Little House on the Prairie facts for kids

The real Ingalls family

The Little House on the Prairie books are a famous series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote them about her own childhood in the late 1800s. Her stories take place in places like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Kansas. These books have been turned into many movies and TV shows. Other writers have also added to the stories of Laura and her family.

The first book in the series is called Little House in the Big Woods. It tells about the Ingalls family living in a small home near Pepin, Wisconsin. The family includes Ma (Caroline Ingalls), Pa (Charles Ingalls), their older daughter Mary, and the younger daughter, Laura. Laura is the main character. In the book, Laura turns five years old, but in real life, she was only three during these events. The publisher asked Laura to change her age in the book. This was because it seemed more believable for a five-year-old to remember things so clearly.

A replica of the Little House at the Little House Wayside

Little House in the Big Woods shows how Laura learned about homesteading skills when she was five. Her cousins visit for Christmas, and Laura gets a doll she names Charlotte. Later that winter, the family goes to Grandma Ingalls’s house. They have a "sugaring off" party, where they collect sap and make maple syrup. They bring home enough syrup to last all year. Laura remembered this sugaring off and the dance that followed for the rest of her life.

The book also describes other farm chores and events. These include a calf being born, and how they got milk, butter, and cheese. They also did gardening, field work, hunting, and gathering. Daily housework is also explained in detail. When Pa went hunting, he often came back with a deer. He would smoke the meat for winter. One day, he found a bee tree and collected a lot of honey. In the winter evenings, Laura and Mary always asked Pa to play his fiddle. He was too tired to play during the summer.

Farmer Boy: Almanzo's Story

Farmer Boy was published in 1933. It is usually listed as the second book in the Little House series. However, its story is not connected to Little House in the Big Woods. This book is about the childhood of Laura's future husband, Almanzo Wilder. It covers his life from before his ninth birthday until after his tenth. The book describes his schooling, holidays, farm work, and especially, all the food he ate!

Little House on the Prairie: Moving West

Little House on the Prairie was published in 1935. It is the third book in the series but the second one about the Ingalls family. It continues the story from Little House in the Big Woods.

This book tells about the months the Ingalls family spent on the prairie in Kansas. This was near the town of Independence, Kansas. At the start of the story, Pa Ingalls decides to sell their house in Wisconsin. He moves the family in a covered wagon to the Indian Territory near Independence, Kansas. People were saying that this land, which belonged to the Osage Nation, would soon be open for settlers. So Laura, along with Pa, Ma, Mary, and baby Carrie, move to Kansas. On the way, Pa trades his two horses for two Western mustangs. Laura and Mary name them Pet and Patty.

Caroline and Charles Ingalls

When the family reaches Indian Territory, they meet Mr. Edwards. He is very polite to Ma. He tells Laura and Mary that he is "a wildcat from Tennessee." Mr. Edwards is a great neighbor. He helps the Ingalls family in every way he can. He even helps Pa build their house. Pa builds a roof and a floor for their house and digs a well. The family finally settles in.

At their new home, the family faces difficulties and dangers. The Ingalls family gets very sick with a disease called "fever 'n' ague." This was later known as malaria. Laura mentions different ideas about how they got sick. Mrs. Scott, another neighbor, takes care of the family while they are sick. Around this time, Mr. Edwards brings Laura and Mary their Christmas presents. In the spring, the Ingalls family starts a small farm.

The book also shows different views on the Native American people. Ma has some ideas about them, and Laura makes observations as a child. These are compared with Pa's more fair view. The book also shows the Osage tribe who lived on and owned that land.

At the end of this book, the family learns that settlers must leave the land. It is not legally open for settlement yet. In 1870, Pa decides to move the family before the Army makes them leave.

On the Banks of Plum Creek: New Home, New Challenges

On the Banks of Plum Creek was published in 1937. It is the fourth book in the series. It follows the Ingalls family as they move from Kansas to an area near Walnut Grove, Minnesota. They settle in a dugout home "on the banks of Plum Creek."

Pa trades his horses, Pet and Patty, to the property owner for the land and crops. But he later gets two new horses as Christmas presents for the family. Laura and Mary name them "Sam" and "David." Pa soon builds a new wooden house for the family. In this story, Laura and Mary go to school for the first time. They meet their teacher, Miss Eva Beadle. They also meet Nellie Oleson, who makes fun of Laura and Mary for being "country girls." Laura plays with her bulldog Jack when she is home. Laura and Mary are invited to a party at the Olesons' home. Laura and Mary then invite all the girls (including Nellie) to a party at their house. The family soon faces hard times when a plague of Rocky Mountain Locusts destroys their crops. The book ends with Pa safely returning home after being missing during a severe four-day blizzard.

By the Shores of Silver Lake: A New Beginning

By the Shores of Silver Lake was published in 1939. It is the fifth book in the series.

