Booked: A Traveler's Guide to Literary Locations Around the World

My husband and I were roaming in a bookstore recently, and he was looking through a travel book of literary locations. He came over to show it to me because the book featured Prince Edward Island and Anne of Green Gables, and he knew I'd love to see it. The book is titled Booked: A Traveler's Guide to Literary Locations Around the World, and it's by Richard Kreitner. I love to read and explore, so I thought the concept was really fun.



Booked was published in 2019 by Black Dog & Leventhal, which is part of the Hachette Book Group. Here's the book's description from the publisher's website:

A practical, armchair travel guide that explores eighty of the most iconic literary locations from all over the globe that you can actually visit.

A must-have for every fan of literature, Booked inspires readers to follow in their favorite characters footsteps by visiting the real-life locations portrayed in beloved novels including the Monroeville, Alabama courthouse in To Kill a Mockingbird, Chatsworth House, the inspiration for Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice, and the Kyoto Bridge from Memoirs of a Geisha. The full-color photographs throughout reveal the settings readers have imagined again and again in their favorite books.

Organized by regions all around the world, author Richard Kreitner explains the importance of each literary landmark including the connection to the author and novel, cultural significance, historical information, and little-known facts about the location. He also includes travel advice like addresses and must-see spots.

Booked features special sections on cities that inspired countless literary works like a round of locations in Brooklyn from Betty Smith’s iconic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to Jonathan Lethem’s Motherless Brooklyn and a look at the New Orleans of Tennessee Williams and Anne Rice.

Locations include:
Central Park, NYC (The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger)
Forks, Washington (Twilight, Stephanie Meyer)
Prince Edward Island, Canada (Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery)
Kingston Penitentiary, Ontario (Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood)
Holcomb, Kansas (In Cold Blood, Truman Capote)
London, England (White Teeth, Zadie Smith)
Paris, France (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo)
Segovia, Spain, (For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway)
Kyoto, Japan (Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden)

Image credits:
Photograph of a page on Anne of Green Gables in Booked by Richard Kreitner taken by World of Anne Shirley, and cover image Booked by Black Dog & Leventhal.

Purchase Booked: A Traveler's Guide to Literary Locations Around the World:



Created May 20, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables

The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables: The Enchanting Island that Inspired L. M. Montgomery is a book by Catherine Reid explores the environment of Prince Edward Island and how L.M. Montgomery used nature as a source of creativity to write Anne of Green Gables. Published in 2018, the book is filled with lush photography, biographical information about L.M. Montgomery, and L.M. Montgomery's own photos and quotes. It was published by Timber Press in Portland, Oregon, which is part of the Hachette Book Group. The book was acclaimed as one of Smithsonian magazine’s Ten Best Books About Travel of 2018.

Here's the book's description from the Hachette Book Group:

The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables explores L. M. Montgomery’s deep connection to the landscapes of Prince Edward Island that inspired her to write the beloved Anne of Green Gables series. From the Lake of Shining Waters and the Haunted Wood to Lover’s Lane, you’ll be immersed in the real places immortalized in the novels.

Using Montgomery’s journals, archives, and scrapbooks, Catherine Reid explores the many similarities between Montgomery and her unforgettable heroine, Anne Shirley. The lush package includes Montgomery’s hand-colorized photographs, the illustrations originally used in Anne of Green Gables, and contemporary and historical photography.

Reviews

“This book will be treasured by Montgomery’s legions of fans.” —Carolyn Strom Collins, author of The Anne of Green Gables Treasury; editor of After Many Years: Twenty-one “Long-Lost” Stories by L. M. Montgomery

“In L. M. Montgomery’s beloved book, Anne of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island, Canada, played a role that is arguably just as important as the series’ protagonist, Anne Shirley. Wanting to bring the island to life years later, author Catherine Reid explores the very places that inspired Montgomery and became immortalized in her prose.” —The Smithsonian Magazine

“There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing gorgeous pictures of sunsets, shores, and gardens alongside snippets of Montgomery’s musical, flowery prose. Reid’s love letter to Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery, and Prince Edward Island is sure to delight. Anne enthusiasts will learn more about what inspired Montgomery, while nature lovers will find a kindred spirit in Reid, who clearly has a passion for all things green and growing.” —Booklist starred review

