story, Pollyanna attempts to warm up her aunt's heart. Pollyanna get in a tragic accident that brings her and her aunt together, allowing Pollyanna to have a mother again and Aunt Polly to have the child she never had. This book is heartwarming and touching the whole way through. With Pollyanna's quirky personality and inevitable troublemaking traits, the reader is entertained until the very end. The optimistic theme is a great one for any aged reader, but having children read it makes the theme even more effective. I loved reading Pollyanna as a child and as an older reader. I think it is a great classic that will live on through the ever changing world of literature.

[Agatha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice series my 7yo and I found at the library which retells classics in an abridged version for younger readers. My daughter started with Pollyanna and loved it (really liked how Pollyanna was so kind and nice and cheerful to everyone) and then encouraged me to read it. I think she was amused when she had been telling me about the part where Pollyanna breaks her leg, and I had said, “Oh, I don’t remember that part,” and she was delighted that she knew something more than I did, and so she said, “You should read this next, Mommy, so that you can remember everything!” So, I did. She is now enthusiastic about this series and is now reading their version of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, too. We’ll certainly look for more at the library; there seem to be a lot of cute ones: 46 in all!  List of titles here: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/21...

[(: Miw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you feel that there is a special people around you? How they’s special? What is their power? Is it good or bad? Well all of these question show me that you will match with this book very well. Pollyanna is a girl with a kind of special girl that live with her Aunt Polly when her dad died she met new people and change their life. Well if you ask me how they change and why they change? Well I can’t answer you all question but I can tell you that it is because Pollyanna special power and her power will make you feel strange. Pollyanna is a joyful girl maybe this will be the answer for your question.

[Momo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:A great book. It is a lot like Anne of Greene Gables. A little girl named Pollyanna goes to live with her grumpy aunt. While she is there she changes an old mans life and her aunts. She touches others too. She is cheerful and a wonderful little girl.
My opinion: this was a good book especially since it was like Anne of Green Gables and I LOVED that book!
Christian worldview: I think they went to church and prayed so he was kind of involved

[Sydney White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a classic. My mom introduced me to the movie about 3 years ago and it is such a good movie. I like this book better than the regular one. It is a great book for people that have a good sence of adventure. Even though Pollyanna is not real it really makes you think how much she could be real. I love the way it was written and I especially loved the way that they told the background about Pollyanna and how her parents died.

[Rachel Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pollyanna has become an adjective these days - and a negative one at that. I was hesitant to read this book, but I am so glad I did. I just love the concept of positive thinking and how it can change lives. Pollyanna is an example of seeing the good in everything. I have even been trying to play "the game". My 9 year old was also reading this in school and she really enjoyed it.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was really great. I was hooked till the end. The book was originally purchased for my sisters but i finished it in a day. If you are looking for a good story that's an easy read this is one.
This is not the original Pollyanna but part of classic starts series. If you don't wan't to read big classic books but still want to enjoy them The Classic Starts series is great for that.

[Heidi Boardman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites. Rereading it, I've remembered how my outlook on my terrible life was able to change for the better, all because of this book. Pollyanna was disarming to the jaded little girl I was, and is still disarming to the happy adult that I have became.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the writer added a ton of adj. in the story! It had a great morel to the story about being a little kind lady just like Sara is in the story A Little Princess!
I also likes how Pollyanna's mother named her after Pollyanna's to sisters Polly and Anna! This was a fantastic chapter book!

[Katie Solt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so cute I Enjoyed it so much reminded me of Anne of green gables . Reminded me to show my cheery side to people that might need it this little girl brought so much joy into these peoples lives and it made me want to watch the Disney version of Pollyanna so I really enjoyed this book

[WaytoGogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absoulutely loved this book i reread it because it stuck with me for years after i first read it. Its a book i will keep with me forever.

[Tayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl that was glad and helped everyone else be glad too. Great story!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good short book, it teaches you to look for the best in every situation.