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My First Little House Books
Winter Days in the Big Woods: Adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura helps Ma and Pa make the house cozy for the snowy days ahead, in a full-color picture book in a new series that adapts the classic Little House stories for young readers.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 1994
About the author
Laura Ingalls Wilder
483 books5,628 followersLaura Ingalls Wilder was an American author, journalist, and educator whose "Little House" series transformed the arduous reality of the American frontier into a foundational pillar of children's literature. Born in the "Big Woods" of Wisconsin to Charles and Caroline Ingalls, Laura’s childhood was a nomadic journey through the heart of a shifting nation. Her family moved across Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakota Territory—often staying just ahead of legal evictions or chasing the promise of fertile soil. These years were marked by extreme hardship, including the "Hard Winter" of 1880–81 in De Smet, South Dakota, where the family survived near-starvation. Despite the struggle, these experiences provided the raw material for her eight-volume record of pioneer life, a series that has since been translated into over forty languages.
Before becoming a world-renowned novelist in her sixties, Wilder lived several distinct lives. At fifteen, she became a teacher in one-room prairie schools, a job she took primarily to support her family financially. In 1885, she married Almanzo Wilder, beginning a partnership that endured fire, paralysis from diphtheria, and the heartbreaking loss of an infant son. These trials eventually led them to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. It was here that Laura developed her voice as a professional writer, serving as a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist for over a decade.
The Great Depression and the 1929 stock market crash wiped out the Wilders’ savings, providing the ultimate catalyst for Laura to pen her memoirs. Her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane—a successful author in her own right—encouraged her mother to adapt her autobiography, Pioneer Girl, into a format more suitable for children. This resulted in a complex and often rocky literary collaboration; while Lane provided the professional "style," Wilder provided the "substance" and narrative heart. The first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when Laura was sixty-five.
Wilder’s legacy is a blend of immense literary success and modern historical scrutiny. While her books remain staples in classrooms for their vivid descriptions of 19th-century domestic life, her portrayals of Native Americans and African Americans have led to recent reevaluations. In 2018, the American Library Association renamed the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award" to reflect these evolving cultural sensitivities. Nonetheless, Wilder remains a monumental figure in American letters, a woman who successfully "saved the American soul" by documenting the grit, faith, and unyielding persistence of the pioneer spirit.
Before becoming a world-renowned novelist in her sixties, Wilder lived several distinct lives. At fifteen, she became a teacher in one-room prairie schools, a job she took primarily to support her family financially. In 1885, she married Almanzo Wilder, beginning a partnership that endured fire, paralysis from diphtheria, and the heartbreaking loss of an infant son. These trials eventually led them to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. It was here that Laura developed her voice as a professional writer, serving as a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist for over a decade.
The Great Depression and the 1929 stock market crash wiped out the Wilders’ savings, providing the ultimate catalyst for Laura to pen her memoirs. Her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane—a successful author in her own right—encouraged her mother to adapt her autobiography, Pioneer Girl, into a format more suitable for children. This resulted in a complex and often rocky literary collaboration; while Lane provided the professional "style," Wilder provided the "substance" and narrative heart. The first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when Laura was sixty-five.
Wilder’s legacy is a blend of immense literary success and modern historical scrutiny. While her books remain staples in classrooms for their vivid descriptions of 19th-century domestic life, her portrayals of Native Americans and African Americans have led to recent reevaluations. In 2018, the American Library Association renamed the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award" to reflect these evolving cultural sensitivities. Nonetheless, Wilder remains a monumental figure in American letters, a woman who successfully "saved the American soul" by documenting the grit, faith, and unyielding persistence of the pioneer spirit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 30, 2026
"Winter was coming to the Big Woods. Soon the little house would be covered with snow. Pa was hunting every day so that they would have meat during the long, cold winter."Laura and her family live in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. She and her sisters played outside all through the Spring, Summer, and Autumn but now that Winter approaches, things will have to be a little different.