“This is not just a book filled with beautiful photos; it’s a satisfyingly rich and layered combination of the visual and intellectual. Readers will gain a new appreciation not only for Montgomery but also for the landscape that meant so much to her.” —Library Journal

“Whether you read the Anne saga growing up (particularly popular with young girls) or are brainstorming now for a summer vacation jewel, this new The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables is certain to delight. Author Catherine Reid exuberantly jumped into Montgomery's archives—her journals, scrapbooks, photographs—to create this lush tribute to Montgomery, Green Gables and PEI. It is graced with positive quotes, poems and anecdotes; festooned with fascinating history; dressed in scores of images from yesteryear and today. . . . Reid herself deserves ample applause for this wet-kiss, well-crafted ode to all that makes Prince Edward Island and its most esteemed native resonate with readers and visitors. Oh, Canada!” —Forbes

“For readers looking for a deeper understanding of the book, the author, and how they both came together to create a timeless classic, this is a must-read. Filled with beautiful colour images and original illustrations from the book's 1908 edition, The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables is an easy, enjoyable read, but it is packed with much more fascinating information than your average coffee-table book. . . . readers are prompted to reflect on how the landscapes of their worlds speak to their own internal lives.” —The Cardinal Press

Image credit:
Photograph of The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables by Timber Press.

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Created May 16, 2024.
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Becoming Green Gables

Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse is a book by Alan MacEachern that will be published by McGill-Queen’s University Press in June 2024. Myrtle and Ernest Webb owned the farm that their cousin L.M. Montgomery based "Green Gables" upon. According to The Green Gables Diary website: "In spring 1924, Myrtle Webb began keeping a diary about her life on an ordinary farm in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. Ordinary but for one thing: it was growing famous as the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables, written by her cousin L.M. Montgomery."

MacEachern's book tells "The story of the family whose home inspired Anne of Green Gables and how that literary connection enriched - and upended - their lives." His book examines the history of Green Gables and how the popularity of L.M. Montgomery's novel affected the Webb family and tourism to Prince Edward Island.

A digital exhibition that will accompany the book called "The Green Gables Diary" will launch this spring at: https://greengablesdiary.ca/

Here's the description of the book from McGill-Queen’s University Press:

In 1909 Myrtle and Ernest Webb took possession of an ordinary farm in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. Ordinary but for one thing: it was already becoming known as inspiration for Anne of Green Gables, the novel written by Myrtle’s cousin Lucy Maud Montgomery and published to international acclaim a year earlier. The Webbs welcomed visitors to “Green Gables” and soon took in summer boarders, making their home the heart of PEI’s tourist trade. In the 1930s the farm was made the centrepiece of a new national park - and still the family lived there for another decade, caretakers of their own home. During these years Myrtle kept a diary. When she first picked up the pencil in 1924, she was a forty-year-old homemaker running a household of eight. By the time she set the pencil down in 1954, she was a seventy-year-old widow, no longer resident in what was now the most famous house in Canada. Becoming Green Gables tells the story of Myrtle Webb and her family, and the making of Green Gables. Alan MacEachern reproduces a selection of the diary’s daily entries, using them as springboards to examine topics ranging from the adoption of modern conveniences to the home front hosting of soldiers in wartime and visits from “Aunt Maud” herself. While the foundation of Becoming Green Gables is the Webbs’ own story, it is also a history of their famous home, their community, the nation, and the world in which they lived.

Reviews

“Humorous in some places and a tearjerker in others, Becoming Green Gables captures an untold story about the famed Green Gables and home-grown tourism prior to the founding of the national park.” Catharine Anne Wilson, author of Being Neighbours: Cooperative Work and Rural Culture, 1830-1960

“Becoming Green Gables provides an appreciation of the complex grassroots history of one of Canada’s most beloved historical sites.” Melanie J. Fishbane, author of Maud: A Novel Inspired by the Life of L.M. Montgomery

I am looking forward to reading this book and the launch of the digital exhibit.

Image credit:
Book cover of Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse by Alan MacEachern from McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Official website:
The Green Gables Diary

Purchase and read Becoming Green Gables:


Created May 14, 2024.
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L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon: A Children's Classic at 100

Last month, on April 23, 2024, L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon: A Children's Classic at 100 was published by the University Press of Mississippi. This new book of scholarship on the Emily of New Moon series was edited by Yan Du and Joe Sutliff Sanders of the University of Cambridge. The scholarly volume contains contributions by Yoshiko Akamatsu, Carol L. Beran, Rita Bode, Lesley D. Clement, Allison McBain Hudson, Kate Lawson, Jessica Wen Hui Lim, Lindsey McMaster, E. Holly Pike, Katharine Slater, Margaret Steffler, and Anastasia Ulanowicz.

Here's the description of the volume from the University Press of Mississippi:

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942) was a Canadian author best known for writing the wildly popular Anne of Green Gables. At the time of its publication in 1908, it was an immediate bestseller and launched Montgomery to fame. Less known than the dreamy and accidentally mischievous Anne Shirley is Emily Byrd Starr, the title character in the trilogy that followed much later in Montgomery’s professional career, Emily of New Moon. Published in 1923, Emily of New Moon is the first in a series of novels about an orphan girl growing up on Prince Edward Island, a story that mirrors Anne’s but intentionally resists many of the defining qualities of Montgomery's most famous creation.

Despite being overshadowed by the immense popularity of Anne of Green Gables, the Emily of New Moon trilogy has become a subject of endless fascination to fans and scholars around the world. The trilogy was conceived during an important phase in Montgomery’s career during which she turned from Anne and plunged into more intricate aspects of gender, adolescence, nature, and authorship. While the novels have attracted rich critical attention since their publication, book-length studies proved surprisingly scarce. L. M. Montgomery’s "Emily of New Moon": A Children’s Classic at 100 is the first scholarly volume exclusively dedicated to the trilogy, coalescing different research perspectives. It offers a fresh point of entrance into a well-loved classic at its one-hundredth anniversary.

Reviews

"Du and Sanders present a robust collection providing new, unique, and exciting approaches to L. M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon series." - Ashley N. Reese, author of The Rise of American Girls’ Literature

"A hundred years after the first installment of Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon, this essay collection makes clear that Emily Byrd Starr’s coming-of-age story is as relevant as ever." - Dawn Sardella-Ayres, research associate for the L. M. Montgomery Institute

Image credit:
Photograph of L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon: A Children's Classic at 100 by the University Press of Mississippi.

Purchase and read L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon: A Children's Classic at 100:


Created May 11, 2024.
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Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel

Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel (2017) is an adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's novel by Mariah Marsden with illustrations by Brenna Thummler. The graphic novel is 232 pages in length. The lovely dedication reads: "To Lucy Maud Montgomery, who reminds us that nothing is more powerful than a girl with an imagination."

Here's the publisher's description of the book from the Andrews McMeel website:

Schoolyard rivalries. Baking disasters. Puffed sleeves. Explore the violet vales and glorious green of Avonlea in this spirited graphic novel adaptation.

The spirit of Anne is alive and well in Mariah Marsden's crisp adaptation, and it's a thrill to watch as the beloved orphan rushes headlong through Brenna Thummler's heavenly landscapes. Together Marsden and Thummler conjure all the magic and beauty of Green Gables. Like Anne herself, you won't want to leave.
 — Brian Selznick, author/illustrator of “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” and “The Marvels”

The magic of L.M. Montgomery’s treasured classic is reimagined in a whimsically-illustrated graphic novel adaptation perfect for newcomers and kindred spirits alike.

When Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan who can help manage their family farm, they have no idea what delightful trouble awaits them. With flame-red hair and an unstoppable imagination, 11-year-old Anne Shirley takes Green Gables by storm.

Anne’s misadventures bring a little romance to the lives of everyone she meets: her bosom friend, Diana Barry; the town gossip, Mrs. Lynde; and that infuriating tease, Gilbert Blythe. From triumphs and thrills to the depths of despair, Anne turns each everyday moment into something extraordinary.

I read this graphic novel last year and enjoyed it a lot. The illustrations are bright and crisp with the glorious reds, greens, and blues of Prince Edward Island.

Some readers have found Anne's green pupil-less eyes blank, puppet-like, and somewhat off putting. And it's true, that they are curious and odd.



Anne's strange eyes also made me smile. They reminded of a wonderful set of books I was given as a child (and still have today) that were part of a series called "The World of Fairy Tales" by Froebel-Kan. The stories featured photos of puppets as a form of storytelling. Some of the puppets had blank stares too (see photos of my Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk books below). Don't the puppets eyes look like Anne's?



Using puppets to create scenes helped retell classic fairy tales in a unique way in the Froebel-Kan series. Similarly, Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel is a unique retelling of Anne Shirley's story. I especially liked how the graphic novel captured Anne's most over-dramatic moments in spectacular fashion. You can just feel the drama.



Some of the most beautiful and touching pages were the ones without words, like this scene where Anne visits Matthew's grave.



I really enjoyed this retelling of Anne's story and recommend it.

Official Websites:
Andrews McMeel website
Brenna Thummler's website

Image Credits:
Book cover and panels from Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden and Brenna Thummler. Photographs of  Froebel-Kan's Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk book covers from "The World of Fairy Tales" series by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase and read Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel:

Created May 10, 2024. Last updated May 13, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Finding Anne on Prince Edward Island

Finding Anne on Prince Edward Island is a guidebook that features locations that inspired L.M. Montgomery to write Anne of Green Gables. The travel guide was published by Ragweed Press as part of their "Island Pathways" series. The book was edited by Kathleen Hamilton and Sibyl Frei. The color photography is by John Sylvester, and the book includes many archival photos from the Prince Edward Island Public Archives.

It's a small spiral bound travel guide. I own a copy of the third printing, which was published in 1998. The guidebook features quotes from L.M. Montgomery's journals and from the Anne of Green Gables novels. The book's introduction states:

"This guidebook is designed for all those who are looking for ANNE and her creator, L.M. Montgomery, and it features the Island locations that you will most want to visit. The chapters are arranged alphabetically by location; each describes a different community on the Island, outlining the places of importance to L.M. Montgomery, and the ANNE attractions to be found there. Entertaining quotations from Anne of Green Gables and the other ANNE books are sprinkled through the chapters."

The contents include the following chapters:

Introduction
Belmont
Bideford
Cavendish
Charlottetown
French River
Hunter River
Kensington
Lower Bedeque
Malpeque
New London
Park Corner
Anne Day Tour
Select Bibliography
Index of Featured Attractions

Each chapter is subdivided into three sections: (1) The Setting, (2) About L.M. Montgomery, and (3) Attractions and Activities. Although so much information is readily available online, I still like to have a guidebook on hand when traveling. I like this one because it is focused on L.M. Montgomery's experiences and perspectives.


Image credit:
Photograph of the Finding Anne on Prince Edward Island book cover by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase the Finding Anne on Prince Edward Island travel guidebook:

Created May 9, 2024.
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A Prince Edward Island Christmas: Nowadays and Long Ago

A Prince Edward Island Christmas: Nowadays and Long Ago is a book that was written by Deirdre Kessler featuring photos by Wayne Barrett and Anne MacKay. It was published by Nimbus Publishing in 2003.

Years ago, my husband and I traveled to Prince Edward Island for our honeymoon, and we stayed at the Elmwood Heritage Inn in Charlottetown. When we left for Summerside, we were given this book as a gift by the owners of the Elmwood. Once in a while, I like to flip through the book and remember my visit to the Island. I still haven't made it back to PEI, and I'd love to visit again during the winter one day.

The book is divided into four main sections: (1) The Setting, which describes the island in the winter and at Christmas, (2) Good Things to Eat, which features traditional Island recipes, (3) From the Past, which shares Island customs and traditions, including Lebanese, Acadian, and Mi’kmaq influences, and has a section on L.M. Montgomery and Christmas, and (4) Entertainments, which includes information on concerts and gift giving.

The back cover describes the book as follows:

"Perhaps because islands are naturally protected from the mainstream of life, the traditions that enriched the lives of the first arrivals endure. On Prince Edward Island, family, community and economic life still reflect traditional customs and values, especially during the most celebrated holiday - Christmas. Behind the glamour of Christmas lights, the search for the perfect Christmas tree, Christmas concerts and home-made gifts, skating on outdoor rinks and sticky-raisin fruitcakes create the age-old feeling of joy and expectation.

In this charming reflection of then and now, award-winning author Deirdre Kessler and acclaimed photographers Wayne Barrett and Anne MacKay team up to create a lasting reminder of old-fashioned Christmas."


Image credit:
Photograph of the A Prince Edward Island Christmas: Nowadays and Long Ago book cover by World of Anne Shirley.

Created May 6, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Ten Books You’ll Enjoy if You Love Anne of Green Gables

Which books strike the same chord as L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables? What stories have charming, imaginative heroines and themes of discovering one’s place, finding true friends, and self-discovery? Here is a list of ten books you might enjoy if you’re a fan of Anne of Green Gables:

1. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett – Published in 1905, the tale of Sara Crewe is one of my favorite stories of all time. Sara has a vivid imagination and a kind heart. Her father sends her to a boarding school in London after she lived with him in India. Sara has enjoyed a life of luxury, but her beloved father’s sudden death leaves her a penniless orphan who is alone in the world. Like Anne, Sara remains optimistic despite her grim reality.
   
   
2. The Emily of New Moon series by L.M. Montgomery – Like Anne, Emily Starr becomes an orphan after losing her father, but in contrast with Anne, Emily has an extended family that raises her. L.M. Montgomery based many of Emily’s qualities on herself. For example, Emily loves to write and is determined to be a writer. She has dreams and goals that she actively works towards.
   
   
3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Alcott’s Little Women is a well-loved story of the four March sisters, who are growing up during the Civil War. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy have unique personalities and their own goals and dreams. I often wish that Jo ended up with Laurie, as Anne did with Gilbert.
   
   
4. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett – The Secret Garden is the story of Mary Lennox. Mary is orphaned after a cholera outbreak in India and is sent to live with her uncle in Yorkshire, England. Mary’s uncle is reclusive, so she begins to explore his vast estate alone. Mary discovers a neglected garden that was locked off and surrounded by walls. She begins restoring the garden, finding purpose and peace, and making friends along the way.
   
   
5. The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace – This series of books is the story of Betsy Ray, her best friend Tacy, and close friend Tib as they grow up in Deep Valley, Minnesota. Betsy is imaginative and charismatic and dreams of becoming an author. A member of the Sullivan Anne of Green Gables forum recommended these books to fellow Anne fans years ago, and I read and enjoyed them all. The stories are a beautiful example of deep and lasting friendship that spans across the years.
   
   
6. Heidi by Johanna Spyri – Heidi is a cheerful young girl who was orphaned as a young child. She is sent to live with her cranky, reclusive grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Heidi’s joyful nature wins her grandfather over. Later on, Heidi must leave her grandfather and the mountains she loves to work in Frankfurt, but homesickness overwhelms her. Much like Anne, Heidi has a sense of where she belongs and where she is needed.
   
   
7. A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter – This is the story of Elnora Comstock, a girl who lives on the banks of the Limberlost Swamp in Indiana. Elnora is resourceful and intelligent, but must cope with her cruel mother who attempts to spoil her dreams. Determined to pay for her own education, Elnora sells artifacts and specimens that she collects in the Limberlost. Stratton-Porter’s writings show her deep love and appreciation for nature, similar to L.M. Montgomery.
   
   
8. The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder – These stories are based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s childhood growing up on the Western frontier. Young Laura and her family travel west as pioneers and encounter many adventures along the way. The books and TV series are beloved classics.
   
   
9. Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter – Published in 1913, the novel tells the story of an eleven-year-old orphan named Pollyanna Whittier. She is sent to live with her stern Aunt Polly in Vermont. Pollyanna has a bright and optimistic philosophy, which positively influences those around her. She plays what she calls “The Glad Game” and attempts to always find something to be glad about to cope with difficult situations.
   
   
10. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin – Published in 1903, this novel tells the story of ten-year-old Rebecca Rowena Randall who goes to live with her two aunts on their farm in Riverboro, Maine. Rebecca is sent there to help relieve the economic burden on her family following her father’s death. Much like Anne, Rebecca is bright and imaginative with a keen love of beauty. She names their farm Sunnybrook.

Image credits:
Combined graphic of ten book covers: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace, Heidi by Johanna Spyri, A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter, The Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter, and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin.

Created May 3, 2024. Last updated May 13, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables Paper Doll Book

Check out this wonderful Anne of Green Gables Paper Doll Book by Eileen Rudisill Miller that was published by Paper Studio Press in 2014. Miller is an illustrator and painter. You can visit her website and Etsy store to see more of her paper doll books, coloring books, and artwork.

The Anne of Green Gables Paper Doll Book includes two dressable figures: Anne Shirley and Anne's bosom friend, Diana Barry. The figures are 10 inches tall and include stands.


You can dress Anne Shirley and Diana Barry in 16 outfits from L.M. Montgomery's story, including several displayed below. The outfits include Anne and Diana's school clothes, play clothes, and dresses worn when picking flowers in Lover’s Lane. There's also Anne's first dress with puffed sleeves and the gowns Anne and Diana wore when visiting Miss Josephine Barry. Additionally, the book includes Anne and Diana's outfits for the recital at the White Sands Hotel (Anne wears the pearls Matthew gave her), their clothes worn when Anne left for Queen’s College, and dresses worn when Anne returned home to teach in Avonlea.

The Anne of Green Gables Paper Doll Book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Image Credits:
Images from the Anne of Green Gables Paper Doll Book (2014) by Eileen Rudisill Miller.

Created September 14, 2023.
© worldofanneshirley.com

L.M. Montgomery by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Little People, BIG DREAMS Book 22)

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling children’s book series that highlights the lives of outstanding people, including writers, singers, scientists, artists, designers, and adventurers. Each biography tells the story of how the person started out as a child with a big dream.

The 22nd book in the biography series is titled L.M. Montgomery. The story of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s life was written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Anuska Allepuz illustrated the story. This 32-page hardback book was first published on October 4, 2018.

Here is a peak into the book:


The publisher’s description states:

Meet Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famous Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables.

Born in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, Lucy Maud Montgomery lost her mother when she was very young. Left in the care of less-than-encouraging grandparents, she found comfort in reading, writing, and her imagination. When Maud grew up, she wrote about the childhood she wished she had, creating one of the best-loved characters of all time: Anne of Green Gables. This moving book features stylish illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the author's life.

At the Little People, BIG DREAMS website, you can download a fun activity page and print out bookmarks featuring L.M. Montgomery and other famous authors, including Jane Austen, Maya Angelou, Simone de Beauvoir Anne Frank, and Agatha Christie.

The whole series looks wonderful for children to teach them about remarkable people and inspire them to "Be Bold Be Brave and DREAM BIG."

Purchase the Little People, BIG DREAMS book on L.M. Montgomery and a matching game featuring Montgomery and other outstanding women:



Created June 12, 2022.
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Anne of Green Gables 13-Month Undated Planner and Diary

I came across a beautiful Anne of Green Gables planner and diary today on Etsy by CALIKET. It's called "Anne Story" and is a classic story diary. This 13-month undated planner can be used to keep track of your day-to-day tasks, and you can also fill it with drawings, quotes, and diary entries. It looks so pretty and has such sweet drawings of Anne Shirley.

The CALIKET Etsy shop sells several Anne of Green Gables greeting cards too, including one with the sweet image of Anne Shirley featured above and one with Anne under a blooming cherry tree.

Created February 7, 2022.
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Crochet Yourself an Anne of Green Gables Doll

Have you ever wanted an Anne of Green Gables doll? Do you know how to crochet or wish to learn? Well, here's your opportunity to make your very own Anne Shirley doll!

Check out Literary Yarns: Crochet Projects Inspired by Classic Books by Cindy Wang. This book teaches the basics of crochet and provides tutorials on how to create cute and beloved characters from literature. You just need some yarn, a crochet hook, and a little patience. Along with providing a pattern to make an Anne Shirley doll, the book contains 21 other crochet projects to make amigurumi—sweet stuffed yarn creations. The literary characters include the monster from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the master detective Sherlock Holmes from the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Dorothy and friends from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, the White Rabbit from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and many more.

I love to crochet, so Literary Yarns is now on my wishlist. I think an Anne Shirley doll would be a perfect companion for my L.M. Montgomery collection on my bookshelf.

Cindy Wang also has a fun website where she shares her wonderful creations called The Geeky Hooker (Not THAT kind of hooker. The kind armed with a crochet hook). Her latest project, little Grogu from The Mandalorian, is so stinking cute. From time to time, she drops off her little critters in various places for strangers to discover and adopt. It would be so special to discover a surprise like that. Check out her website and follow her on Twitter @GeekyHooker for more of her adventures!

Created January 29, 2022.
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