Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. It's the first book in the classic Little House on the Prairie series, which chronicles the life of Laura and her family in pre-modern America. Published in 1932, it has been in print ever since and has been adapted into numerous films and television series.
The story opens in 1871, in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Here, the Ingalls family lives in a small log cabin, positioned in the midst of majestic forests and pristine lakes. Father, Charles, is a self-reliant and independent man who works as a homesteader, trapping and hunting game. He also grows and harvests his own crops and raises livestock. Under his guidance, Laura and her sisters, Mary and Carrie, learn the importance of hard work and living off the land.
The Ingalls family’s day-to-day life is filled with acts of generosity, joy, and shared responsibility. As Laura grows up, she shares in her father’s awareness that their family is part of a larger society by extending care and hospitality to their neighbors and visitors. Although their cabin is quite small, the Ingalls family’s bonds to the community and their respect for nature make it the biggest, most beautiful house in the Big Woods.
Laura’s mother, Caroline, teaches the girls to cook, sew, clean, and care for the animals. She’s an expert baker and her stories of Little House are filled with scrumptious descriptions of food. The family also keeps a barrel of maple syrup and Laura helps her mother preserve wild fruits and vegetables in order to get them through the cold winter months.
At night, the family’s entertainment includes Laura’s tales of her adventures during the day, lively dances around the kitchen table, and the family’s renditions of favorite songs like ‘Skip to My Lou.’ This is also the setting where Laura’s father tells the suspenseful yet endearing stories of Jack the Splinter Cat, Davey Crockett, and other American heroes.
While the book captures a simpler, gentler time, it also pays homage to the work, skill, and fortitude of the Ingalls family who has learned to work together to survive. Little House in the Big Woods is a delightful, timeless story of family and faith that will enthrall young and old alike.
In addition to its great storytelling, Little House in the Big Woods has been praised for its accurate portrayal of the daily lives of pioneer families. It captures the harshness of life on the frontier, as well as the small victories that made it all worthwhile.
At its heart, Little House in the Big Woods is a celebration of resilience and determination, and has been called “a wonderful and tender reminder of the way people used to live and the value of the home they built with their own hands and dreams.”
So if you’re looking for a classic children’s book that will capture their imagination and open their eyes to the struggles of our forebears, then Little House in the Big Woods is the perfect choice.
