Anne (with an 'e' of course) starts out as a mistake. The elderly Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert had planned on adopting a boy to help Matthew with the chores on their Prince Edward Island farm. What are they to do with the red-haired, high-spirited girl who arrives instead? Anne Shirley, with her boundless imagination and heart, slowly brings joy into the narrow lives of those around her, and into the lives of readers who have delighted in her adventures since Lucy Maud Montgomery began writing about her in 1905. Anne's courage, her enthusiasm, and her ability to love, have made her one of literature's most beloved characters in Canada and around the world. This beautifully illustrated volume, with a foreword by Kate Butler MacDonald, one of L. M. Montgomery's grandchildren, is a treasure for those who find in Anne a familiar friend as well as for those who are discovering this "kindred spirit" for the first time.
When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be, either. This adapted version of the classic, Anne of Green Gables, introduces younger readers to the irrepressible heroine of L.M. Montgomery's many stories. Adapter M.C. Helldorfer includes only a few of Anne's mirthful and poignant adventures, yet manages to capture the freshness of one of children's literature's spunkiest, most beloved characters. There's just enough to make beginning readers want more--luckily, there's a lot more in the originals! Illustrator Ellen Beier creates vibrant pictures to portray the beauty of the land around Green Gables and the spirited nature of Anne herself. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Worth the money!:
My daughters and I really enjoyed listening to this classic literature in long car rides. The story combined with the enchanting music made it all the more endearing.
Girl classic:
What girlhood is complete without the charming adventures of one of literature's most spritely heroines, Anne [with an e] Shirley? I've read this book time and time again since I was a child, and I still cannot get over just how much character and heart can be splashed into a single novel. In the lovely world of a Victorian Canada the Cuthberts, an elderly brother and sister, decided to adopt a boy to help with farm work. However, there is a mistake and instead the awkward, idealistic Anne winds up in... more info
A wonderful heartwarming book:
I had never read this book for fear that it would be too much like Little House on the Prairie which I had heard were heartwarming books where nothing much ever happened. Though Anne of Green Gables is certainly heartwarming and describes the interesting but not action packed life of a young girl, Anne's character is not the ordinary sweet little girl that you might expect to read about. Though wanting to be good, Anne spends most of her time dreaming about "romantic" things such as a beautiful pond near by... more info
Comments on the Full Length Play (Dramatic Publishing):
This full-length play, adapted from L.M. Montgomery's novel, has roles for 6-12 men and 12-19 women, with extras as desired. The time period is the early 1900's. The place is Avonlea and other locations on Prince Edward Island, Canada. All locales in the play can easily be performed on a unit set, however. This dramatization faithfully conveys the spirit, events, and characters of the original novel, from her youth to early adulthood. The flexible casting and simple unit set make this play an ideal... more info
