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My First Little House Books
The Deer in the Wood
A pioneer father tells his two small daughters why he was unable to shoot a deer for their dinner.
The youngest readers can share her adventure in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks. These classic Little House illustrations bring Laura and her family lovingly to life.
The youngest readers can share her adventure in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks. These classic Little House illustrations bring Laura and her family lovingly to life.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Laura Ingalls Wilder
483 books5,624 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 39 reviews
April 27, 2026
"It was autumn, and the days were getting short and cold. A fire burned all day in the cookstove to keep the little house warm."Laura and her family are preparing for winter. Laura and Mary worked on their patchwork quilts at night and Pa chopped wood during the day.
In the evening, Pa went hunting but when he came home, there was no venison for the family. Laura wanted to know why and so Pa said,
Pa shares that he resolved to shoot the next animal that came into the clearing but when it was a doe and her fawn, he couldn't bring himself to do it either.
"He looked so strong and free and wild that I couldn't shoot him. I sat and looked at him until he ran off into the Big Woods."
He comes home empty-handed and Laura snuggles extra close to him.
This is a bit of an odd tale among the Laura Ingalls Wilder Picture books but it is also one that I remember from my childhood. I was fixated on the story as a kid - and I think it has to do with the way Pa respect nature.
He knows his family has to eat - and later on in the main book, we know he hunts for food for his family - but in this story, he takes the time to appreciate the natural world and the beauty in it.
I understand the need to feed their family, but much like Laura in the story, I was glad when Pa spared the deer.
November 16, 2016
Great book! My students really enjoyed this! Especially because this book took place in Wisconsin!
September 14, 2024
I don't think I read this one growing up, but I love it now--it expresses so much about Laura's character that's fully fleshed out in her later work.
December 7, 2022
This 'Little House' adaptation perfectly captures the tenderness of Charles 'Pa' Ingalls, hitting all of the right beats without going overboard or underplaying the scene. When Pa goes on a hunting expedition with the intention of shooting a deer for his family (they haven't had meat in a long time), he and the family come away with a beautiful life lesson that can nourish the body and spirit better than a meal ever could.
August 19, 2023
Nothing too special, just a super cute art style!
September 30, 2025
My Courtney (11) was excited to scan the books tonight and rate them on Goodreads. She said she’d always wanted to do that. They are all 5 stars according to her. ❣️
February 9, 2016
5* art
3* story
I love the Laura books, I don't know that this was a good choice for a stand-alone story however. The ending doesn't seem right - and that would be because it isn't the end. Just my opinion. Will still be reading it to Squirt.
3* story
I love the Laura books, I don't know that this was a good choice for a stand-alone story however. The ending doesn't seem right - and that would be because it isn't the end. Just my opinion. Will still be reading it to Squirt.
August 27, 2017
"The Deer in the Wood" is a cute short story about a small family who lives in a house in the big woods. This family is why you would call 'typical:' a father, a mother, two daughters, a dog, and a cat. Since this family was found to live in a different time frame then the one we live in now, hunting and gathering was a preferred way to survive.
The father in this story was going on to hunt one night, hoping for fresh deer meat so that they can have meat to eat. The moral of this story was that the father returned the next morning without any new food for his family but he had an excellent story to tale for the reason why. This story was very cute and well written.
The father in this story was going on to hunt one night, hoping for fresh deer meat so that they can have meat to eat. The moral of this story was that the father returned the next morning without any new food for his family but he had an excellent story to tale for the reason why. This story was very cute and well written.
January 11, 2020
My child loves these books. The illustrations are beautiful and pare wonderfully with the beloved series I grew up with. Truly a wonderful addition to our library. I look forward to collecting the rest in this series!
December 20, 2017
12/19/17 Read with Naomi & Julia.
May 9, 2018
Alissa enjoyed the story about another little girl.
February 12, 2019
Excellent story!!
October 11, 2019
I loved the moral of the story. It was a very cute book. I'm happy the dad didn't kill the deer. I'm also happy that the family was very excepting of his decision.
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September 1, 2020AR 3.2
September 26, 2021
This is another book I remember reading at my grandma and grandpa’s house. I loved this little story and the beautiful illustrations.
September 16, 2025
basic but solid
October 22, 2025
I’m pretty sure Pa just failed to get a deer, having read more background on him. But okay.
September 22, 2023
The little house picture books are amazing!
February 23, 2017
Our family loves these illustrated versions of The Little House books!
