Heidi’s Children (Heidi sequel, #3)
by Charles Tritten, Pelagie Doane (Illustrator)
3 out of 5 stars

Heidi is pregnant with her first child. Heidi and Peter have the village schoolteacher boarding with them, and the teacher asks if her little sister can come and stay with them and attend the school. The child, Marta, is so unhappy at her own home, and she blossoms under the love and affection that Heidi gives her. But will Marta get along with Heidi’s grandfather? The old Alm-Uncle is still hiding secrets about his past that might change the family forever.

This book was okay. If you really love Heidi, then I think you would enjoy it. I like the original Heidi story much better. This book just didn’t have the same charm as the original story by Johana Spyri. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting. All the elements of a good story are there, but I never really got swept away into the story the way I do with Spyri’s other books.

Maybe the horrendously ugly illustrations had something to do with it. I have never in my life seen such ugly illustrations! The people’s faces look as distorted and strange. People’s eyes are too big for their head, or their arms are too long for their body! It just looks awful!