Little House in the Big Woods facts for kids
Front dust jacket with Sewell's illustration
|
|
| Author | Laura Ingalls Wilder |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Helen Sewell Garth Williams (1953) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Little House |
| Genre | Children's literature Family saga Western |
| Set in | Pepin County, Wisconsin, 1871–72 |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
|
Publication date
|
1932 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 176; 237 pp. |
| OCLC | 2365122 |
| 813.52 | |
| LC Class | PZ7.W6461 Li |
| Followed by | Little House on the Prairie |
Little House in the Big Woods is a famous children's book by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It was first published in 1932. This book was the start of her popular Little House series.
The story is based on Laura's own childhood memories. It tells about her early life in the Big Woods near Pepin, Wisconsin. This was in the early 1870s, when Laura was about five years old.
Contents
Life in the Big Woods
This book shows what life was like for a pioneer family. It describes the skills Laura learned and saw every day. Unlike some later books in the series, this one focuses on the happy, everyday adventures of Laura and her family.
Even though they worked hard, they always found ways to have fun. Laura helped her Ma and Pa with many tasks. They prepared for the cold winter by gathering food and supplies.
Autumn Activities
Fall was a very busy time for the Ingalls family. They had to bring in all the crops from their garden and fields. Laura helped gather wood chips for the fire. She also helped her parents prepare meat to last through the winter.
Winter Fun and Traditions
During Christmas, Laura's cousins came to visit. Laura received a special rag doll, which she named Charlotte. Later that winter, the Ingalls family visited Grandma Ingalls. They had a "sugaring off" party. This is when they collected sap from maple trees to make maple syrup. They returned home with enough syrup to last the whole year. Laura always remembered that sugaring off and the dance that followed.
When Pa came home in the winter evenings, Laura and Mary loved to hear him play his fiddle. He was often too tired to play during the summer. But in winter, they enjoyed the warmth of their home and danced to Pa’s music.
Springtime and Summer Work
Each season brought new work, but also good things. In the spring, their cow had a calf. This meant fresh milk, butter, and cheese for the family. The book also describes the daily housework in detail.
That summer and fall, the Ingalls family planted their garden and fields again. They worked hard to store enough food for the next winter. Pa often traded his work with other farmers. This helped them harvest their crops faster.
Hunting and Gathering
Not all their work was farming. Hunting and gathering food from the wild were also very important. When Pa went hunting in the woods, he usually brought home a deer. They would then smoke the meat to preserve it for winter.
One day, Pa found a "bee tree" filled with honey. He quickly returned home to get a wash tub and milk pail. He collected the sweet honey for his family to enjoy.
Related Books and Stories
The Little House series is very popular. Many other books have been created based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's stories. Some books tell about five generations of her family.
There are also simplified versions of the original stories for younger readers. These include "Little House Chapter Books" and "My First Little House Books." You can also find Little House themed craft books, music, and cookbooks.
Images for kids
-
Original front cover (see dust jacket above)
