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Little House Chapter Books: Laura #1
The Adventures of Laura & Jack
Almanzo shares a wonderful Christmas with his extended family on their farm in New York.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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About the author
Laura Ingalls Wilder
459 books5,466 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 34 reviews
December 4, 2014
The Little House Chapter Books are adaptations of the Little House series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and they are adaptations that are done well. They are meant to be read by children who are beginning to read chapter books, and are both interesting and educational. The Adventures of Laura and Jack is the first in the series of Little House Chapter books.
December 13, 2024
Full disclosure: My copy has the cover for this edition.
First impression, this feels like another The Oregon Trail-style book, but they only travel within the Midwest. Certainly it was still dangerous, but at least they had more freedom to stop and call it quits if they got to a good spot.
Second impression, is this what passes as suspenseful to younger readers? Because maybe it is, but the SECOND CHAPTER in a book called "The Adventures of Laura and Jack" makes it out like Jack drowns in the river and goes on to doggy heaven, only for a "wolf" to chase them down later... and turn out to be Jack.
Not even spoiler-cutting that, since it's like... this early in the book? Are you kidding? Of COURSE the dog's fine. I was even tempted to write that this would've been a better plot point later in the book, but they quickly settle in Kansas, so... nevermind, I guess.
Well, it could have been during their move to Minnesota, which is somewhat soon after Kansas (a few years), when they move into a LITERAL HOLE: their house is dug out of a hill, which feels like the most ridiculous idea ever and not JUST because a stampede threatens the mother and SUDDEN BABY NOBODY MENTIONED CAME INTO EXISTENCE when an ox runs up the hill and smashes a hole in the "roof."
I think that surprised me more than the cattle stampede, that "Oh no, Ma and Carrie!"—wait, WHO'S CARRIE??—that then gets brushed off in the next chapter as "Ma and Pa went to town with baby Carrie." Whatever, I guess! A whole human enters the world, ho-hum. Nothing adventurous about THAT!
On the whole, the book is *otherwise* pretty okay, even though the ending is pretty predictable, given the track record of "stories about animal heroes." Those were just the main things that threw me when reading, the IMMEDIATE DRAMA ABOUT DEATH followed by the LACK OF DRAMA ABOUT BIRTH. (Also, this finally taught me that oxen are cattle; I for some reason kept thinking they were different somehow, haha.)
Good period piece book about historical America, once you get past the rather action-skewed "adventures" they have.
First impression, this feels like another The Oregon Trail-style book, but they only travel within the Midwest. Certainly it was still dangerous, but at least they had more freedom to stop and call it quits if they got to a good spot.
Second impression, is this what passes as suspenseful to younger readers? Because maybe it is, but the SECOND CHAPTER in a book called "The Adventures of Laura and Jack" makes it out like Jack drowns in the river and goes on to doggy heaven, only for a "wolf" to chase them down later... and turn out to be Jack.
Not even spoiler-cutting that, since it's like... this early in the book? Are you kidding? Of COURSE the dog's fine. I was even tempted to write that this would've been a better plot point later in the book, but they quickly settle in Kansas, so... nevermind, I guess.
Well, it could have been during their move to Minnesota, which is somewhat soon after Kansas (a few years), when they move into a LITERAL HOLE: their house is dug out of a hill, which feels like the most ridiculous idea ever and not JUST because a stampede threatens the mother and SUDDEN BABY NOBODY MENTIONED CAME INTO EXISTENCE when an ox runs up the hill and smashes a hole in the "roof."
I think that surprised me more than the cattle stampede, that "Oh no, Ma and Carrie!"—wait, WHO'S CARRIE??—that then gets brushed off in the next chapter as "Ma and Pa went to town with baby Carrie." Whatever, I guess! A whole human enters the world, ho-hum. Nothing adventurous about THAT!
On the whole, the book is *otherwise* pretty okay, even though the ending is pretty predictable, given the track record of "stories about animal heroes." Those were just the main things that threw me when reading, the IMMEDIATE DRAMA ABOUT DEATH followed by the LACK OF DRAMA ABOUT BIRTH. (Also, this finally taught me that oxen are cattle; I for some reason kept thinking they were different somehow, haha.)
Good period piece book about historical America, once you get past the rather action-skewed "adventures" they have.
March 13, 2017
The Adventures of Laura and Jack by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Copyright 1932
Historical Fiction
*Spoiler Alert* The Adventures of Laura and Jack by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a story of how a watchdog, Jack, kept his family save throughout everything. In the beginning, the family decides it’s time to move out west. They pack up the house into the wagon and head out. Mary and Laura sit in the wagon as Ma, Pa and baby Carrie sat in front. Jack, their watchdog, would walk along the wagon to keep them save. On their way to the West, they needed to cross over a creek. The tide of the creek rose while the wagon was in the water so Pa had to swim out with horses to help make it across. Once they made it across the creek they realized they didn’t see Jack anymore. Unfortunately, they assumed Jack had drowned due to the rising of the tide and there was nothing they could do about it, but move on. It wasn’t until later that evening when they set up camp under the stars when Jack came running to them. Laura was so happy Jack was still alive because Jack kept her safe.
