Based upon the true life story of pioneer woman Betsy Ward who was the first to own sheep in an obscure village in Randolph Township, Ohio.

Living in a warm, well-lit house, surrounded by wonderful books and personal items, it is difficult to imagine the hard life of pioneers. Living in cabins where the wind whips through the clay between the logs, where hard work is a supreme necessity, and where the family unit hopes fate does not deal a cruel blow, somehow, these brave people survived.

With last year's clothes patched and thread bare, the mother saved coins to purchase sheep. Because wolves killed two, the sheep then lived in the cabin with the family. Even so, of the eight original, only three survived. One, a ewe, gave birth to lambs which then grew to have more lambs. Eventually, the mother was able to make wool into clothes.

While the story is simple, the illustrations are lovely. ( )

46 months - Thought this would be a good read to follow a Little House book. Based on a true story of pioneer hardship. ( )

Story of a settler family surviving in their new home in Ohio during a bitter winter. Based loosely on the true story of the Ward family. Wonderful story that illustrates the importance of hard work and skills required for survival during the period.