Little Women

The back cover text mistakenly promising the story of the five young March sisters will certainly confuse anyone familiar with Louisa May Alcott’s 19th-century classic, which is retold here in an iconographic-animated adaptation of the 2016 picture book that is "retold" by Maggie Blossom and illustrated by Katarzyna Bukiert. Susie Berneis narrates this substantially abridged version that skims over the Civil War-era stories of headstrong Jo and her sisters and mother as they cherish their soldier father’s letters and engage with the cute rich boy next door. The most major death in the family isn’t included here, although some key marriages are, but this is mostly meant as a kid-friendly introduction to Alcott’s classic (with some innocuous touches, such as Beth continually putting on and taking off a hat on a snowman). Also featuring a read-a-long option, this is a strong optional purchase. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)