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mikbisson's review against another edition
4.0
This one’s a bit more interesting, brings the Osage Indians into the story.
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Third (per Wilder) in the Little House historical biographical series for middle-grade readers that travels with the Ingalls family from Wisconsin to Indian Territory in Kansas.
My Take
Whoa, it's definitely scarier living in Kansas...wait'll you read Pa's tale of that pack of wolves that surrounded him! Of course, Jack's adventures are pretty scary too, as are the Ingalls family's experiences with the Indians.
Wilder uses third person objective point-of-view that relates only what is seen or heard to tell us her tale of family life in the early 1870s on the desolate prairies of Kansas.
It's a fascinating combination of building one's house overnight with a neighbor's help — and without "benefit" of building codes, lol; the simple wealth of building the furniture one needs; and, a primary perspective on settler-Indian interactions — and the hypocrisy which frames them — and ain't it sad that it's the children who see it?
And, we experience another Christmas with this one on the prairie.
The Story
Pa has decided to sell their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. He's heard that there's good farming land in Indian Territory!
The Characters
Pa (Charles) Ingalls has the wanderlust while his wife, Ma (Caroline), is the practical one. Mary, Laura, and baby Carrie are their children. Pet and Patty are the mustangs for which Pa traded their ponies. Bunny is Pet's colt. They're lucky that Jack, their protective brindle bulldog, is still with them.
Mr Edwards is a wildcat from Tennessee and their new, very helpful, neighbor. More neighbors soon include the Scotts. Pure luck brings Dr Tan, a black man, to help.
Soldat du Chène is an Osage Indian.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a country feel with that muted red and cream gingham check framing it on all four sides. An oval badge (intersecting with the border and the center graphic) in a deeper cream with a thin dark brown border provides the series information along with a log cabin graphic. The author's name in dark brown is below this against the pale summer blue sky. The title is immediately below this in that muted red with a dark brown outline, set against the top of the Conestoga wagon in which Mary and Laura are peeking out the back with Ma and Pa behind them on the driver's seat. Jack walks beneath the wagon. A round gold badge announces that this book is the 65th anniversary edition. Below Jack and the wagon wheels is the illustrator's name in the dark brown.
The title finds the Ingalls have moved to another little house, this one is the Little House on the Prairie.
My Take
Whoa, it's definitely scarier living in Kansas...wait'll you read Pa's tale of that pack of wolves that surrounded him! Of course, Jack's adventures are pretty scary too, as are the Ingalls family's experiences with the Indians.
Wilder uses third person objective point-of-view that relates only what is seen or heard to tell us her tale of family life in the early 1870s on the desolate prairies of Kansas.
It's a fascinating combination of building one's house overnight with a neighbor's help — and without "benefit" of building codes, lol; the simple wealth of building the furniture one needs; and, a primary perspective on settler-Indian interactions — and the hypocrisy which frames them — and ain't it sad that it's the children who see it?
And, we experience another Christmas with this one on the prairie.
The Story
Pa has decided to sell their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. He's heard that there's good farming land in Indian Territory!
The Characters
Pa (Charles) Ingalls has the wanderlust while his wife, Ma (Caroline), is the practical one. Mary, Laura, and baby Carrie are their children. Pet and Patty are the mustangs for which Pa traded their ponies. Bunny is Pet's colt. They're lucky that Jack, their protective brindle bulldog, is still with them.
Mr Edwards is a wildcat from Tennessee and their new, very helpful, neighbor. More neighbors soon include the Scotts. Pure luck brings Dr Tan, a black man, to help.
Soldat du Chène is an Osage Indian.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a country feel with that muted red and cream gingham check framing it on all four sides. An oval badge (intersecting with the border and the center graphic) in a deeper cream with a thin dark brown border provides the series information along with a log cabin graphic. The author's name in dark brown is below this against the pale summer blue sky. The title is immediately below this in that muted red with a dark brown outline, set against the top of the Conestoga wagon in which Mary and Laura are peeking out the back with Ma and Pa behind them on the driver's seat. Jack walks beneath the wagon. A round gold badge announces that this book is the 65th anniversary edition. Below Jack and the wagon wheels is the illustrator's name in the dark brown.
The title finds the Ingalls have moved to another little house, this one is the Little House on the Prairie.
lorebooks's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
rattledragons's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
annashiv's review against another edition
4.0
This one caused me more anxiety. I can't imagine going through all that and then just having to pick up and leave. It would have been a stressful life and full of hard work and plenty of worries.
mjhj888's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
My favorite of the series so far. I found the way in which the Ingalls family were able to build such a sweet home from nothing to be so inspiring.
unhinged_female_protagonist's review against another edition
3.0
Haven’t read these since childhood and wow…this book is blatantly anti Native American. When Mrs Scott claims that the land should belong to the people who are going to farm it (whites) instead of moving around constantly (natives), I went into a blind rage that caused a trance in which I saw what this country would look like if the native practices of migration were still in place. There were no strip malls or condo complexes where the forest once was. If you don’t understand my point, read up on native land practices. It’s too much to explain here.
sk8r2natls's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
A wild telling of life that I hardly remember learning about. Lots of words that we no longer use in polite society, but it was fun to learn how they built their houses, etc. Many parts were very enjoyable and interesting, but I would no longer would recommend to most people due to the verbiage used.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
I read the version published in the 90s, which has likely been edited. Supposedly there are several versions because it’s been edited over the years as verbiage becomes more PC.kailey_luminouslibro's review
5.0
This is my umpteenth time reading this book, and I enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was a girl! There's a simple charm to these stories of pioneer life that invites you in.
As always, Laura is my favorite character because she is spunky and brave and hilarious, while her sister Mary is prim and boring.
Pa is another favorite, because he is a musician, and because his funny and jovial ways remind me of my own father. Laura says that "Pa always laughed out loud and his laugh was like great bells ringing." haha! Wonderful!
In this book, the Ingalls family is settling in Indian Territory, building a log cabin, digging a well, and plowing the land for fields of corn. But the Indians are close by and some of them are dangerous.
This book contains the most famous scene of the entire series, when Mr. Edwards swims across the raging creek to bring Laura and Mary Christmas gifts that he claims Santa Claus asked him to deliver. When I was a kid reading this, I never realized or thought about how the adults are reacting in the scene. I was focused on the children getting their gifts.
Now reading as an adult, I see it so differently, knowing the extent of the sacrifice Mr. Edwards had made and the danger he went through. "Pa shook Mr. Edwards' hand, and shook it again. Pa and Ma and Mr. Edwards acted as if they were almost crying, Laura didn't know why."
The adults are overwhelmed by emotion at seeing their children so happy with their presents, and they are relieved that Christmas is not ruined. Is there anything more powerful for an adult than to see children happy at Christmas, knowing the sacrifice that it cost?
The author is brilliant at bringing an emotion to the forefront with very few words. I adore all these books!