The story begins shortly after the family has recovered from scarlet fever, which caused Mary to become blind. The family gets a visit from Aunt Docia. She suggests that Pa and Ma move west to the Dakota Territory. Pa could work in Uncle Henry’s railroad camp for good wages there. Ma and Pa agree. This would let Pa look for a homestead while he worked. The family had faced many hardships on Plum Creek, and Pa especially wanted a new start. After selling his land, Pa goes ahead with the wagon. Mary is still too weak to travel, so the rest of the family follows later by train.

The day Pa leaves, their beloved bulldog Jack is found dead. This makes Laura very sad. In real life, the dog Jack was based on was not with the family at this point. The author added his death here to show a change from her childhood to her teenage years. Laura also starts to take on a more grown-up role because Mary is blind. Pa tells Laura to "be Mary's eyes" and help her every day as she learns to live with her disability. Mary is strong and eager to learn.

The family travels to Dakota Territory by train. This is the children's first train trip, and they are excited. This new way of travel lets them go in one hour what a horse and wagon would take a whole day to cover.

The family is reunited at the railroad camp. Laura meets her cousin Lena, and they become good friends.

As winter gets closer, the railroad workers leave. The family wonders where they will stay for the winter. Luckily, the county surveyor needs someone to watch his house while he is away for the winter. Pa agrees. It is a winter of comfort for the Ingalls family. They have all the supplies they need in the large, cozy house. They spend a warm winter with their new friends, Mr. and Mrs. Boast. Both families look forward to starting their new land claims in the spring.

But the "Spring Rush" comes early. Many pioneers move to the Dakotas in early March. This makes Pa leave right away for the claims office. The girls are left alone. They spend their days and nights giving food and lodging to all the pioneers passing through. They charge 25 cents for dinner and lodging. They start saving this money to send Mary to the School for the Blind in Iowa.

Pa successfully files his claim with help from his old friend Mr. Edwards. As spring flowers bloom and the prairie fills with new settlers, the Ingalls family moves to their new land. They begin building what will become their permanent home.

The Long Winter: Surviving the Snow

The Long Winter was published in 1940. It is the sixth book in the series. It covers a short time, only eight months. The winter of 1880–1881 was a very harsh winter in history, sometimes called "The Snow Winter."

The story begins in Dakota Territory at the Ingalls homestead in South Dakota. It is a hot September day in 1880. Laura and Pa are gathering hay. Pa tells Laura that he knows the winter will be hard. He says muskrats always build thick walls for their homes before a hard winter, and this year, their walls are the thickest he has ever seen. In mid-October, the Ingalls wake up to an unusually early blizzard. Their claim shanty is not well insulated. Soon after, Pa gets another warning. A wise old Native American man comes to the general store. He warns the white settlers that there will be seven months of blizzards. Pa is impressed and decides to move the family into town for the winter.

Laura attends school with her younger sister, Carrie. But the weather soon becomes too severe for them to walk to school. Blizzard after blizzard hits the town for months. Food and fuel become scarce and expensive. The town depends on trains for supplies, but the blizzards stop the trains. Eventually, the railroad company stops trying to clear the tracks. The town is stranded. For weeks, the Ingalls family lives on potatoes and coarse brown bread. They use twisted hay for fuel. When even this food runs out, Laura's future husband, Almanzo Wilder, and his friend Cap Garland risk their lives. They bring wheat to the starving townspeople. It is enough to last the rest of the winter.

Laura's age in this book is correct. She was 13 in 1880, as she says in the first chapter. However, Almanzo Wilder's age is different in this book from his real age. In the book, he is said to be 19 pretending to be 21. In reality, he would have been 23 in 1880.

As predicted, the blizzards continue for seven months. Finally, the trains start running again. They bring the Ingalls family a Christmas barrel full of good things, including a turkey. In the last chapter, they enjoy their Christmas dinner in May.

Little Town on the Prairie: Laura's Studies

Little Town on the Prairie was published in 1941. It is the seventh book in the series.

The story begins with Laura taking her first job. She does sewing work to earn money for Mary to go to a college for the blind in Iowa. Laura's hard work ends by summer when she is let go. The family then plans to grow crops to earn money for Mary's college. After blackbirds destroy the crops, Pa sells a calf to get the rest of the money needed. When Ma and Pa take Mary to college, Laura, Carrie, and Grace are left alone for a week. To avoid loneliness, they do the fall cleaning. They have some problems, but the house is sparkling when they finish. Ma and Pa come home and are truly surprised.

In the fall, the Ingalls quickly get ready to move to town for the winter. Laura and Carrie attend school in town. Laura meets her friends Minnie Johnson and Mary Power again. She also meets a new girl, Ida Brown. There is a new teacher for the winter: Eliza Jane Wilder, Almanzo’s sister. Nellie Oleson, Laura's rival from Plum Creek, has moved to De Smet and is at the school. Nellie turns the teacher against Laura, and Miss Wilder loses control of the school for a time. A visit by the school board fixes things. However, Miss Wilder leaves at the end of the fall term. She is replaced by Mr. Clewett and then Mr. Owen, who becomes friends with Laura. During the winter, Laura studies hard. She has only one year left before she can apply for a teaching certificate.