When they got the West, they moved into their new home and traded the horses in for mustangs and got a mule. During their time in the West, Pa had to go into town to get some items and wouldn’t be back for four days. Mr. Edwards their neighbor would come to check on the girls while Pa was gone. Every time he came over, Jack would bark at him and run him to the woodpile thinking he was a stranger and had to protect the home until Pa came back. Jack would pace around the house and stable to make sure the house was protected. He knew it was his job as the watchdog. Pa finally arrived home four days later and in time the family decided to move to Minnesota.
With the help of Jack, the family gets through several different obstacles. To find out how Jack became the best watchdog ever I recommend you read this book. Overall, I give this a book five out of five stars. I think it would teach children a valuable lesson about loyalty to others as well as teach them how families use to live long time ago. Plus, it is an easier read for beginner readers.
Copyright 1932
Historical Fiction
*Spoiler Alert* The Adventures of Laura and Jack by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a story of how a watchdog, Jack, kept his family save throughout everything. In the beginning, the family decides it’s time to move out west. They pack up the house into the wagon and head out. Mary and Laura sit in the wagon as Ma, Pa and baby Carrie sat in front. Jack, their watchdog, would walk along the wagon to keep them save. On their way to the West, they needed to cross over a creek. The tide of the creek rose while the wagon was in the water so Pa had to swim out with horses to help make it across. Once they made it across the creek they realized they didn’t see Jack anymore. Unfortunately, they assumed Jack had drowned due to the rising of the tide and there was nothing they could do about it, but move on. It wasn’t until later that evening when they set up camp under the stars when Jack came running to them. Laura was so happy Jack was still alive because Jack kept her safe.
When they got the West, they moved into their new home and traded the horses in for mustangs and got a mule. During their time in the West, Pa had to go into town to get some items and wouldn’t be back for four days. Mr. Edwards their neighbor would come to check on the girls while Pa was gone. Every time he came over, Jack would bark at him and run him to the woodpile thinking he was a stranger and had to protect the home until Pa came back. Jack would pace around the house and stable to make sure the house was protected. He knew it was his job as the watchdog. Pa finally arrived home four days later and in time the family decided to move to Minnesota.
With the help of Jack, the family gets through several different obstacles. To find out how Jack became the best watchdog ever I recommend you read this book. Overall, I give this a book five out of five stars. I think it would teach children a valuable lesson about loyalty to others as well as teach them how families use to live long time ago. Plus, it is an easier read for beginner readers.
June 23, 2025
I read this as my Wisconsin book for the 50 books in 50 states challenge. It really only took place in Wisconsin for the first chapter but 🤷♀️ it counts.
I didn't know anything about Little House on the Prairie before reading this besides that i was vaguely aware my mom liked the show when she was younger. i think this particular book was altered from its original version to be more for kids. It definitely intrigues me to read the original as i think it might have Anne of Green Gables vibes but American 😝 I suppose i just wish the book didnt end the way that it did 😆 Not wanting to give spoilers but i still cant believe it just ended THERE.
I didn't know anything about Little House on the Prairie before reading this besides that i was vaguely aware my mom liked the show when she was younger. i think this particular book was altered from its original version to be more for kids. It definitely intrigues me to read the original as i think it might have Anne of Green Gables vibes but American 😝 I suppose i just wish the book didnt end the way that it did 😆 Not wanting to give spoilers but i still cant believe it just ended THERE.
April 5, 2022
L loves the Little House books and got excited when we found this adaptation at the library. Essentially, each chapter in this early reader tells an abridged/simplified version of one of the stories involving Laura and her dog Jack from Laura Ingalls Wilder's original books. We'd already read Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, and On the Banks of Plum Creek, the books that feature Laura and Jack, so this was repetitive for us, but that didn't decrease L's enjoyment of it.
November 14, 2019
Read to Sophie as a bedtime story over the course of about a week. A fun, sweet introduction to the Little House stories via a few abridged versions of stories involving Laura and Jack, the family bulldog. Sophie really enjoyed them and, even though I knew what was coming, I started to tear up while reading the last chapter.
Not as good as the full books, naturally, but fun. Sophie wants to read through the real thing now.
Not as good as the full books, naturally, but fun. Sophie wants to read through the real thing now.
June 9, 2019
This series is a shorter version of the original Little House series, and I love reading them with my 8 year old! Each book seems to have a theme and picks a few examples of related stories from the original, longer series, shortening them for younger readers. This book was just stories of Laura and Jack. Bonus: the newer illustrations are fabulous!
June 5, 2025
"And there never was as good a dog as Jack."
Okay, crying over here! This was just such a lovely read and I imagine the others in this abridged series will be just as well done. Hats off to the editors overseeing this series and all the My First Little House Picture books - they are true gems.
Okay, crying over here! This was just such a lovely read and I imagine the others in this abridged series will be just as well done. Hats off to the editors overseeing this series and all the My First Little House Picture books - they are true gems.
