Little House in the Big Woods (1932)

I'm beginning a reread of this series, and this wintry story of the Ingalls family was perfect for the cold days of January! I loved these books as a child. Laura's voice came through as a feisty, smart, optimist with a great sense of wonder for the natural world around her. As I listened, I remembered something so special about this character: her ability to appreciate the excitement of small moments. The audio includes small bursts of singing and banjo playing as Laura shares some of Pa's favorite songs. I'm eager to continue rereading this series. Note: Last year I also read The Birchbark House series by Indigenous writer Louise Erdrich, a trilogy with a companion duet which covers the life of an Ojibwe family during a similar time period in US history. I am reading the Little House books with awareness that they offer only one slender version of life in the late 1800s, and that these books do not include the perspective of non-white members of the community at the time. I highly, highly recommend The Birchbark House series as a delightful, important, and beautifully written way to learn about life at the time.

Little House in the Big Woods recounts a little over a year in the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder living in the Wisconsin backwoods in the 1870s. Wilder recounts various events in her childhood that gives a modern-day reader a glimpse of what life was like in the northern frontier when your nearest neighbor was miles away, a trip to town a few hours would be an all-day affair, and wild animals of all sorts would visit throughout the year. Given the period written about and at what time Wilder wrote the book, there are things that would not be written or printed today however a responsible parent or educator would use that as an excellent teaching moment. And the illustrations of Garth Williams are a nice addition to the book and bring some of the stories to better perspective. ( )

I'm not sure how Laura does it, but she somehow reaches into the child in all of us and tells the story directly to it. She makes you feel, not only like you are on a first-name basis, but like you are a sister... and I'm sure I got my jealousy of blonde hair from her. :D ( )

This is a book I can't believe I didn't read as a child. I can't believe it's not required reading in elementary school both for its wonderful, straightforward language, and as an introduction to life on the wild frontier. Heck, one of my favorite books as a child was "Caddie Woodlawn" and this book would be a good companion piece. Anyway, I read it for the first time several years ago and was enchanted with the storytelling. There is something very simple, but honest about the writing that fits perfectly the characters and actions that take place. I've reread it as an antidote to the stress I've been feeling lately and I am happy to say it has helped. Wilder can describe quite mundane, though unusual for our times, chores in a way that makes them comprehensible, but interesting as well. The work they do throughout the year is seen, not as a burden, but as a loving duty to the entire family -- and everyone participates. The illustrations by Gareth Williams are a delight. Wonderful. ( )

The boys enjoyed this, although some of the detail like cheese making got a little complicated for T. ( )