Throughout the day, the girls kept busy with Ma - baking, cooking, cleaning and playing.
"Laura and Mary thought the attic was a lovely place to play. They played house by using the round orange pumpkins as tables and chairs, and everything was snug and cozy."
Ahh what a lovely little tale. I am a longtime fan of Little House on the Prairie and just adore these picture books.
"But the best time of all was at night, when Pa came home. ... Pa would take down his fiddle and sing."
Rereading these books are like reliving my own childhood - with that cozy feeling of love surrounding the family as they settle in for a long winter night.
I really love learning about what Laura did in the olden days - from the family's routines to the play time to the fun things they'd do as a family.
As a child, I was envious of her homemade paper dolls or the little mini cookies she'd make with her Ma and sister. Now that I'm older, I'm excited to make winter memories with my own little one.
I think that the pictures are absolutely splendid in this one - the gentle color palette, the expressive faces, and the beautifully drawn scenes.
All in all, this is one of my favorites!
December 22, 2025
Such wonderful introductions for the youngest readers even!
March 7, 2023
I love these books so much!! So heartwarming and cozy.
January 9, 2019
A very sweet introduction to the Little House books for the youngest readers. Join the Ingalls family as they prepare for the coming winter, and indulge in fun indoor activities once the season arrives. This is a perfect warm and cozy read when the weather is getting you down.
September 25, 2023
These books are so nostalgic for me! The big woods in this book is in Wisconsin, which is extra nostalgic since I grew up visiting Wisconsin. My nieces and nephews love the Little House books, and they asked me to read this with them today (a 10/10 choice)
November 13, 2017
Daughter read this aloud with me and we loved it. I'm so glad my daugter was able to read this on her and able to enjoy Laura, Ma, Pa, Mary, and baby Carrie's life in the Big Woods. I see her re-reading this until she's ready for the original series alone.
July 22, 2020
10/2016 - Read with Naomi & Julia.
7/16/18 Read with Naomi & Julia.
11/9/18 Naomi read to Julia & me
1/2/19 Read with Julia.
4/29/19 Read with Julia.
7/22/20 Read with Julia
7/16/18 Read with Naomi & Julia.
11/9/18 Naomi read to Julia & me
1/2/19 Read with Julia.
4/29/19 Read with Julia.
7/22/20 Read with Julia
February 27, 2018
Smaller version of a tale from the Little House on the prairie
August 26, 2025
I loved this gentle step into Laura's world.
February 23, 2017
Our family loves these illustrated versions of The Little House books!
Read
November 10, 2021Winter Days in the Big Woods- My first Little House Books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a walk down memory lane for anyone that grew up on the Little House book series, which I enjoyed that I saved the books which I passed on to my daughter. The pictures were adapted from the original Little House series which shows the reader the vast countyside where the Ingalls family lives in Wisconsin.
The book is a tribute to a time when we preserved the homestead. It lends itself to an easy understanding of a weekly schedule of the chores that it took to thrive in the remote town. In 2021 in a urban city, one probably does not understand the hard work it took to "wash, iron, mend, churn, clean, and bake" before one rests on Sunday. The log cabin shows the reader how a family of five could live simply but happily and enjoys the small things in life, like etching a picture in the frost on the window or making paper dolls. You can also feel the love this family has for one another as the author describes the pure joy of hearing her Pa come home and spending quality time together listening to Pa play his fiddle. It makes the reader want to be warm and cozy with them in their little house in the big woods.
The book is a tribute to a time when we preserved the homestead. It lends itself to an easy understanding of a weekly schedule of the chores that it took to thrive in the remote town. In 2021 in a urban city, one probably does not understand the hard work it took to "wash, iron, mend, churn, clean, and bake" before one rests on Sunday. The log cabin shows the reader how a family of five could live simply but happily and enjoys the small things in life, like etching a picture in the frost on the window or making paper dolls. You can also feel the love this family has for one another as the author describes the pure joy of hearing her Pa come home and spending quality time together listening to Pa play his fiddle. It makes the reader want to be warm and cozy with them in their little house in the big woods.
