Rainbow Valley

Lucy Maude Montgomery, the famous Canadian author, who created Anne of Green Gables, had a wonderful sense of humor.  It came to life nowhere better than in the story of Rainbow Valley, the seventh Anne of Green Gables book.  Anne is married, in this story, and the mother of no less than six children: Jem, the oldest, Walter, twins Nan and Di, Shirley, Susan's favorite, and Rilla, the youngest. 

This is, in my view, the most colorful of the books, with the most colorful characters.  There's Mary Vance, the orphan girl who is taken to work at Miss Cornelia's home; Reverend John Meredith, a widower who comes to be the Presbyterian minister, and his four children, Jerry, Faith, Una, and little Carl.  There's also Lida Marsh, who walks around barefoot in the winter snow, and lots of other fascinating characters. 

The minister's home, given by the church, has a very small yard, so the four kids tend to play next door, in what was the Methodist cemetery (now no longer in use).  The ongoing rivalry between the Methodists and the Presbyterians is one of the funniest aspects of the book, but will make very little sense to present-day kids, and probably many adults!

If you happen to pick up this story to start reading it, look out for a mention of the song Polly Wolly Doodle.  It is a riot!

Kay

P. S.  I just saw a photo of Princess Charlotte at the Taylor Swift concert, and I have to reluctantly confess that she's adorable, teeth and all!  I wish they weren't royalty, so that I can be a fan without raising eyebrows ...