Heidi

by Johanna Spyri

“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries.” - Descartes

The classic story of a little orphan girl in the Swiss Alps, with beautiful illustrations.

At the age of five, little orphan Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather in the Alps. Everyone in the village is afraid of him, but Heidi is fascinated by his long beard and bushy grey eyebrows. She loves her life in the mountains, playing in the sunshine and growing up amongst the goats and birds. But one terrible day, Heidi is collected by her aunt and is made to live with a new family in town. Heidi can't bear to be away from her grandfather; can she find a way back up the mountain, where she belongs?

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” – ...

A 19th century classics literature edition.

162 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2025

About the author

Johanna Spyri was a Swiss author of children's stories, best known for Heidi. Born Johanna Louise Heusser in the rural area of Hirzel, Switzerland, as a child she spent several summers in the area around Chur in Graubünden, the setting she later would use in her novels.

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Christian classics. One child brings out the goodness in all she meets and still there are lessons she learns along the way. I've read this book many times since I was a child. I never get tired of it.

[Sue-b-doo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's classic was just a beautiful story! I saw the movie when I was young, but Heidi's love shines out even more in the book. Her unconditional love mirrors God's love in so many ways! <3

[Leslie Bellissimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father read me this book when I was a child and I decided to revisit it and I’m not disappointed! It has always been and will remain one of my favorite all-time stories.

[Lexie Hobbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank gosh for the audiobook. I didn’t realize this was not the same version i read in 7th grade and the full original Swedish version. Once i got thru that shock it wasn’t that bad.

[Eman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heidi is one of my favourite novels. I didn’t watch the cartoon in my childhood, but I wish I had. Anyway, I’m reading the novel with a child’s heart, and I’m enjoying it. It teaches many important things.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best translation/adaptation

I bought this Kindle edition because I was looking to reread a childhood favorite. This one was advertised as an unabridged edition in “pure, clear English.” The translation was, instead, clunky and I found myself wanting to read the original German and do my own translation even though my German isn’t very good.

The other thing I found bothersome was the (in my non-Christian adult eyes) the excessive amount of religious language. Was this in the original? My suspicions increased when I realized that the publisher was Benedictine Press, and Amazon rates it along with other Christian books for children.

Whether or not the religious tone bothers you, you can’t deny that the story of a little girl finding her hear home on the top of a mountain is glorious. The image of a five-year-old girl wearing all the clothes she owned to walk up the mountain to the Grandfather’s hut, and shedding these clothes along with her old life as she savors a simple meal of bread and toasted cheese and makes her bed in a hayloft have stuck with me since childhood.

[البندري · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic

[Ice pop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the 1993 movie so i had to read it but i didnt realize it talks so much about god. I also havent seen the movie in like 15 years

[Jason Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful children'story of friendship and kindness.

The scenes and descriptions of the Alps will transport you to an idyllic time where Nature's beauty gives purpose and sense to life.