January 5, 2024
Cold weather is coming, and Laura and Mary are getting ready for cozy winter days. If there’s one thing I love about the Little House picture books, it’s the amazing way they engage, and yet calm, children at the same time. Pairing Renee Graef’s soft illustrations with a sensitive adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s original text, this picture book is the perfect introduction to the beloved world of Little House.
January 21, 2019
This is a great story for learning about what life was like in the “olden days” before people lived near a grocery store where they could purchase whatever they needed. We enjoyed hearing about the little girls’ simple pleasures of playing house and dolls in the attic and creating homemade paper dolls.
February 4, 2020
In this children’s picture book, adapted from the Little House books, Laura and her family live through the winter in the big woods. She and her older sister help their mother gather their garden harvest, bake, churn butter, and do other house chores. During the day her father hunts and at night entertains the family with his fiddle. This story is a nice introduction to a pioneer way of life. In my school district, second graders learn about our city’s pioneer history, and visit historical log cabins from this time period in the spring. This book would be a great addition to the curriculum for this unit. Laura and her sister find many ways to keep busy, playing with homemade paper dolls, drawing frost circles on the windows, and listening to stories. Students could compare and contrast modern life with Laura’s life. They could make paper dolls with time period clothing and with modern clothing.
January 30, 2019
The classic stories of life on the American frontier are adapted for the picture-book set. Young people are offered a (very idealized) glimpse into the past and the ways the Little House family prepared for the winter months.
Veg*n parents note: Pa is shown going into the woods with his gun and we are told that he hunts every day so the family will have plenty of meat for winter. This could bring up discussion regarding how food and our ways of obtaining it have changed greatly over time.
Veg*n parents note: Pa is shown going into the woods with his gun and we are told that he hunts every day so the family will have plenty of meat for winter. This could bring up discussion regarding how food and our ways of obtaining it have changed greatly over time.
February 21, 2019
I realized I had never reviewed this wonderful picture book series here. I just read a few to my girls and nephews yesterday and was reminded how much every child I know LOVES them.
January 16, 2021
Renee Graef is one of my favorite artists. This book was the coziest read!
February 7, 2018
My sister passed this along me, us both being fans of Little House. I've never actually read any of the books before, and wondered if this was a snippet from the series, or a made-up story.
I loved the little cabin in the woods, with the split-rail fence. It looked so cozy.
I found myself comparing it with the show, thinking they didn’t have a bulldog, it was a boarder collie. Like in the show, Laura had brown hair, Mary and Carrie had blonde.
They were picking vegetables from the garden, but it didn’t show a garden, just her holding carrots above the grass, which looked like they sprang up out of nowhere. Rather than having a garden with rows of different vegetables.
It showed the simplicity of games children back then would have, how they played house in the attic, using pumpkins as tables.
When the first snow came, the windows were frosted over, with pictures of trees and flowers and fairies. Ma said Jack Frost came in the night and made the pictures while everyone was asleep. Laura and Mary used Ma’s thimble to make patterns in the frost.
They had a day for each chore: Wash on Mondays, iron in Tuesday, mend on Wednesday, churn on Thursday, clean on Friday, bake on Saturday, rest on Sunday.
She would cut paper dolls for them, drawing their faces on with pencils, and cutting dresses, hats, and ribbons out of colored paper.
The best time of all was when Pa came home. He would take off his fur cap, and coat, and say “Where’s my little half-pint of sweet cider half drunk up?” If you’ve watched the show, you’re definitely familiar with “half-pint,” but I’d never heard the rest of that tacked onto it.
Like the show, Pa plays the fiddle, and he sang, too, although I don’t remember that in the show. Carrie looked cute on this page, with her arms outstretched, listening to the music.
He also liked to tell them stories, setting them on his knees and ticking their faces with his whiskers. We’re told he had blue eyes. I guess that's accurate to his eye color in real life.
