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Laura Ingalls's story begins in 1871 in a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Four-year-old Laura lives in the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their trusty dog, Jack. Pioneer life is sometimes hard, since the family must grow or catch... read more

Summary edit see section history

The story builds as the family faces harsh winters and the hardships of living in pioneer times.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Caroline Ingalls: The mother of Laura, Mary, and baby Carrie and the wife of Pa (Charles). She is a housewife who loves and cares about her family.
  • Mary Ingalls: Laura's older sister. Mary is a "good" girl who always seems to do the right thing at the right time. Laura often despairs of being as "good" as Mary.
  • Laura Ingalls: Laura is the daughter of Ma (Caroline) and Pa (Charles), younger sister of Mary, and older sister of baby Carrie. She is a spirited and courageous girl and her life on the frontier is nonstop adventure. She worked hard helping Ma and Pa in the house and on the family's farm, loves playing with her sisters and her dog Jack, and singing along with Pa's fiddle.
  • Charles Ingalls (Pa): Charles is the father of Laura, Mary, baby Carrie and husband of Ma. Pa Ingalls is a hunter and a good provider for his family.
  • Carrie Ingalls: The youngest child of the Ingalls family. She is Laura and Mary's baby sister.
  • Jack: The faithful family dog. Jack is a Bulldog. He is referred to as a brindle bulldog because of his color.
  • Black Susan: The Ingalls' cat. She is a black cat and is a good mouser.
  • Grandma Ingalls: Charles's mother.
  • Grandpa Ingalls: Charles's father.
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “There were no houses. There were no roads. There were no people. There were only trees and the wild animals who had their home among them.”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • It was a scary sound. Laura knew that wolves would eat little girls. But she was safe inside the solid log walls. Her father's gun hung over the door and good old Jack, the brindle bulldog, lay on guard before it. Her father would say,
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • with glass in the panes, and it had two doors, a front door and a back door. All around the house was a crooked rail fence, to
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • 'Go to sleep, Laura. Jack won't let the wolves in.' So Laura snuggled under the covers of the trundle bed, close beside Mary, and went to
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • They howled, but they could not get in. The house was a comfortable house. Upstairs there was a large attic, pleasant to play in when the rain drummed on the roof. Downstairs was the small bedroom, and the big room. The bedroom had a window that closed with a wooden shutter. The big room had two windows
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Big Woods, Wisconsin

First Sentence edit see section history

Once upon a time, sixty years ago, a little girl lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little gray house made of logs.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. Little House In The Big Woods
2. Winter Days And Winter Nights
3. The Long Rifle
4. Christmas
5. Sundays
6. Two Big Bears
7. The Sugar Snow
8. Dance At Grandpa's
9. Going To Town
10. Summertime
11. Harvest
12. The Wonderful Machine
13. The Deer In The Wood

Glossary edit see section history

  • bootjack: a piece of wood use to remove boots.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Family customs: laura had to be good and obey people older than her all the time. she must act ladylike, do not speak except when she's spoken to at the table, and must wear a sunbonnet all the time.
  • The Importance of Family Bonds: The family is also close, doing things together, such as Pa telling stories and playing his fiddle.
  • Survival: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 9 in Little House. (standard series)

Followed by Little House on the Prairie.

This is book 452 of 985 in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Laura Ingalls Wilder (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Garth Williams (Illustrator)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Harper & Brothers
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1932
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 176

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: 813
  • Dewey: PZ7.W6461Li

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

This book is great for a reading level of a 9-10 year old child but makes a great read-aloud for younger children.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

Movie Connections edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Little House Boxed Set, Books 1-9
  • Before the Prairie Books: The Writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder 1911 - 1916
  • The Little House Cookbook
  • My Little House Crafts Book
  • My Little House Sewing Book
  • Father and I Were Ranchers
  • Caddie Woodlawn

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Before the Prairie Books: The Writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder 1911 - 1916
  • The Little House Guidebook
  • West from Home

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history

   
  • Quiet Moments for Homeschool Moms and Dads
  • The Language Police

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