What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHeidi
Alain Gsponer · Film · 2015
If you loved Heidi, start with Heidi (Johanna Spyri, 1880) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Heidi across media.
If Heidi captured your heart, you will love these stories about resilient orphans finding their place in a world that feels vast.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Heidi: Girl of the Alps
Series · 1974
Books on the same thread
Anne of Green Gables
Lucy Maud Montgomery · Book · 1908
Shares 2 threads with Heidi: Orphanhood, Coming-of-Age Story.
Like Heidi, Anne is an imaginative orphan who transforms her new surroundings, proving that a spirited child can change the lives of those around her through sheer force of personality.
Hansel and Gretel
Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm · Book · 1986
Explores: Poverty, Abandonment, Survival.
While Heidi finds safety with her grandfather, this tale focuses on the darker side of abandonment, showing how children must use their wits to survive when left by their parents.
Little House on the Prairie
Laura Ingalls Wilder · Book · 1932
Explores: Family Life, Pioneer Life, Self-Sufficiency.
The self-sufficiency Laura displays while moving to the frontier mirrors the way Heidi adapts to the rugged mountain life, highlighting the deep connection between children and their natural environment.
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë · Book · 2010
Shares a thread with Heidi: Orphanhood.
Jane Eyre shares the foundational theme of orphanhood found in Heidi, tracing a young girl's difficult journey as she navigates social expectations to find independence and a place to belong.
Series on the same thread
Hilda
Luke Pearson · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Heidi: Friendship.
Hilda mirrors Heidi in her fearless exploration of the world, capturing that same sense of wonder when a wild-hearted girl leaves her rural home to encounter the complexity of city life.
Anne of Green Gables
Series · 1985
Shares 3 threads with Heidi: Orphanhood, Period Drama, Coming-of-Age Story.
This adaptation perfectly captures the same rural charm as Heidi, emphasizing the transformative power of a young orphan who is desperate for love and belonging in a new home.
Anne with an E
Moira Walley-Beckett · Series · 2017
Shares 3 threads with Heidi: Orphanhood, Period Drama, Coming-of-Age Story.
Much like Heidi, this series follows an outsider struggling against societal challenges, focusing on the deep emotional resilience of an orphan searching for acceptance and a true found family.
Candy Candy
Kyoko Mizuki · Series · 1976
Shares 2 threads with Heidi: Orphanhood, Coming-of-Age Story.
Candy shares the same optimistic spirit as Heidi, demonstrating how an orphan can maintain a warm heart and build meaningful relationships despite experiencing the hardships of being alone.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
While the setting shifts to science fiction, this podcast explores the same core struggle of survival and finding connection that defines the emotional journey of Heidi in her youth.
A New Untold Story
Podcast
Explores: Small-town life, Overcoming adversity, Single motherhood.
This podcast echoes the personal growth found in Heidi, focusing on the grit required to overcome adversity and the search for identity that often accompanies a difficult childhood.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 2015 Heidi movie based on the original book?
Yes, the 2015 film Heidi is a cinematic adaptation of the 1880 book by Johanna Spyri. It follows the same core narrative of an eight-year-old orphan sent to live with her grandfather in the Swiss mountains before being taken to Frankfurt to companion a girl named Klara.
How does the 1974 Heidi: Girl of the Alps series compare to the 2015 movie?
While both the 1974 television series Heidi: Girl of the Alps and the 2015 film Heidi are based on the 1880 novel, they differ in format. The series provides an episodic deep dive into her life in the mountains and Frankfurt, whereas the film condenses these events into a feature-length story.
What is the main plot conflict in the 2015 Heidi film?
The primary conflict in the 2015 Heidi film involves the protagonist being removed from her grandfather's home in the Swiss mountains by her aunt. She is taken to Frankfurt to serve as a companion for Klara, a sheltered girl in a wheelchair, which leaves Heidi longing for her mountain life.
Should I read the 1880 Heidi book before watching the 2015 movie?
You do not need to read the 1880 book Heidi before watching the 2015 movie. The film is a standalone adaptation that effectively conveys the story of the orphan girl, her grandfather, and her time in Frankfurt with Klara without requiring prior knowledge of the original source material.