Caddie Woodlawn facts for kids
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| Author | Carol Ryrie Brink |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Caddie Woodlawn |
| Genre | Children's novel, historical |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing |
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Publication date
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1935 |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 275 |
| ISBN | 1-4169-4028-6 |
| OCLC | 77530618 |
| Followed by | Magical Melons |
Caddie Woodlawn is a popular children's book written by Carol Ryrie Brink. It's a historical fiction novel, meaning it tells a made-up story set in a real time in the past. This book won the famous Newbery Medal in 1936, which is a big award for children's literature. It also received a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958. The first edition of the book, published in 1935, had drawings by Kate Seredy. Later, in 1973, a new edition came out with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.
Contents
What is Caddie Woodlawn About?
The story of Caddie Woodlawn takes place in the 1860s, during the time of the American Civil War. It's about an energetic eleven-year-old girl named Caroline Augusta Woodlawn, but everyone calls her "Caddie." She lives with her family near Dunnville, Wisconsin.
Caddie's Life on the Frontier
Caddie and her family moved from Boston to Dunnville. Caddie was very sick during this journey. To help her get strong again, her parents let her run wild with her brothers, Tom and Warren. They spent most of their time exploring the woods and rivers around their farm.
The book begins with Caddie being late for dinner. She had been visiting the local Native American tribe. Her wild behavior sometimes made her mother feel embarrassed. But Caddie didn't let that stop her!
Adventures and Challenges
Over the next year, Caddie has many exciting and sometimes scary adventures:
- She takes a midnight ride through the forest. She wanted to warn her friend, "Indian John," that some settlers were planning an attack. This shows her bravery and kindness.
- She faces a big prairie fire. This event brings out the good side of Obediah, a bully from school.
- She has a dangerous fall through a lake while ice skating. This was a life-threatening moment.
Caddie's life is never boring! Her brothers, Tom and Warren, are always part of her adventures. The story also includes funny moments, like practical jokes, and touching ones, like when their beloved pet dog, Nero, makes a long journey home.
Facing the Future
Things get interesting when Caddie's "perfect" cousin, Annabelle, comes to visit from Boston. Caddie has to think about what her future will be like. The book is a true story about a family living on the frontier during the Civil War. It shows what life was like in a small Wisconsin village. People sometimes worried about the local Native Americans, and dangerous situations happened often.
The story of Caddie and her family continues in the sequel, Magical Melons, which was published in 1939.
Who Wrote Caddie Woodlawn?
The author, Carol Ryrie Brink (1895–1981), grew up in Moscow, Idaho. She became an orphan at age eight after her mother died. She then lived with her grandmother and an aunt. Her grandmother had grown up on a farm in Wisconsin.
In a special note in a later edition of Caddie Woodlawn, Carol Ryrie Brink said that the books were partly based on her grandmother's life. Her grandmother's name was Caddie Woodhouse Watkins (1853–1940). The characters in the book are based on her grandmother and her siblings: Clara, Tom, Warren, Hetty, Minnie, and baby Joe.
The actual house where the real Caddie lived is now a historical site. It is about 12 miles (19 km) south of Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Other Versions of Caddie Woodlawn
The popular story of Caddie Woodlawn has been adapted into different forms:
Radio Drama
Carol Ryrie Brink herself turned Caddie Woodlawn into a radio drama in 1945. This meant people could listen to the story on the radio.
Television Movie
In 1989, a movie based on the novel was made for television. It was directed by Giles Walker. Emily Schulman played the main character, Caddie. Some parts of the movie were changed from the book. For example, the conflict between the settlers and Native Americans was moved to the end of the story. Also, Caddie's cousin Annabelle had a much bigger role in the movie.
Musical Play
There is also a musical called Caddie Woodlawn A Musical Adventure. This musical was created by Tom Shelton and Susan C. Hunter, who is Carol Ryrie Brink's granddaughter.
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by Dobry |
Newbery Medal recipient 1936 |
Succeeded by Roller Skates |
