Rating: 
Summary: The reprint of the original has an orange-and-tan cover
Review: Some confusion is probably created by Amazon.com's policy of repeating staff and reader reviews in the listings for every version of a book--even when the versions are substantially different from each other, as in this case. Amazon sells one version of "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years" that is an unchanged reprint of the original 1929 book. The reprint, like the original, has an orange-and-tan patterned cover. But Amazon also sells a newer, substantially revised, version of "Hitty." The same reviews appear with both versions, although they are essentially different books. (They share a title, but their texts and illustrations are different.) I wanted to clarify this point for customers who, like me, are looking for the original version of this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Charming Classic
Review: This book definately takes a slow beginning, but pretty soon you are fully absorbed in this fascinating tale. This is one beauty. Remember, a story is more than a book!
Rating: 
Summary: Hitty: Her First Hundred Years
Review: This book has beautiful illustrations, always a plus for me when purchasing a book. However; I did not realize the book is an adaptation of the original; when I found that out, it went right back to the store where I exchanged the book for the original book by Rachel Field. It is sad that Rosemary Wells felt it necessary to depart from the original charming story of Hitty. I do not recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: What adventures that doll can tell!
Review: This book was extraordinary. I usually don't trust the library's choice of books, but in this I was mistaken. I completed the book in two days-and one was a school day! In parts I almost cried, but in the next instant, I could rejoice and cheer for the brave, spirited little Hitty. Some of the charecters I wish I knew more about -Andy, my favorite charecter, as a start- but it made it more realistic-Hitty would concnetrate most on her current owner, I suppose. That's really it's only flaw that I could find. Good reading!
Rating: 
Summary: An exellent shortened version, well illustrated.
Review: This children's book should bring even more new fans to Hitty. It is beautifully illustrated and easy reading. I just wish the illustrator had done a bit more research about how Hitty is put together. She show the ends of the pegs inserted through the shoulder and hips, but in the picture of the doll under construction, she has the pegs coming out of the ends of the limbs. A silly mistake!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely gorgeous!
Review: This fascinating story, written from a doll's perspective, is engaging and beautifully written. But I was overwhelmed by the richness, the intricacy and sensitivity of the magnificent illustrations by Susan Jeffers. I have always admired her beautifully crafted work in the past but she has quite outdone herself in these extraordinary illustrations. I went through the book three times before putting it down, just to go back and concentrate on each picture... and I found new subtlety, new depth, new beauty each time. This book is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Take time with your daughter/granddaughter/whoever is reading this book - to pore over each painting and see how much attention to detail, how much research, how much artistry - and love - has gone into every page.
Rating: 
Summary: A ?classic? of sorts, outdated, but still cute?
Review: This is the story of the life of one adventurous wooden doll named Hitty. First made for a young girl in Maine, the doll travels around the world and back passing from one youngster to another and recounts her journey along the way. Since the book was written in 1929, it gives it a certain charm to the author?s writing, at the same time though; the author occasionally uses terms that would not be considered ?politically correct? today. I know many older books do this, but since this book is geared towards children, I think I might substitute in more appropriate words if reading to a youngster. However, despite this, I found this book a cute story that gives you a look at how people were viewed and supposedly acted during the 1800s, where the story takes place.
Rating: 
Summary: Do classics have to be PC?
Review: This version of the classic children's book covers roughly the same ground as the original, but the text has been revised and shortened (in spite of the "new adventures"), and lavish color pictures replace the original black-and-white illustrations. The damage to the text's interest is quite substantial. Although the original Hitty definitely reflected an upper middle class WASP world view, she was a genial doll inclined to think well of those who treated her well, and there is no need to censor her or to strip her and her adventures of their character. The original Hitty is still in print and at a lower price, and I recommend it to all. The only reason to consider this alternative is the illustrations which, although well-done, do not have the charm of Dorothy Lathrop's original drawings.
Rating:
Summary: Do classics have to be PC?
Review: This version of the classic children's book covers roughly the same ground as the original, but the text has been revised and shortened (in spite of the "new adventures"), and lavish color pictures replace the original black-and-white illustrations. The damage to the text's interest is quite substantial. Although the original Hitty definitely reflected an upper middle class WASP world view, she was a genial doll inclined to think well of those who treated her well, and there is no need to censor her or to strip her and her adventures of their character. The original Hitty is still in print and at a lower price, and I recommend it to all. The only reason to consider this alternative is the illustrations which, although well-done, do not have the charm of Dorothy Lathrop's original drawings.
Rating:
Summary: Fiasco
Review: What butchery of the original story! I have loved "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years" for 35 years, since I first discovered the book. This is terrible. This book robs today's kids of a very lovely story. If they have the misfortune to read this new book without reference to the original, they'll have had something priceless stolen from them.As for updating the text--what, are we going to update all the old classics now? If these two writers had written this story and used another doll, one that they invented on their own, it may have been an entertaining book. But they completely destroyed the calm, placid, friendly tone of the original Hitty. What a shame! I recommend NEVER reading this book!
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