Growing up I loved anything Anne of Green Gables. The books and movies. I even had a doll! So as you can imagine I was super excited to read this picture book to my daughter. The illustrations are beautiful. All the pictures feel warm and comforting. The story itself is really sweet. My daughter and I will read this one again and again! I recommend to any one who is already a fan of Anne or anyone who wants to discover Anne for the first time.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: May 12 2020

A lovely picture book for Anne of Green Gables fans. See if you can spot all the allusions to the original novel.

This was fine. The art was very cute, but it didn't feel like much of a story. It'll be appreciated by fans of Kallie George's other Anne books, but it doesn't do much on its own.

If I Couldn't Be Anne is a beautiful tribute to one of literature's most beloved characters. I love Anne of Green Gables, and I had high expectations for a book that featured one of my all-time favorite characters. Kallie George's story was perfection. I was blown away with the connection to everything that makes Anne who she is. Not-to-mention, the illustrations are just stunning! I would absolutely hope that If I Couldn't Be Anne be in the running for this year's Caldecott award! It deserves to be considered.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this title!

When I saw this title come through I stopped everything and read it aloud to my daughter. We are long time fans of both Kallie George and Genevieve Godbout.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and they alone completely captured my daughter's attention. The text was perfect and whimsical.

We have already preordered a copy of this book and look forward to enjoying it for a long time to come!

I am not sure why the current obsession with Anne of Green Gables (tv show, chapter books, now a picture book) but I feel like a lot has to do with nostalgia. I will admit that I have read all the chapter books and have enjoyed them. This picture book, however, seems completely unnecessary. Who is the audience for this? Is it parents who loved Anne growing up and want to share it with their young child? If so, the language in the book is too sophisticated for the audience. Also, the repetition of "If I couldn't be Anne, Anne with an e" actually took away from the rhythm of the text. Just not really into picture books that I can't find a use for, whether it is for a one-on-one reading, a storytime, or fills a need. The illustrations are nice, with bright colors that are appealing. ,

A gorgeous homage to "Anne of Green Gables" and fitting introduction to the series for the picture book set. Beautiful, watercolor illustrations accompany the text with little bits of the novel thrown in. Nostalgic and yet so fitting for our times. Highly recommended!

A beautiful illustrated book of Anne of Green Gables as she uses her imagination to be something else. If I couldn't be Anne with e, I would rather be.... It is a beautiful way to look at the world and see it from another perspective. If you are fan of the Green Gables, you will love this edition.

A Special Thank you to Tundra Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Those who already know and love Anne Shirley will recognize her on the cover of this beautifully illustrated story.  Clearly the author knows and loves one of the world's favorite red heads. 

In this book, Anne uses her wonderful imagination to think of who she would be if she were not Anne with an E; maybe she would be a tightrope walker or a grand lady drinking tea or...so many choices.  Anne then imagines who she would not choose to be as, for example, someone following a recipe.  At the end of the story, our narrator concludes that she would like to be Anne of Green Gables.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.  This book will be enjoyed by Anne lovers and those who value the places imagination can take one.

If I Couldn't Be Anne by Kallie George is a sweet whimsical introduction to Anne of the beloved Anne of Green Gables Series. It is in no way a retelling of the story but it is a young person’s first meeting with Anne, getting to know her through her thoughts and opinions. One of the things that a reader of the Lucy Maud Montgomery series would remember is Anne’s inquisitive and imaginative nature. That comes into full focus in this book.

I read this book with a five year old and a seven year old. They most definitely enjoyed the book but it was me who loved it. The references to events and people that I remembered reading long ago came back, such as Anne not liking her red hair so much but saying it was better than green. It was like meeting an old friend I haven’t seen in many years but of whom I had such fond memories. I loved the illustrations, the lyrical wording and of course, the characterization which was right on spot. It sounded just like the Anne I remember meeting in the beginning of the series. I hadn’t thought of that young Anne in many years, but it was wonderful to see her again. It was even more wonderful to introduce others to her through this sweet book.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

A lovely introduction to Anne for those too young to have read her novels yet. A sweet testament to imagination and identity.

A cute and whimsical story about Anne of Green Gables and her imagination. Anne thinks about who she could be if she wasn't herself. But Anne as herself is the best version of herself. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book, the style and colours are lovely.

Another take on Anne of Green Gables, "If I Couldn't Be Anne" used the imagination of Anne to decide who she would and would not be if she wasn't Anne with an E. I loved the imagery and flow of the story. I enjoyed the illustrations and power of imagination.
I can see myself using this book with students as we learn about our identities and being who we want to be. As a lover of Anne of Green Gables, there were many things I loved about the ability to share her story with a younger audience.

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley.
Charming picture book to introduce younger readers to Anne of Green Gables.
George captures her whimsy and imagination as Anne shares who she would be if she couldn't be herself. Softly colored illustrations bring the story to life for young and older readers. The simple to follow text draws you in to celebrate Anne's life and dreams.
Could be an introductory read aloud to introduce classes to the classic - Anne of Green Gables.

A beautiful addition to the libraries of all fans of Anne with an e. The watercolour paintings are perfect for the whimsical story. Definitely would recommend as a starting point for younger audiences.

In this whimsical and magical picture book, Anne's boundless imagination takes flight! She imagines being all the things she loves so dearly. If I Couldn't Be Anne, Anne with an e, what would I be . . . Anne wonders what it would be like to be the wind dancing round the treetops. A tightrope walker, breathless and brave. A princess in a palace made of apple blossoms. A magical frost fairy or a plain little wood elf. . . . But even as Anne's imagination soars far and wide, she comes back down to earth, recognizing that some things - like friendship! - are even better than the imagination.

This is a fun story inspired by Anne of Green Gables.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book is a whimsical story about Anne imagining what she would be if she wasn't Anne. The illustrations are what make this story in my opinion. They are simply amazing.,

A beautiful, whimsical picture book in which Anne with an e imagines what she would be “If I couldn’t Be Anne”. I enjoyed the descriptive writing, which an upper elementary student would understand, while the illustrations brought a type of whimsy true to form for fans of Anne. The ending is perfect!

This is a beautiful book with whimsical, gorgeous illustrations. Anne with an "e", who is the beloved superstar of the books, "Anne of Green Gables', imagines what she would do if indeed she wasn't Anne herself.

The author skillfully implements scenarios from the original book and recasts them in this shorter version which will give the younger generation a taste of this endearing character who is loved by so many worldwide.

Anne expresses how she would love to be a swooping gull, a rose so she could find out all the lovely things that flowers say, the wind so she could dance around treetops and tickle the lake to make it laugh or an invisible friend who lives in a book thus becoming a kindred spirit to anyone in need, just to name a few. The story is poetic and the illustrations are soft and dreamy making it a perfect read aloud to share. In the unveiling of Anne, the author has managed to capture her sometimes spirited behaviour which kids will relate to and smile at. In the end will Anne be content with her reality... being her loveable self! This book is a homage to L. M. Montgomery's original book. I highly recommend it.

This a gorgeous picture book based off of the original Anne of Green Gables. If Anne, couldn’t be herself she’d be so many magical people. But, none would be as great as she. It has fantastic figurative language and theme.