A Farmer Boy Birthday

My First Little House Books

by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jody Wheeler

Young readers are invited to join Almanzo on his birthday as he spends the day on the Wilder farm learning to train his two little calves and flying down the hill on his birthday sled.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, New York

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 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 4 out of 5]

"Once upon a time, a little boy named Almanzo lived in a farmhouse in the New York State countryside."

Little Almanzo is celebrating his birthday in this gorgeous picture book. He receives a very special hand-carved yoke from his father - one that means Almanzo is growing up and ready for more responsibility around the farm.

"Almanzo carried the little yoke to the barn, and Father walked beside him. Star and Bright were in their warm stall ... They did not know that he was going to teach them to behave like big grown oxen."

After working with the cattle, Almanzo gets to have a special dinner with his parents and maybe even one more present - and a fun one at that!

I am a long time fan of the Little House on the Prairie books and I'm so happy that the main series was split into picture books like this one.

These picture books contain little snippets of Laura's (or her future husband, Almanzo's) life. I really like that they are gentle, soothing tales. Often without big arcing plots, just quiet moments with their families.

In a Farmer Boy Birthday, we get to see what life was like for Almanzo Wilder - what was considered worthy of a birthday present, what customs the family had around celebrations, and what made the day special on a wintry afternoon.

One thing that I love is that the pictures are made to resemble the original Garth Williams ones (with permission from the original illustrator).

All in all - a fabulous book!

[Katie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The My First Little House Books are shortened versions of the stories told in the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. In A Farmer Boy Birthday, it is Almanzo's birthday and he has been given a yoke for his calves, Star and Bright. He spends the morning learning how to break the calves but finds time to have fun in the afternoon with his new sled.

The Little House books are classics and this book is perfect introduction to the series for kids ages 4-8. The illustrations are wonderful and the story is a perfect length for kids that aren't quite ready for chapter books yet. Highly recommend to anyone looking to share the love of the series with the young ones in their life!

[Courtenay Burden · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I grew up loving the stories about Laura and Mary, some of my babysitting kids enjoy the Little House books that feature Almanzo even more. In this fun winter story, Almanzo gets a day off school to celebrate his birthday with a variety of farm activities.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almanzo's birthday is one of my favorite chapters in Farmer Boy, and it's lovely to see it adapted into a picture book here. Jody Wheeler captures the essence of Garth Williams's pictures for the book.

[Stephanie Escudero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off by introducing a little boy named Almanzo who lives in the country side with his parents and siblings. It is the next day and it is Almanzos birthday. He is eating breakfast and it is mentioned that he does not need to go to school due to it bring his birthday. Almanzos father tells him his present is in the woodshed. Almanzo goes to the woodshed where he saw his birthday present was a calf-yoke. He spends his day trying to break the calves and before he knew it it was time for dinner where his parents gave him his 2nd birthday gift (a sled).

I thought this book was really interesting mostly because of the differences between how Almanzo celebrated his birthday compared to someone who might not live in a rural area. While Almanzo was gifted a yoke to try to teach the calves how to behave like grown oxen, other children might have been gifted a video game console or toy. Almanzo being gifted the yoke was a sign of him being old enough to start helping his father. I think books like these are important for children to read because it shows them a whole different way of living. Students are also able to see the different ways people celebrate things such as birthdays.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't read the amazing books by this author, grab any and then grab all. This time it is
Almanzo's birthday, all the tales by this author take readers to a better time when people relied on each other for love, help and just getting by the hardships of life.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series as a kid and had no idea it had been made into picture books as well. Love these as much as I love the stories themselves. Can't wait to share all of these with the little lady in my life.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the little house series, so having picture books adapted from the series to share with my six-year-old daughter is so fun! A story about how Almanzo got to stay home from school on his birthday! Those parents had the right idea.

[Goble Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary level picture book about farmer Almanzo celebrating his birthday as a boy and learning to train his team of oxen.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite stories from Farmer Boy
3.5

[Kim Sloat]

The kids are obsessed with these my first little house on the prairie books

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

basic but solid

[Anandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Brigid Keely · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Farmer Boy Birthday," by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Jody Wheeler, is a simplified look at Almanzo Wilder's birthday celebration from Wilder's book "Farmer Boy."

It's an interesting look at the way birthday celebrations have changed over time. Almanzo doesn't have friends over, there's no cake, he gets to stay home from school, his presents include a tool to help him do adult work and a toy. My 4 year old was upset that he didn't get more presents, or cake, or friends, and we talked a bit about the different ways people celebrate their birthdays and why the presents Almanzo got were important and special. The illustrations are inspired by and based upon Garth Williams' work (and is noted as such) and work with the text to make the book nostalgic for those who've read the Little House books.

Maybe he's too young for it, but the book didn't really hold my child's attention. I'm also not overly eager to introduce him to the original series, rife as it is with racism and sexism. This was an ok book.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

These "First Little House" books are WONDERFUL, now you don't have to wait until your child is old enough for the original series, these are written basic and sweet but not to over non readers heads. I read this to my 2 year old granddaughter and we both LOVED it. The illustrations in these books are done so well so eye appeasing that it helps the non reader to stay with the reader.

This one is about Almonzo and how he gets to celebrate his birthday training his oxen calves and then he gets a new sled, spending time with his parents without his siblings.

[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. :)

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good demonstration of the way birthdays have changed over time. No cake, but he does get to stay home from school.

Lovely illustrations and beautiful adaptation, as with all the books in this series.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:
All the books in this series are beautiful.
Great intro to pioneer life, but may not connect to preschoolers with no frame of reference.
Son read them after he first learned to read.
Excerpted from Wilder's actual books.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Paula]

For my mother/daughter book club. First 15 pages are good.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great segmented series that breaks out smaller stories from the series. This series is a great introduction to the Laura Ingalls Wilder series to move the young reader onto once they are ready.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to introduce young readers to the Little House series.

[Elanor]

All by herself!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really unique book!