Books and articles by and about the actors who starred in the Little House on the Prairie TV series provide a behind-the-scenes look at the show and how it affected the lives of the people making it. Here is a brief overview of Prairie Man: My Little House Life and Beyond.

Buy Now!

Author: Dean Butler
Publisher: Citadel (June 25, 2024)

Synopsis:

An illuminating, insider’s journey through the world of Little House on the Prairie and beyond, from Dean Butler, who starred as Almanzo Wilder, the man Laura “Half Pint” Ingalls married—on the iconic show still beloved by millions of fans as it reaches its 50th anniversary.

Cast just before his twenty-third birthday, Dean Butler joined “Little House on the Prairie” halfway through its run, gaining instant celebrity and fans’ enduring affection. Ironically, when the late, great Michael Landon remarked that Little House would outlive everyone involved in making it, Butler deemed it unlikely. Yet for four decades and counting, Butler has been defined in the public eye as Almanzo Wilder—a role he views as the great gift of his life.

With wit and candor, Butler recounts his passage through the Prairie, sharing stories and anecdotes of the remarkable cast who were his on-screen family. But that was merely the beginning of a diverse career that includes Broadway runs and roles on two other classic shows—Moondoggie in The New Gidget and Buffy’s ne’er-do-well father, Hank, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Coming of age during a golden era of entertainment, Butler has evolved along with it, and today enjoys success and fulfillment as a director and producer—notably of NBC Golf’s Feherty—while remaining deeply loyal to Little House.

The warmth, heart, and decency that fans of Laura and Almanzo fell in love with on Little House echo through this uplifting memoir, a story, in Butler’s words, about “good luck, good television, and the very good—if gloriously imperfect—people who made it so.”

About the Author: Dean Butler

Dean Butler is an actor, writer, director, and producer best known to television audiences worldwide for his portrayal of Almanzo Wilder on the long‑running series Little House on the Prairie, based on the iconic Little House books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. On the other side of the camera, Dean produced 80 episodes over 10 seasons of NBC Golf Channel’s Emmy-nominated series Feherty. Dean currently lives with his family in California.

Pick up your own copy of Prairie Man: My Little House Life and Beyond here.

Check out our Recommended Reading for Adults and Recommended Reading for Children & Young Adults for more great books and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for information and recommendations about interesting reading and activities.