Anne with an e ...
I'd be a tightrope walker,
breathless and brave.
Or a lily maid, drifting
dreamily through summer.
Or a fancy lady,
pouring a perfect cup of tea,
in a grand, grown-uppish way."
If you know Kallie George's writing, you will know how much she loves Anne of Green Gables, and how well she knows her. This is her fourth book that focuses on Anne and her life. Those who know and love Lucy Maud Montgomery's books about the feisty redheaded orphan, whose home is at Green Gables on Prince Edward Island, will certainly know her unconstrained flights of fancy. Anne's imagination is quite astonishing.
Here, Anne (with an e) imagines what her life might be like, were she not who she is. The scenarios she considers are ever-changing, and come from the original tale. To appeal to a younger audience, Ms. George shortens the longer story to suit a younger audience. Anne is true to her character. Young readers will appreciate her charm, and her wish to be an integral part of the natural world. She imagines being a gull, the wind, a rose, or an invisible friend with the intent to become a kindred spirit to anyone needing one.
The text has a poetic tone, and the illustrations perfectly match the whimsy of the telling. They are beautifully created sing pastels and colored pencils. I know two little girls who will love learning more about Anne (with an 'e') before they are ready to read the novel. What a spirit she is! In the end they will be happy to learn that Anne is quite content being who she is.
This is lovely book that serves as an introduction to a character they may someday come to love as much as their mother and grandmother do.
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