Reviews

Gr 4 Up‘This edition of the classic title features the unabridged text; full-color illustrations; and captioned photos, drawings, and reproductions that provide cultural, geographical, and historical information. Rozier-Gaudriault's artwork is primarily done in a soft, pastel palette that pleasantly captures this gentle story of a sweet but resilient young girl who brings love and joy to those whom she encounters. Quotes from the text appear next to the illustrations. The documentary material gives a serendipitous look at Heidi's life and times. Some of it is insightful and specific to the narrative; other annotations are more generic such as the one that accompanies a picture of kittens and notes that "it is not unusual for a cat to give birth to seven or eight kittens in a single litter." The appeal of this approach is a matter of taste. Some readers will find the information helpful and fun; others may find it distracting and at times only minimally relevant. It is obvious that considerable effort, thought, and research went into this effort. Readers willing to spend time checking out the captions will be rewarded beyond the simple enjoyment of the story.‘Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA