Middle Grade Books I Love: Little House in the Big Woods

I've often joked that if the world comes crashing down, grab your copy of Little House in the Big Woods. It teaches you how to make cheese, smoke meat, and many other useful skills. 

The books in this historical fiction series by Laura Ingalls Wilder have come under criticism in recent years because of their depiction of Native Americans during horrible times in our country's history. 

Yes, what Laura describes is awful, but also based on her truth and real events. To simply stop reading books that portray racist or problematic issues is to also refuse to look at those actions and not only realize humans could have done better but that we must in the future. The conflicts between new settlers (mostly White) and the indigenous populations already in place is a sad part of many histories around the world. Don't shy away from looking it dead in the face and discussing it. 

If you have concerns about the glamorizing Wilder added to her novels, remember they are historical fiction, not a direct retelling of facts. She wove her own personal experiences with that fiction and often shifted the real events for a smoother or more interesting story. But what remains true is the Little House series depicts a time in American life that is honestly not that long ago and fascinating to experience through Laura's young eyes. 

Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods is the first book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers. 

Little House in the Big Woods takes place in 1871 and introduces us to four-year-old Laura, who lives in a log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. She shares the cabin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their lovable dog, Jack.

Pioneer life isn’t easy for the Ingalls family, since they must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But they make the best of every tough situation. They celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do their spring planting, bring in the harvest in the fall, and make their first trip into town. And every night, safe and warm in their little house, the sound of Pa’s fiddle lulls Laura and her sisters into sleep.

The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.

It is still listed as a "teacher pick" on Amazon and ranks high up in sales. Don't let the controversies keep you from reading and enjoying this first book in the series. Little House in the Big Woods itself is free from all the political dramas that follow Book 2: Little House on the Prairie. 

If you continue with the series, use it as a launch pad for discussing America's sad history and how Native Americans were treated. Discuss the Trail of Tears that Laura describes seeing. Then move on to the other books in the series. There are enormous lessons there for both home and school conversations. 

One year when I was teaching a kindergarten/first grade classroom, we studied pioneer life all year, and I read the series aloud after lunch each day. While The Long Winter got genuinely long and boggy, it still led to fantastic discussions about how we rely on others to produce and deliver our food to this day. What would happen these days if that system broke down (as we have since seen during COVID lockdown)?  

If you really want to go deep with your young reader, do some research into what is fact and what is fiction in the books. Like the fact that the family didn't actually have to leave their little house on the prairie because of where it was located--on the wrong side of the border from Indian territory. That makes for a good story, but the truth is much less dramatic and all about finances and the unsuccessful sale of the house in the Big Woods.

Considering this a middle grade series gets complicated the farther you get through the titles. By the end, Laura is an adult with adult concerns. But that doesn't mean young readers aren't still thrilled by the journey. I enjoyed this whole series as a child, read it multiple times, and would be remiss to leave it off my blog list of middle grade books I love.