November 12, 2010
The typical image of the pioneer hunter is given a thoughtful reworking in The Deer in the Wood. The story begins with Pa of “Little House” fame announcing that he’s going to go hunting to provide deer meat for the family’s dinner table.
What happens next is unexpected, as a reviewer on the blog Vegbooks.org notes:
After hearing why their father has come home empty-handed, his young daughters are happy that Pa chose not to kill the deer. The little girls announce that they prefer bread and butter anyway.
The Vegbooks review continues:
I would second that. Pa is shown as a strong and wise man, and his attributes are not diminished by his choice not to kill. The book would also make for a nice opportunity to discuss different vegetarian foods—besides bread and butter! The final page shows a touching picture of the doe and her fawn bedding down for the night.
What happens next is unexpected, as a reviewer on the blog Vegbooks.org notes:
The great thing about this story is that Pa ends up seeing the deer differently on this hunting trip, and he finds he can no longer shoot them. His hunter’s mentality shifts to one of compassion for the animals he is admiring.
After hearing why their father has come home empty-handed, his young daughters are happy that Pa chose not to kill the deer. The little girls announce that they prefer bread and butter anyway.
The Vegbooks review continues:
This is a good book for vegetarian parents wanting to teach their child about having compassion for animals, and it presents a positive image in regard to boys/men not participating in hunting.
I would second that. Pa is shown as a strong and wise man, and his attributes are not diminished by his choice not to kill. The book would also make for a nice opportunity to discuss different vegetarian foods—besides bread and butter! The final page shows a touching picture of the doe and her fawn bedding down for the night.
January 17, 2013
Mommy's review from 7/29/11 -
This is our favorite My First Little House book to date. We've talked it over while thinking back to all of the stories in the series that we've read and we both love it the most.
This is about Pa going off to hunt to find meat since none had been had for quite some time. When Pa comes home with no meat and he finally tells Laura and Mary why, they not only understand but they're happy.
Pa ended up not being able to shoot the deer because she was with her fawn and she was so beautiful. So the children are actually happy to go without a type of food they love because of their love for a wild animal.
This is our favorite My First Little House book to date. We've talked it over while thinking back to all of the stories in the series that we've read and we both love it the most.
This is about Pa going off to hunt to find meat since none had been had for quite some time. When Pa comes home with no meat and he finally tells Laura and Mary why, they not only understand but they're happy.
Pa ended up not being able to shoot the deer because she was with her fawn and she was so beautiful. So the children are actually happy to go without a type of food they love because of their love for a wild animal.
June 8, 2020
We frequently see deer in the woods so this is one of the first books the kids choose to read.
2017: I just re-read LH in the BW, and this incident is described near the end of the book. However, most of the hunting incidents are mentioned as a way of obtaining meat for their diet. I would like to see another of these little books in which Dad does bring home a deer and young readers would see some of the work that goes into preparing and preserving it. This would add to kids' understanding of where meat comes from and what it takes to survive without grocery stores.
2017: I just re-read LH in the BW, and this incident is described near the end of the book. However, most of the hunting incidents are mentioned as a way of obtaining meat for their diet. I would like to see another of these little books in which Dad does bring home a deer and young readers would see some of the work that goes into preparing and preserving it. This would add to kids' understanding of where meat comes from and what it takes to survive without grocery stores.
August 24, 2013
This is a great introduction to the Little House in the Big Woods stories because it is just one short episode in the story. It talks of the family and the things that the family does to stay warm and fed in the winter. Pa goes out to hunt a deer but comes back empty-handed. He explains to the girls why he doesn’t have a deer to eat. The pictures are lovely, but this story could easily be read when the pictures can’t be seen.
March 23, 2014
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 Pa explains why when he went out to find meat for the family why he didn't come back with a deer.
This one Pa explains why when he went out to find meat for the family why he didn't come back with a deer.
November 5, 2013
My 1st grade son is in love with this series and he loves to go hunting with his dad, so he was able to really relate to Pa and why he didn't shoot the deer that he was trying to while out hunting in the Big Woods. I like the fact that these books are short, sweet and have great illustrations the show a much simpler life that interests our children.
October 22, 2012
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.
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.
August 29, 2009
animal rights activists and those leaning in that direction should give this one a look. i enjoyed the art.
June 8, 2011
Such beautiful illustrations of stories that I have come to absolutely love over the years. A time in this country of simpler things in life. I treasure these stories and love the picture books too.
September 25, 2013
picture resource of the little house on the prairie one small chapter
March 18, 2012
a short retelling of part of the books for younger readers
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews