A Little Prairie House

My First Little House Books

by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Renée Graef (Illustrator)

Long, long ago, a little girl named Laura Ingalls headed west toward the prairie with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their good old bulldog, Jack. They traveled far each day in their covered wagon, driving through tall grass until they found just the right spot for their new home. With the help of their kind neighbor, Mr. Edwards, Pa built a snug little house for the family in the middle of the wide-open prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now for the first time, the youngest readers can share her adventure in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story-books. Renee Graef's warm paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life.

Renée Graef recieved her bachelor's degree in art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is the illustrator of teh paper dolls and the Kirsten books in the American Girls Collection. She is also an avid hat collector, with over 150 hats at last count. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her huisband, Tim, and thier children, Maggie and Maxfeild.Join the Ingalls family as they pick a special spot on the prairie and build their snug log cabin home. Their new neighbor, Mr. Edwards, comes by to help, and after the hard work is through, everyone sings and dances to the joyful music of Pa's fiddle. Renee Graef's enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth William's classic artwork, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life in this eleventh title in the My First Little House Books series, adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Historical, Juvenile

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Laura 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.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Later that morning, Pa said, "Whoa!" The wagon stopped. "Here we are!" he said. "Right here we'll build our house."

Laura, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and her parents (Ma and Pa) were traveling across the great wide prairies of the west - looking for a place to claim as their homestead. Once Pa picked their spot, he set to work.

"All by himself, Pa built the walls of the house three logs high, and then Ma helped him. Log by log, Pa and Ma built the walls higher and higher."

Laura and the family meet a neighbor - Mr. Edwards, a "wildcat" from Tennessee - who also helps their family. And together, the family and their neighbor work hard to make their house a home.

Ahhh, yet another absolutely lovely picture book following Laura Ingalls Wilder's life. I am so happy that the series was turned into such gorgeous children's books.

I really, really liked how the book showed exactly how the house was built. It's fun to see all the stages and how Pa managed to create a whole home out of a pile of logs.

When I read these books for the first time as a child, I remember nodding along and thinking that making a home didn't seem all that hard - which I suppose it might not be, if you don't have electricity, plumbing or more than one room to consider!

Overall, the gentle illustrations, the calming storyline, and the overall wonderful tone of this picture book makes it one of my favorite.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet introduction to the Little House books.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I didn't discover the Little House books until I was in my 20s, (ah, the wasted years!) the books are lovely and appropriate to read aloud even to younger children. That being said, I was super pleased to find these picture book episodic versions at the library, and this was my favorite of the ones we checked out. There's a gorgeous illustration in this one of Laura inside her new house with the light falling on her so beautifully. I'm glad I can introduce my daughter to these characters in such an appealing way and can't wait to read more of this series and the rest of the storybooks with her.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my students. I loved the Little House on the Prairie books when I was younger, and was thrilled to realize they have children's books to make them accessible to younger children. September was Wilderness month, so I read this to my classes to introduce them to books about the wilderness.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations by Renee graef. A simplified story based on the little house books, the family finds a spot on the prairie and sets up their home. Probably needs a bit of context built in by adults, and maybe we shouldn’t be so obsessed with the pioneers anymore.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilder Woods #11
Little House books made shorter, and with simpler language and into a picture book for a modern audience. It was ok I guess, but the very essence of the series is missing in this miniaturised version. LIW certainly did not write it despite her name being on the front.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids, both boys and girls, have liked this series of books. In this story, they get a glimpse of what it takes to build a log house.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

11/28/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.

I always love Little House books.

[Mely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations. Big clear text. Adapted from The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. A perfect substitute for younger aged children.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ingalls choose a spot on the prairie to build their house. They meet Mr. Edwards, their new neighbor and he helps them build their house

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series, could not resist it as a picture book series. Had to pick them up and add them to my collection. Just a cute series that continues the story.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first "Little House" book that I introduced to my daughter. After we finished reading, she told me that she really liked it.

[Chelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of these stories and I really love the illustrations, but the illustrations in this book seem far more beautiful than the other books I’ve read from this series!

[carlene ☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m just reading all of my physical books that I own and this is one of them. Of course I loved it. It’s children’s books like this that make me so excited to read to my children one day 🥰

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed introducing my child to this book series

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super fun and classic read. We will be adding the rest of the series to our tbr list and these will likely be books we purchase to keep in our home library.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The building of the Wilder family home

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to introduce young readers to the Little House books.

[Kylee Timmreck · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.75/10⭐️

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[JKR · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good intro to the Little House books (which are of course five stars).

[J.]

AR 3.7

J read 2020

[Jennifer Fann-Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite

[Kaylee Klaassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade Range: 4th - 6th

I love this historical fiction children's book. I love reading books from different time periods and learning about what life was like then. I liked that this book gave me a small taste of what it would have been like to live during the pioneer days and on a prairie. I wish the book would have continued as I would have liked to see more about who Mr. Edwards was! Overall, this was a very well written story.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

These "first" books are absolutely wonderful! The illustrations are very nice and so eye catching for non readers. I LOVED them, am so glad I found them now I won't have to wait until my 2 year old granddaughter is older to share with her the wonderfully sweet stories of Laura and History back in pioneer days! LOVED THIS BOOK...

This book tells how they traveled in the middle of the Prairie where there wasn't nothing to see for a long time. Pa goes and gets logs and he and Ma start building their house. one day Pa finds a neighbor and he is Mr Edwards. Mr Edwards and Pa finish their house and make new friends!

[Mattie Troyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have grown up reading Laura's books you will be excited to know that Mr. Edwards makes an appearance in this book! He was always one of my favorite characters in her books! I love how he describes him in her chapter books and she does a great job of introducing him in her My First Little House Books. This book is about the family moving out to the prairie and building a log home there. Laura takes you back in time with her to experience what it may have been like to be apart of her family in that time of age. That is what I love about her writings even in these shorter books is that you truly feel apart of her family!

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Little House on the Prairie books as a child. My mother first introduced me to the picture book series, such as this one. In this book Laura and her family travel across the country in search of a place for their new home. We learn about how vast the prairie was, how Pa had to cut down logs to build a home, and how sitting around the campfire listening to the fiddle was the way they passed time. Reading these books takes children back to simpler days, capturing a time in history that is full of charm and adventure.

[Kim♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much to my delight, my boys who are five and two absolutely love these books! The "My First Little House" series takes stories out of the original little house books and illustrates them beautifully. My boys love to point out each family member and my five year old asks lots of questions. These books have become a wonderful way to introduce history and "the simple life" to my little ones. These books have great family values. :)

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library for my six year old daughter. I was more excited about it than she was. I thought in the iPad age, no kid is really going to like reading about Pa whittling Laura a doll for her birthday.
I honestly can't explain it, but my girl loved this book, and asked to read another. I am nostalgic on this series... who isn't? These versions for younger readers are such a great way to introduce the next generation to the Little House!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girls love these picture books! I would have a hard time getting them to sit through the original series, but this makes an excellent bridge for those who are unable to read themselves!
Another of the few books out there featuring realistic "fiction" (OK, I know this is not really fiction) for children.