Filled with descriptions of the magnificent Swiss Alps, the lives of the simple country folk who live in their picturesque peaks and valleys and the gentle and innocent days of childhood, Heidi by Johanna Spyri is a book that no child should miss reading. Since it first came out, it has captured the hearts of children (and adults) all over the world, been extensively filmed, televised and staged and translated from the original German into more than 60 languages. Heidiland, a theme park, is one of the big attractions in Zurich...

Im Jahre 1880 im Perthes-Verlag, Gotha, erschienenen ersten Heidi-Roman wird erzählt, wie das Waisenmädchen Heidi zu seinem einsiedlerischen Grossvater auf eine Alp oberhalb von Maienfeld (Kanton Graubünden) gebracht wird, wo es in Zukunft leben soll.

Une petite fille orpheline, Heidi, est amenée par sa tante chez son grand-père qui habite isolé sur l’Alpe, loin des hommes. Celui-ci a la réputation d’être féroce auprès des gens du village mais Heidi l’apprivoise et commence une vie profondément heureuse auprès de lui. Cependant, quelque temps après, la tante revient chercher Heidi pour la placer dans une famille aisée à Francfort, où l’enfant commence à souffrir du mal du pays, mal qui ne pourra être soulagé que par le retour sur l’Alpe...

Heidi ist zurückgekehrt zum Alpöhi. Der ist darüber so froh, dass er nach Jahrzehnten zum ersten Mal wieder die Kirche im Dörfli aufsucht, worüber die Dorfbewohner erstaunt, aber erfreut sind. Er setzt sein Haus im Dörfli wieder instand, damit Heidi den Winter dort verbringen und die Schule besuchen kann. Heidi überzeugt den Geissenpeter, lesen zu lernen. Im folgenden Jahr hofft Heidi, dass Klara sie endlich besuchen kann. Aber erst kommt nur der Herr Doktor, um die Lage zu klären. Es gefällt ihm so gut, dass Klara tatsächlich im darauffolgenden Sommer nach einem Kuraufenthalt in Bad Ragaz in die Hütte des Alpöhi darf.

"Heidi" takes us on a journey to the eventful childhood of a good-hearted girl from the Swiss Alps. A warm and loving story, full of touching moments, it reaches children and adults alike. It was written in 1880 and published in two parts: 1. Heidi's years of learning and travel. 2. Heidi makes use of what she has learned. This English translation from 1915 has "an especial flavor, that very quality of delight in mountain scenes, in mountain people and in child life generally, which is one of the chief merits of the German original...

Ihr erstes Kinderbuch »Heimatlos« enthielt die Erzählungen »Am Silser- und am Gardasee« und »Wie Wiseli’s Weg gefunden wird« und erschien 1878 bei F. A. Perthes in Gotha. Als Autorin war nicht Johanna Spyri angegeben, sondern »Von der Verfasserin von »Ein Blatt auf Vrony’s Grab«. Erstmals fand sich auf dem Umschlag die Anmerkung »Eine Geschichte für Kinder und auch für Solche, welche die Kinder lieb haben«, welche auf fast allen Ausgaben Spyris zu finden ist. (Zusammenfassung von Wikipedia)

"Mäzli" may be pronounced the most natural and one of the most entertaining of Madame Spyri's creations. The atmosphere is created by an old Swiss castle and by the romantic associations of the noble family who lived there. Plot interest is supplied in abundance by the children of the Bergmann family with varying characters and interests. A more charming group of young people and a more wise and affectionate mother would be hard to find. Every figure is individual and true to life, with his or her special virtues and foibles, so that any grown person who picks up the volume will find it a world in miniature and will watch eagerly for the special characteristics of each child to reappear...

Moni is the goat boy who takes care of all the goats belonging to the people of Fideris, Switzerland. He loves to sing, yodel, and whistle while he romps with the goats all day long on the mountains. His favorite is a young kid named Mäggerli. One day Moni comes across a serious situation where he must keep a deceitful secret in order to protect Mäggerli from being killed. Will Moni risk the life of Mäggerli and tell the truth? This delightful short story teaches children that to trust God and do right is always better than being deceitful.

Old Mary Ann has done her best to bring up her son on her own. Like other relatives, her son has a longing to travel off over the mountains. Mary Ann goes with him. Later on her son marries, but loses his wife after she gives birth to their son. Mary Ann assumes responsibility of her grandson, while her son moves away in the agony of his grief. This is the story of what happens to her grandson and where his Grandmother, the songs of the birds, and his faith leads him.

Published in 1886, this novel encompasses a small community wherein Veronica, having lost her own mother, is “adopted” by a neighbour, Gertrude, who has a son of her own. The son, Dietrich, is learning how to become a saddler as his father before him. Their life is filled with hard work, but also some contentment. From the mother they now share, and two other matronly neighbours, Dietrich and Veronica learn valuable lessons about life. As the years pass, Dietrich and Veronica encounter trouble due to the mischief of two peers, and Dietrich more so as he is often tempted to frequent, along with others, the new tavern nearby.

Cornelli lives in Iller-Stream with her widowed father, who calls on two Ladies of Culture to come spend time with Cornelli during one of his business trips, hoping that their influence will refine and improve his daughter. Instead, the ladies prove to have no real love for Cornelli, and she, being a sensitive soul, turns inward and becomes sullen and uncooperative. A boy who comes on a visit to Iller-Stream for his health befriends her, and this begins a chain of events that turn Cornelli's life right-side up again.

The story of a little girl in the village of Wildbach, who loved the roses, and how spreading both her roses and her love touched the hearts of the villagers.

The Feland family go on a holiday in Switzerland. While there, their impulsive younger daughter gets into a scrape that teaches the whole family a lesson in love and faith. Summary by Devorah Allen.

Johanna Spyri’s classic story of a 5 year old little Swiss orphan who is heartbroken when she must leave her beloved grandfather and their happy home in the mountains to go to school and to care for an invalid girl in the city. It was written as a book "for children and those who love children"

At 12 years old, Vinzi's only desire is to study his beloved music. But his father wants to make a farmer of him, and is displeased whenever he finds Vinzi yielding to his musical inclination. Mother and sister look on wistfully as circumstances go beyond their control, but throughout, they trust to the protection of their Father in Heaven. This is another book by Johanna Spyri, author of Heidi. Here too, against the backdrop of the beautiful Swiss alps, she intertwines love, sincerity, and the freshness of youth to present a captivating story for young and old alike. - Summary by Rosebud