It says it was cold and snowy outside, but they were all cozy and snug in the little log cabin, and happy in the Big Woods. I liked that line, because it shows the coziness you can feel in your house during winter, but I didn’t expect that to be the last line of the book
The last picture shows their cabin in the snow, with a smoke trail from the chimney, and the light from the windows shining in the snow on the ground.
This shows a glimpse into what life was like in the past. I loved the outfits, like Pa in a fur cap, with his rifle, and hunting gear on, and them in their dresses. And how even though their house was little, they were still cozy and happy in it.
I wish it had been more of a story. It’s titled winter days in the big woods, but the chores it talks about are done on any day, any time of the year. It only snows eleven pages into the book, and shows them drawing on the window. It didn’t cover what chores are specific to winter. The rest of the scenes in the book are of them inside of the cabin. You wouldn’t even know it’s winter, until the very last page.
This didn’t really feel like a winter book.
I loved the little cabin in the woods, with the split-rail fence. It looked so cozy.
I found myself comparing it with the show, thinking they didn’t have a bulldog, it was a boarder collie. Like in the show, Laura had brown hair, Mary and Carrie had blonde.
They were picking vegetables from the garden, but it didn’t show a garden, just her holding carrots above the grass, which looked like they sprang up out of nowhere. Rather than having a garden with rows of different vegetables.
It showed the simplicity of games children back then would have, how they played house in the attic, using pumpkins as tables.
When the first snow came, the windows were frosted over, with pictures of trees and flowers and fairies. Ma said Jack Frost came in the night and made the pictures while everyone was asleep. Laura and Mary used Ma’s thimble to make patterns in the frost.
They had a day for each chore: Wash on Mondays, iron in Tuesday, mend on Wednesday, churn on Thursday, clean on Friday, bake on Saturday, rest on Sunday.
She would cut paper dolls for them, drawing their faces on with pencils, and cutting dresses, hats, and ribbons out of colored paper.
The best time of all was when Pa came home. He would take off his fur cap, and coat, and say “Where’s my little half-pint of sweet cider half drunk up?” If you’ve watched the show, you’re definitely familiar with “half-pint,” but I’d never heard the rest of that tacked onto it.
Like the show, Pa plays the fiddle, and he sang, too, although I don’t remember that in the show. Carrie looked cute on this page, with her arms outstretched, listening to the music.
He also liked to tell them stories, setting them on his knees and ticking their faces with his whiskers. We’re told he had blue eyes. I guess that's accurate to his eye color in real life.
It says it was cold and snowy outside, but they were all cozy and snug in the little log cabin, and happy in the Big Woods. I liked that line, because it shows the coziness you can feel in your house during winter, but I didn’t expect that to be the last line of the book
The last picture shows their cabin in the snow, with a smoke trail from the chimney, and the light from the windows shining in the snow on the ground.
This shows a glimpse into what life was like in the past. I loved the outfits, like Pa in a fur cap, with his rifle, and hunting gear on, and them in their dresses. And how even though their house was little, they were still cozy and happy in it.
I wish it had been more of a story. It’s titled winter days in the big woods, but the chores it talks about are done on any day, any time of the year. It only snows eleven pages into the book, and shows them drawing on the window. It didn’t cover what chores are specific to winter. The rest of the scenes in the book are of them inside of the cabin. You wouldn’t even know it’s winter, until the very last page.
This didn’t really feel like a winter book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2011
A charming story about a young pioneer girl and her family. The story weaves the tale of life in the woods of Wisconsin and the daily routines of a little girl and her family. The story covers everything from Pa and Ma's daily work, such as hunting, planting, sowing and gathering crops, churning butter and other subtleties. The little girls and their parents seem happy and cozy with their life. The realistic pictures paint a picture of what life back then would really be like. A straighforward, poignant book with a heartwarming message about a happy, content family that made the best of the simple things.
March 16, 2014
These are my favorite books to read to Henry. They make me want to curl up in front of a fire and cuddle with him.
