Pollyanna vs What Katy Did

Both "What Katy Did" by Susan Coolidge, Adele Ledyard, Addie Ledyard and "Pollyanna" by Eleanor Hodgman Porter, Porter, Neil Reed, Lee Giles are popular choices for readers interested in Children's fiction and Conduct of life, fiction. This comparison helps you decide which to read first — or whether both belong on your list.

Shared Themes

Children's fictionConduct of life, fictionFamily life, fictionAuntsConduct of life
Cover of Pollyanna

Pollyanna

Eleanor Hodgman Porter, Porter, Neil Reed, Lee Giles

1912

The whole town is playing the game, and the whole town is wonderfully happier-and all because of one little girl who taught the people a new game, and how to play it. Suddenly orphaned, Pollyanna is sent across the country to a small town in Vermont, where she will live with her strict Aunt Polly. But Pollyanna doesn't seem to notice how stern and unfeeling her aunt really is. When feeling unhappy, she simply plays her "glad" game-finding a silver lining in every cloud. Eventually, Pollyanna brightens the lives of everyone in town with her infectious game, and finds a home for every stray cat, dog, and child she encounters. But then a terrible accident happens and Pollyanna can't find anything to feel glad about anymore. All her new friends turn out to support her, but will that be enough to restore Pollyanna's cheerful outlook on life?

Published 1912
Books like Pollyanna
Cover of What Katy Did

What Katy Did

Susan Coolidge, Adele Ledyard, Addie Ledyard

1873

How is this book unique? Font adjustments & biography included Unabridged (100% Original content) Illustrated About What Katy Did? by Susan Coolidge What Katy Did is an 1872 children's book written by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey under her pen name Susan Coolidge. It follows the adventures of a twelve-year-old American girl, Katy Carr, and her family who live in the fictional lakeside Ohio town of Burnet in the 1860s. Katy is a tall untidy tomboy, forever getting into scrapes but wishing to be beautiful and beloved. When a terrible accident makes her an invalid, her illness and four-year recovery gradually teach her to be as good and kind as she has always wanted.Two sequels follow Katy as she grows up: What Katy Did at School and What Katy Did Next. Two further sequels relating the adventures of Katy's younger siblings were also published--Clover and In the High Valley. The books were frequently reprinted and all are available online. Coolidge modeled Katy on her own childhood self, and the other 'Little Carrs' on her brothers and sisters. The title is a play on the katydid, a species of cricket - which explains the insects on the first edition book cover.

Published 1873
Books like What Katy Did

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier to read: What Katy Did or Pollyanna?
Reading difficulty depends on your familiarity with the genre. Check each book's page count and subject matter above, and start with whichever aligns better with books you've enjoyed before.
Can I read What Katy Did and Pollyanna in any order?
Yes — these are standalone works. You don't need to read one before the other unless they're part of the same series.
Which book is better for beginners?
If you're new to this genre, look at the shorter book with broader appeal and start there. You can always come back for the other.

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