These are the books that started it all: the stories that captured the hearts and imaginations of children and young adults around the world. Written by Laura Ingalls Wilder and published by HarperCollins, these beloved books remain favorites to this day. these classics have sold more than 60 million copies in more than 100 countries. 2020 marks the 85th anniversary of the first publication of the novel Little House on the Prairie in 1935.
You are reading: Little house on the prairie books
Click the links below to read a brief synopsis of each book provided by HarperCollins. You’ll also find excellent 5-star Amazon fan reviews and information on how to purchase the books in different formats.
- little house in the big woods
- farm boy
- little house on the prairie
- on the banks of plum creek
- on the shores of silver lake
- the long winter
- little town on the prairie
- these happy golden years
- the first four years
little house in the big forest – available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
Laura Ingall’s story begins in 1871 in a small log cabin on the edge of the great Wisconsin woods. Laura, age four, lives in the little house with her dad, her mom, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and her faithful dog, Jack.
Pioneer life is sometimes difficult as the family must grow or gather all their food as they prepare for the cold winter. But it’s also exciting when Laura and her people celebrate Christmas with toys and homemade treats, sow the spring, reap the harvest, and take their first trip to the city. And every night, they’re safe and warm in their little house, with the joyous sound of Dad’s violin lulling Laura and her sisters to sleep.
And so begins Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of a pioneer girl and her family. The nine books in La Casita have been appreciated by generations of readers as a unique insight into America’s frontier past and a moving and unforgettable story.
“I have been teaching for over a decade and every year this is the first book I read aloud to my children. the writing is simple but very descriptive. I feel it is my duty as an educator to present excellent literature to my students.”
“laura ingalls wilder has captured a snapshot of the past for readers to enjoy for years to come. It’s a fantastic way to introduce the pioneer way of life and the hardships they endured.”
farm boy: available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
while laura ingalls grows up in a little house on the western prairie, almanzo wilder lives on a large farm in upstate new york. Here Almanzo and her brother and her sisters help with the summer planting and the fall harvest. in winter, there is firewood to be cut and large blocks of ice to be cut from the river and stored. fun time comes when the tin peddler visits, or better yet, when the fair comes to town.
This is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of how her husband Almanzo grew up as a farm boy far from the little house where Laura lived.
“With this work, the author goes through the childhood of her future husband. her narration continues to shine. her simple prose is an absolute delight and wonder. I was first exposed to the work over fifty years ago and still, to this day, read this book, and the others in the series, from time to time. I can’t think of better books to get kids interested in reading. not only are you exposed to the work of a highly skilled writer and storyteller, but you get a very vivid look at life as it was several generations ago, through the eyes of a child. I cannot recommend this work and the other books in this series highly enough.”
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little house on the prairie – available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
Adventures continue for Laura Ingalls and her family as they leave their small home in the great woods of Wisconsin for Kansas. they travel for many days in their covered wagon until they find the best place to build their little house on the prairie. soon they are planting and ploughing, hunting ducks and wild turkeys, and gathering grass for their cows. Sometimes pioneer life is hard, but Laura and her family are always busy and happy in her new little house.
“The details and accurate depiction of life on the frontier is half of what makes this book work. the other half is the warm and loving relationship between the Ingal family, who value their small community far more than their meager possessions.”
“…this is a beloved series that has stood the test of time. …parents and children have little time to read books together. this book should be a priority for all of them.”
on the banks of plum creek – available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they leave their little house on the prairie and travel by covered wagon to Minnesota. here they settle in a small grass house along the banks of beautiful plum creek. she soon she pa she builds a wonderful new little house with real glass windows and a hinged door. Laura and Ella Mary’s sister Ella go to school, help with the housework, and fish in the creek. at night everyone listens to the happy music of daddy’s violin. misfortunes come in the form of a plague of grasshoppers and a terrible blizzard, but the pioneer family works hard to overcome these problems.
“But what really sells this book is the authentic portrayal of the Ingall way of life. living on a bench by a stream, cutting grass for hay and weaving clothes for long, dreary days, the book’s colorful details bring a virtually extinct lifestyle to life. In particular, the way the Ingalls must observe nature and learn to live within the context of its rhythms and cycles was very interesting.”
on the shores of silver lake – available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they move from their small house on the banks of Plum Creek to the wilderness of unsettled Dakota Territory. she here she pa she works on the new railroad until she finds a property claim that is perfect for her new little house. Laura takes her first train ride when she, her sisters, and her mother move out with Pa on the shores of Silver Lake. After a lonely winter at the surveyor’s house, Dad puts up the first building in what will soon be a new town on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake. the covered wagon rides of the ingallses are finally over.