At the same time, Almanzo Wilder starts walking Laura home from church. By Christmastime, Almanzo again walks Laura home. He offers to take her on a sleigh ride after he finishes building his cutter (a type of sleigh).

At home, Laura is met by Mr. Boast and Mr. Brewster. They ask Laura if she would like a teaching job at a settlement led by Brewster. It is twelve miles (19 km) from town. The school superintendent, George Williams, tests Laura. She is two months too young, but he never asks her age. She is given a third-grade teaching certificate.

These Happy Golden Years: Laura's First Job and Love

These Happy Golden Years was published in 1943. It is the eighth book in the series. It takes place between 1882 and 1885. The story begins with Pa taking Laura 12 miles (19 km) from home to her first teaching job. Laura is only 15 and still a schoolgirl herself. She is nervous because this is her first time away from home and her first time teaching. She is determined to finish her job and earn $40 to help her sister Mary. Mary is attending Vinton College for the Blind in Iowa.

This first school is difficult for her. Laura must live with the Brewsters in their two-room shanty. She sleeps on their sofa. The Brewsters are not a happy family. Laura feels very uncomfortable seeing them argue. It is a very cold winter. Neither the shanty nor the school house can be heated well. The children she teaches, some of whom are older than her, test her teaching skills. Laura becomes more confident during the term. She successfully completes the two-month term.

To Laura's surprise and happiness, homesteader Almanzo Wilder (whom she met in Little Town on the Prairie) appears. He comes at the end of her first week of school in his new two-horse cutter. He takes her home for the weekend. Almanzo is already fond of Laura and wants to help with her homesickness. He takes it upon himself to bring her home and back to school each weekend.

Their relationship continues after the school term ends. Sleigh rides turn into buggy rides in the spring. Laura impresses Almanzo with her willingness to help train his new and sometimes wild horses. Laura's old rival, Nellie Oleson, appears briefly during two Sunday buggy rides with Almanzo. Nellie's talking and flirting with Almanzo annoy Laura. Soon after, Nellie moves back to New York after her family loses their homestead.

Laura's Uncle Tom (Ma's brother) visits the family. He tells about his failed trip with a covered wagon group looking for gold. Laura helps a seamstress named Mrs. McKee. She stays with Mrs. McKee and her daughter on their prairie land for two months. This is to "hold it down" as required by law. The family enjoys summer visits from Mary.

The family's money situation has improved. Pa can sell a cow to buy a sewing machine for Ma. Laura continues to teach and work as a seamstress.

Almanzo invites Laura to attend summer "singing school" with him and her classmates. On the last evening of singing school, while driving Laura home, Almanzo proposes to Laura. He had been courting her for three years. During their next ride, Almanzo gives Laura a garnet-and-pearl ring. They share their first kiss.

Several months later, Almanzo finishes building a house on his tree claim. He asks Laura if she would mind getting married in a few days. His sister and mother wanted a large church wedding, which Pa could not afford. Laura agrees. She and Almanzo are married in a simple ceremony by the Reverend Brown. After a wedding dinner with her family, Laura drives away with Almanzo. The newlyweds settle happily into their new home.

The First Four Years: Married Life

The First Four Years was published in 1971. It is usually seen as the ninth and last book in the original Little House series. It covers the first years of Laura and Almanzo's marriage.

The title The First Four Years comes from a promise Laura made to Almanzo when they got engaged. Laura did not want to be a farm wife. But she agreed to try farming for three years. At the end of that time, Laura and Almanzo both agreed to continue for one more year, which Laura called a "year of grace." The book ends at the close of that fourth year, on a hopeful note. In real life, the hot, dry Dakota summers and other sad events in the book eventually made them leave their land. But they later started a very successful fruit and dairy farm in Missouri. They lived comfortably there until they passed away.

Other Books and Shows

Related Books

• On the Way Home (1962)
• West from Home (1974)
• The Road Back (2006)

TV Movies

• Little House on the Prairie (1974)
• Little House Years (1978)
• Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (1983)
• Little House: Bless All the dear Children (1984)
• Little House: The Last Farewell (1984)
• Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (1997)
• Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder II (1998)
• Little House on the Prairie (2005) - miniseries

TV Shows

• Jackanory - Little House in the Big Woods (1966)
• Jackanory - Farmer Boy (1968)
• Little House on the Prairie / Little House: A New Beginning (1974-1983) - live action
• Laura the Prairie Girl (1975) - animated

Images for kids

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  Front hardcover, first ed. of the first vol. (1932)

See also

In Spanish: Little House on the Prairie (libro) para niños