February 2, 2018
I didn’t know they made My First Little House books; they didn’t have these out when I was a kid. I was just browsing through the library’s books and wanting a throwback to my childhood, and to learn about life at this time. I didn’t know they had bridged the gap between the original chapter books and younger kids, so I wasn’t expecting this to be basically a picture book with a few sentences on every other page. I don’t think I remembered that they lived in Wisconsin. I would have thought it was another state.
It was interesting that Pa went hunting every day to stock up on meat for the winter. Ma and the girls picked potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, cabbages, onions, peppers and pumpkins. I wouldn’t have expected them to have all of those kinds of vegetables.
I liked learning that they used a thimble on their fingers to draw pictures in the frost on the windows. I was surprised that each day had its own task. Monday was for washing, Tuesday: ironing, Wednesday: mending, Thursday: church, Friday: cleaning, Saturday: baking, and resting on Sunday.
They churned cream to make butter. Ma would give them little pieces of dough to make a little loaf of bread, and bits of cookie dough to make cookies. Sometimes after the work was done for the day, Ma would make paper dolls for the girls. She’d cut colored paper and draw faces on with a pencil, and cut out dresses and cats and ribbons so they could dress them.
I had never heard Pa’s saying about Laura: “Where’s my little half-pint of sweet sider half drunk up?” I only knew that he called her half pint, not the whole saying.
He would play the fiddle and sing songs, and tell them stories with them sitting on his knees.
It was a short story, just the basics, which I guess is ok for little kids, but I expected more and was disappointed how it ended with saying the cabin was warm and cozy, despite it being cold outside. I wanted even more from life back then and was hoping to learn about more customs and traditions.
It was interesting that Pa went hunting every day to stock up on meat for the winter. Ma and the girls picked potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, cabbages, onions, peppers and pumpkins. I wouldn’t have expected them to have all of those kinds of vegetables.
I liked learning that they used a thimble on their fingers to draw pictures in the frost on the windows. I was surprised that each day had its own task. Monday was for washing, Tuesday: ironing, Wednesday: mending, Thursday: church, Friday: cleaning, Saturday: baking, and resting on Sunday.
They churned cream to make butter. Ma would give them little pieces of dough to make a little loaf of bread, and bits of cookie dough to make cookies. Sometimes after the work was done for the day, Ma would make paper dolls for the girls. She’d cut colored paper and draw faces on with a pencil, and cut out dresses and cats and ribbons so they could dress them.
I had never heard Pa’s saying about Laura: “Where’s my little half-pint of sweet sider half drunk up?” I only knew that he called her half pint, not the whole saying.
He would play the fiddle and sing songs, and tell them stories with them sitting on his knees.
It was a short story, just the basics, which I guess is ok for little kids, but I expected more and was disappointed how it ended with saying the cabin was warm and cozy, despite it being cold outside. I wanted even more from life back then and was hoping to learn about more customs and traditions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2018
1. Awards received: none
2. Appropriate grade levels: Pre-K to 2nd Grade
3. Original Summary: Winter is coming to the big woods of Wisconsin but don't worry because Ma, Pa, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and bulldog Jack are ready. During the day Pa goes out to hunt and the girls stay home to cook, mend clothes, churn butter and play! At the end of the day Pa comes back and plays fiddle and sings with the girls around the fire.
4. Original Review: This is a very warm and child-friendly adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's chapter books written about her family upbringing as pioneers in the west. The language is easy enough for younger children (Pre-K) to understand and older children (1st and 2nd Grade) to read by themselves. The illustrations are happy and give off a sense of "home."
5. Possible in class uses: This book can be used to discuss the pioneer ways of life: dress, food, chores, freetime, responsibilities, homemaking, etc.
This book could also be used to compare and contrast what young pioneer children did at their age compared to young children today. What did they do that was the same? What is different?
