Laura Ingalls Wilder’s vast literary legacy has captivated readers of all ages. This specially curated list should help you find the perfect book for your Little House fan, no matter their age.
Pre-Reading and Picture Books
Early Readers (Preschool to Grade 2)
With these illustrated adaptations from the beloved Little House series, the youngest readers can share in the joy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved classics. The My First Little House Books are an excellent choice for children aged 4-6.
A Little House Picture Book Treasury contains several of the My First Little House books, but you can also get each one individually.
Laura Ingalls Wilder: Written and illustrated by Alexandra Wallner, this early reader book provides a colorful biography of the famous writer.
A Little House Coloring Book: A beautifully designed coloring book featuring classic artwork by Garth Williams and quotes from all nine original Little House books.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (Real People): Pam Walker has written an easy-to-read biography about the pioneer life of the author of the Little House books.
Grades 3-5
The elementary grades are the perfect time to introduce the actual writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America’s frontier history and a heartwarming, unforgettable story. The original book series is best suited for children from grades 3-5.
Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder: With text by noted historian and Little House scholar William Anderson, and paintings by Dan Andreasen, Pioneer Girl is a very special portrait of a writer whose pioneer adventures have made her one of the most popular literary figures in America.
The Adventures of Laura and Jack: Jack travels with Laura and her pioneer family all the way from the Big Woods of Wisconsin to the West. He protects them from wolves, cattle that go astray. And he can always help Laura find her way home.
Animal Adventures: Laura Ingalls and her family are surrounded by all kinds of wild animals. From bears and panthers to badgers and deer, Laura always manages to find herself caught up in a new animal adventure.
Laura and Nellie: Laura loves living on a farm, playing in Plum Creek, and wearing her homemade dresses. She’s a country girl, through and through. But Nellie is a town girl who teases Laura. Can they put aside their differences and become friends?
School Days: The Ingalls family has settled near town, and it’s finally time for Laura and Mary to start school. Laura wants to stay home and play, but Ma says she should be learning to read. Laura soon realizes she can learn and have fun at school, and she especially loves having new friends to play with at recess.
Grades 6-8 (Mid-Grade)
On the Way Home:In 1894, Laura, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose, packed their belongings into their covered wagon and set out on a journey from De Smet, South Dakota, to Mansfield, Missouri. During their journey, Laura kept a detailed diary of the voyage.
Rose Wilder Lane: Her Story: This fictionalized description traces the early heartaches of Rose Wilder Lane as she leaves home to become a telegrapher in California, following her first love, who she hoped to marry.
The Rose Wilder Lane Series: This series traces Rose’s travels, starting with a childhood move away from the Ingalls farm to Missouri and concluding with her move away from home to the big city as she becomes independent.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Young at Heart: Perfect for the mid-grade reader, this biography from author Jill Wheeler traces the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Iowa Story: The two years that Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family lived in Burr Oak, Iowa were not included in the Little House series. Here William Anderson, leading Wilder historian and biographer, shares that part of Laura’s life and discusses why it was omitted.
Upper Grade Books (High School and Beyond)
Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Biography: This expertly researched account of Wilder’s life chronicles the real events that inspired her to write her stories, and describes her life after the last Little House book ends.
Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Writer’s Life: Following the course of Wilder’s life, and her real family’s journey west, author Pamela Smith Hill provides a context both familial and literary, for Wilder’s writing career.
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist: Writings from the Ozarks: This volume collects essays by Wilder that originally appeared in the Missouri Ruralist between 1911 and 1924.
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography: Hidden away since the 1930s, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s never-before-published autobiography reveals the true stories of her pioneering life. Using additional manuscripts, diaries, and letters, Pioneer Girl builds on Wilder’s work by adding valuable context and explores her growth as a writer.
Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder: Drawing on unpublished manuscripts, letters, diaries, and land and financial records, author Caroline Fraser masterfully fills in the gaps in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s biography.
The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder: Available for the first time and collected in one volume, the letters of author Laura Ingalls Wilder offer a new and unexpected understanding of her life and work.
The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes That Inspired the Little House Books: Excerpts from Wilder’s books, letters, and diaries bring to light her profound appreciation for the landscapes at the heart of her world.
The World of Little House: This keepsake volume from authors Carolyn Strom Collins and Christina Wyss Eriksson discusses how Wilder’s real life was different from her stories, and focuses on her adult life and how she came to write the Little House series.
Young Pioneers: Written by Laura’s daughter Rose, this book depicts just how treacherous life could be for a young couple trying to hold onto a land claim, while facing deprivation, fire, locusts, wolves, and other obstacles.
I love the step by step instructions given in the book Farm Boy for household chores and independent living. Is there a book dedicated to that perspective? I’d love to understand it better!Thank you!