I just want to simply say that Rosemary Wells butchered a classic when she published this "abridged" version. The story and illustrations do not reflect the personality and charm of the original Hitty. I am one who encourages reading the original version by Rachel Field to children of all ages because it shows so many positive things that a young child should learn today. It opens up the world in little minds in a way that not many authors can do. This version is just another dumbed down book created to dumb down the minds of our little ones. There's a reason the original version won the Newbery Award, which I can guarantee this version will never win.