2. Appropriate grade levels: Pre-K to 2nd Grade
3. Original Summary: Winter is coming to the big woods of Wisconsin but don't worry because Ma, Pa, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and bulldog Jack are ready. During the day Pa goes out to hunt and the girls stay home to cook, mend clothes, churn butter and play! At the end of the day Pa comes back and plays fiddle and sings with the girls around the fire.
4. Original Review: This is a very warm and child-friendly adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's chapter books written about her family upbringing as pioneers in the west. The language is easy enough for younger children (Pre-K) to understand and older children (1st and 2nd Grade) to read by themselves. The illustrations are happy and give off a sense of "home."
5. Possible in class uses: This book can be used to discuss the pioneer ways of life: dress, food, chores, freetime, responsibilities, homemaking, etc.
This book could also be used to compare and contrast what young pioneer children did at their age compared to young children today. What did they do that was the same? What is different?
September 12, 2019
The genre this book fits under is historical fiction. It fits under this genre because the plot and setting is located in the past. This book was about a little girl named Laura and her family getting ready for a Wisconsin winter. It mentions her father having to go out hunting everyday for food for the winter and her mother having to do chores at the log cabin to prepare for winter. It talks about each chore the girls and their mother have to do such as churning butter, making bread, and washing dishes. At the end of the day Pa comes home and the family gets together and he will either tell stories or play his fiddle for the girls. I really recommend this book for young kids. It is very informational about living in the past on a day to day life. The illustrations in this book are phenomenal. If reading it to a class you could ask so many questions during the book to get the mind of the kids thinking about living in the past. A very warm and cozy book to read.
February 26, 2024
A nice, laid back account of a family's days preparing for and living through winter in Wisconsin.
It's also LITERALLY a little house: The scale of the house as depicted in the first spread seems to be so small that there's not only one room, but not even room for beds! This seems to be a disconnect with the artist, since beds are MENTIONED but clearly not drawn! Did they have futon-style beds like in Japan? Where are they stored? It just feels like TOO SMALL a living space for FIVE PEOPLE AND A DOG, even by old-timey standards!
It's a decent slice-of-life book, but there are a few nitpicky things wrong with it, if you think about it too hard. Also, the dog gets a passing mention early on, then NEVER AGAIN.
Recommended if you like slice-of-life stories, though!
It's also LITERALLY a little house: The scale of the house as depicted in the first spread seems to be so small that there's not only one room, but not even room for beds! This seems to be a disconnect with the artist, since beds are MENTIONED but clearly not drawn! Did they have futon-style beds like in Japan? Where are they stored? It just feels like TOO SMALL a living space for FIVE PEOPLE AND A DOG, even by old-timey standards!
It's a decent slice-of-life book, but there are a few nitpicky things wrong with it, if you think about it too hard. Also, the dog gets a passing mention early on, then NEVER AGAIN.
Recommended if you like slice-of-life stories, though!
April 19, 2019
These "My First Little House Books" picture book series is beautifully illustrated, but I feel like they're almost too young for my children as we've already read-aloud the first 3 books of the original Little House books. So they are familiar with the stories already and we appreciate them more for their artistic value.
September 11, 2023
Laura and her family are getting ready for winter. Pa has been hunting a lot, and the rest of the family has been doing things around the farm like gathering food and churning butter. Learn how it was like in Laura's days to prepare for the cold season! We absolutely love these books! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!
January 5, 2024
This is such a cute book to share the Little House on the Prairie story to a young child. I read this to my daughters each winter. We wonder what it must have been like to live in a log cabin during the winter in that time. We love the sweet illustrations. My girls always comment on Laura and Mary’s dresses. Highly recommend, especially for little girls.
July 16, 2026
I love reading this to my almost 3 year old and she loves it too. There's a good amount of words per page without it being overwhelming for her and the storytelling is captivating enough. We both also really enjoy the illustrations!
December 29, 2017
Something so cozy and nostalgic about the little house books!
September 2, 2019
A great way to introduce younger children to the beauty of the Little House books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews