Anne Dreams – written by Kallie George (adapted from L.M. Montgomery), illustrated by Abigail Halpin
Tundra Books, 2024

Once again, Kallie George and Abigail Halpin have succeeded in creating a book for young readers based on L.M. Montgomery’s classic, Anne of Green Gables (I’ve reviewed their earlier efforts here and here and here and here, and some of their efforts with other creators here and here and here and here). Of course, their works are invitations to read the original series, but they stand on their own as modern classics.  Each volume selects specific incidents from Anne, and develops them as the focus of independent interest. At the same time, they cumulatively evoke the full character of Anne and her world.

Anne’s beautiful red hair is a source of anguish to her. How could that be? Her distinctive beauty made her uncomfortable, and when her future love, but present nemesis, Gilbert Blythe taunts her as “Carrots,” she feels even more insecure. Anne is reduced to buy hair dye from a peddler, expecting her stunning red to be transformed to “raven black.” Halpin captures Anne’s desolation and her guardian, Marilla’s, shock, at the resulting green color. No, girls and women should not waste even a moment concerned about male beauty standards, but Anne actually was trying to emulate her “best friend and kindred spirit, Diana.”

A haircut and the passage of time fixes this problem. Then Anne must think about her future. Her love her learning inspires a dream of attending Queen’s College in Charlottetown, training to become a teacher.  Anne is both intensely loyal to friends and family, and also changeable. When Marilla asks if she wants to become a teacher, she answers, “Oh, yes! It has been my lifelong dream!…Well, at least it has been for the last few months.”  But once she arrives at that decision, she is determined to avoid distractions, including Gilbert Blythe.

Some of the pictures extend to two pages, including a nervous but enthusiastic Anne arriving in Charlottetown for her entrance exam. Her guardian, Matthew, waves quietly from the carriage before leaving Anne in a place that resembles a metropolis, compared to her home. She waves back, clutching a book. This scene signals a coming transformation in her life. 

But Anne is still Anne, as another two-page spread reminds us.  Halpin juxtaposes Anne arriving at Avonlea, Anne opening a lovely new dress, Anne holding to ill-fated bottle of raspberry cordial before serving it to Diana.  Every visual incarnation of her personality shows one dimension of a character we will never forget, whether we have encountered her first in the work of L.M. Montgomery, or in this outstanding series.