Little Colonel

The story that launched a thousand imitations and inspired the film that made Shirley Temple a star. Set in the rolling hills of Kentucky at the turn of the century, Annie Fellows Johnston's beloved novel introduced readers to the impish girl known only as the Little Colonel, a nickname earned from her uncanny resemblance to the dignified old colonel whose family estate dominates the valley. When the colonel's grandson returns from years away, a tentative friendship forms between the stern old man and the small girl who refuses to be intimidated by his gruff exterior. What follows is a tender tale of bridged generations, old wounds healing, and the quiet revolution that a single stubborn child can wage against loneliness. The book that defined the "Little Colonel" series and captured an era's romantic notion of the Old South. Perfect for readers who crave gentle adventure and the satisfaction of small kindnesses changing big hearts.