Laura's Pa

Little House Chapter Books: Laura #12

by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Renée Graef (Illustrator)

Laura helps Pa make a door for their cabin and finds that no matter how hard Pa works, he's never too tired to sing and play the fiddle for his little girls.

Genres: Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Family

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 1999

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

[Elisabeth]

We loved the Little House picture books as an introduction to Laura and her world. These early chapter books are taken from the main novels, and are a great way to introduce the novels in more depth to my 4 year old. He loves the stories and they’re the perfect length to read together without being too intimidating or overwhelming. I only wish there were a few more illustrations throughout.

[Hannah Turley]

Honestly, I already own so many Laura Ingalls Wilder Books, but I bought this because it was only 40 cents at Half Price Books. Laura's Pa is a collection of Pa-centric stories from Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie. I have loved the Little House books for almost my entire life so this was a fine book, but I guess I would just rather read the original books. It might be a good "gateway Laura book" for a boy who would be interested in learning about pioneer life but might be turned off by the fact that the protagonist of the original books is a girl.

[Sarah]

Of course it was great. All the stories of Pa were gleaned from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series. Now my boys know how to build a log cabin, a door, a chimney, and a floor ... all without nails. They also know how to roof that cabin using nails and how to dig a well safely.

[Cws]

JAR5-Wil

[Miss Kodok]

Menceritakan tentang kehidupan keluarga Ingalls saat mulai membangun rumah mereka di Praire.

[A]

This series was adapted from the Little House chapter book series. This particular short chapter book for beginning readers includes stories about Laura's father and life on the frontier.

[Alexandria Hiam]

This series was adapted from the Little House chapter book series. This particular short chapter book for beginning readers includes stories about Laura's father and life on the frontier.

[Rose Michelle]

"All's well that ends well"

[Amanda]

LHOP=Life :) "Where's my little half-pint of sweet cider half drunk up?"

[Hannah]

My son loved this book!!!