“There is also much in this book that is warm and charming. the tender gesture from dad to mom of bringing some trees to plant on the farm. A happy, coincidental reunion with Reverend Alden, and his sweet suggestion that Mary might one day attend college. Laura is making an adventurous new friend in Ella’s cousin at camp. And of course, Dad assures Laura that Jack will be happy in dog heaven. The family also delights in making special Christmas gifts for each other, and sweet mom gives up something special of her own to make an unexpected Christmas guest happy. We also see Laura honing her storytelling skills as she becomes Mary’s “eyes,” earnestly trying to help her sister share in all of the family’s experiences.”
“as with the other little house books, silver lake’s historical context is rich and detailed. excellent reading for children and adults.”
the long winter – available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as Pa, Ma, Laura, Mary, Carrie and Little Grace bravely face the harsh winter of 1880-81 in their little house in the Dakota Territory. Blizzards cover the small town in snow, cutting off all supplies from the outside. Soon there is almost no food left, so young Almanzo Wilder and a friend make a perilous trek across the prairie to find some wheat. Finally, a merry Christmas is celebrated in a very unusual way in the most exciting of all the books in the house.
“Only a writer like Laura Ingalls-Wilder can take an endless monotony of blizzards and darkness from that long winter of 1880-81 that she describes in The Long Winter, and turn it into a wonderful book, full of drama and beauty.”
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“of course, his incredible and vivid recollection of the details of this long winter, as written in this book decades after the events occurred, adds the dazzle of masterful form to the solid foundation of substance that was his character. Of all her books, this is the most revealing of what this woman was made of. it was very instructive for my son to read as well, and for all children today, because they learn how privileged they are, but perhaps more surprising for them when they see laura grateful for the strength and love of her family, and grateful to despite her. misery, see how this gratitude is what makes her happy, and is the true secret and blessing.”
little town on the prairie – available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
The small settlement that endured the long, harsh winter of 1880-1881 is now a growing city. Laura is growing up and attends her first social soiree. Mary can finally go to a school for the blind. best of all, almanzo wilder asks permission to walk home from church with laura. And Laura, who is now fifteen, receives her certificate to teach at the school.
“little town on the prairie is my favorite book in the entire “little house” series by laura ingalls wilder… laura ingalls wilder does an exquisite job captivating all of her readers with her fine choice of words, meticulous detail and graphic optimism . this is absolutely the best piece she has ever written. she does an admirable job of describing the setting, so she makes you feel like you’re there, witnessing the whole scene.”
These Happy Golden Years: Available in Kindle, Hardcover and Paperback
Laura, fifteen, is living apart from her family for the first time, teaching school in a shack twelve miles from her home. she misses her home a lot, but she keeps doing it so she can help pay for her sister mary’s tuition at college for the blind. During school vacations, Laura has fun with her singing lessons, sledding and, best of all, helping Almanzo Wilder drive her new buggy. Friendship soon turns to love for Laura and Almanzo in the romantic conclusion to this little house book.
” I love the writing style, it’s simple and honest, like the life of the characters. I couldn’t help but feel Laura’s joy at being home with her family, the dread with which she faced her first teaching assignment. the heat of the weekends contrasting with the cold away from home in that horrible teaching task. …I found this book inspiring. Laura can have an independent mind and spirit and stay dedicated to what matters in her life: family, faith, a strong work ethic, perseverance.”
first four years: available in kindle, hardcover and paperback
laura ingalls wilder is starting life with her new husband, almanzo, in their own little house. Laura is a young pioneer wife now and must work hard with Almanzo, farming the land around her home on the South Dakota prairie. Soon her little daughter, Rose, is born, and the young family must face the hardships and triumphs faced by so many American pioneers.
And so ends Laura Ingalls Wilder’s adventure as a pioneer child and begins her new life as a pioneer wife and mother. The nine books in La Casita have been appreciated by generations of readers as a unique insight into America’s frontier past and a moving and unforgettable story.
“laura ingalls wilder wrote from her heart and from her experiences living on the prairie as a child. If it’s been a long time since she’s read a Laura Ingalls Wilder book, then I suggest she pick this one up and read the beautiful descriptions and let her mind paint the landscape with words.”
“laura wrote what she saw, describing life so well you can almost smell the farm air and help her sew her new black cashmere dress or feel the threat of the storm. make no mistake, you are there. with Laura.”
To learn more about Laura Ingalls Wilder and how she became a writer, check out Dean Butler’s engaging documentary, Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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