September 4, 2017
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May 16, 2020Cool
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October 16, 2021It was a good book you should read 😃💜
March 11, 2022
I enjoy reading these with my daughter who is 4!
They’ve been a nice way to introduce her to shorter chapters and the little house series minus some of the other stuff she won’t yet understand.
They’ve been a nice way to introduce her to shorter chapters and the little house series minus some of the other stuff she won’t yet understand.
October 14, 2022
awesome!
January 21, 2026
Sweet.
March 7, 2026
*Full review to come* Yes, I bawled
October 29, 2018
My Review: I picked this book up because I am a fan of the original Laura Ingalls Wilder books but Munchkin has been having a hard time sitting through even one of the books. This is a great one for introducing the story to young kids without the long books. I really enjoyed the various adventures of Jack, he really was a great dog (though I only remember him a little from the original stories). There are some gaps in the storyline to keep it focused on the ones Jack is involved in but I don't think young readers will mind because it keeps the story engaging. I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to share it with Munchkin, I will also be tracking down more in the series.
November 5, 2011
I would have a hard time giving less than 5 stars to Laura Ingalls Wilder even if the book was put together from sections of her previous books. She has a lot to do with my addiction called reading.
A kid and her dog. A kid and her dog in the wild woods and prairies. A winning combination invoking rapt attention from my boys. We went from young dog Jack to old dog Jack and, yes, I still get choked up when Jack goes to the Happy Hunting Grounds.
This was a great chapter book for my young readers.
A kid and her dog. A kid and her dog in the wild woods and prairies. A winning combination invoking rapt attention from my boys. We went from young dog Jack to old dog Jack and, yes, I still get choked up when Jack goes to the Happy Hunting Grounds.
This was a great chapter book for my young readers.
October 27, 2009
10/26/09 An interesting little read after growing up reading the Little House on the Prairie Series (and of course watching the TV show!)
This particular book took episodes from Laura's life that involved Jack, the dog. Each chapter shared an experience they two had. I do have higher hopes for other "A Little House Chapter Book" series. But we'll see if Annabelle likes them enough to read more. She seemed to think it was okay, but made no comment of excitement as we read it.
This particular book took episodes from Laura's life that involved Jack, the dog. Each chapter shared an experience they two had. I do have higher hopes for other "A Little House Chapter Book" series. But we'll see if Annabelle likes them enough to read more. She seemed to think it was okay, but made no comment of excitement as we read it.
July 22, 2010
This was a cute quick read. Essentially this is a compiled collection of stories about Laura and Jack - taken from the actual Little House Series. The writing was very basic - I think my daughter may have just liked it better if we just started the actual series. Laura ages from chapter to chapter and the family moves three times - which may have been a little confusing.
Spoiler Alert*
Jack dies in the last chapter - I balled. Darn dog dying.
Spoiler Alert*
Jack dies in the last chapter - I balled. Darn dog dying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2016
This book is so very good. I dearly love this series. There are 14 Books,in this series. These books are clean family type stories and that is what I love about this series.
I give this book 5/5 Stars and I highly recommend them. I am hoping that my Library has all 14 Books in this series. I have Book #2 which I got from my Library.
I give this book 5/5 Stars and I highly recommend them. I am hoping that my Library has all 14 Books in this series. I have Book #2 which I got from my Library.
December 13, 2016
This was a great way to introduce a beloved series to my three year old. She's not quite ready for the full Little House books, but this book helped her understand the background settings and characters for when we dive into the original series later. I also like that the stories are lifted and compiled directly from the original books.
January 8, 2011
They were best friends. Jack would guard their house while they were sleeping. In the daytime he would play with Laura. Jack almost got washed over when they went across the river in the covered wagon. When the river was calm he swam across.
October 21, 2012
My only negative for this selection of stories is that Jack dies at the end!!! Very hard for my son to deal with, and I was trying not to cry (which that further worsened it for my son)!!! Otherwise, a great collection of stories.
September 8, 2015
MD read this aloud to me. She gave it 5 stars. I give it 4. She like the book because it was an adventure story and liked that Laura was not afraid of trying new things. She likes learning about the "old days."
August 25, 2015
Forced by my children to stop reading before last chapter because...Jack dies.
I didn't know that this was just a series of jumpy excerpts from the longer books. I thought it was going to be new content (kind of an "inspired by" rather than "excerpted from.")
I didn't know that this was just a series of jumpy excerpts from the longer books. I thought it was going to be new content (kind of an "inspired by" rather than "excerpted from.")
March 26, 2009
A great read with a 6 year old. We laughed, we cried...
November 13, 2009
Very cute. They took some of the main stories from the original book and put them into easy-to-read chapters for children.
February 12, 2010
this book is so cool anyone who loves realistic fiction will love this
March 13, 2013
Great beginning reading book.
July 5, 2014
Good for kids. I do feel there's a slight awkwardness to how it jumps from book to book. It always bugs me that Jack's death gets to me when I know that he and the Ingalls parted ways much sooner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews