Little House in the Big Woods
 Little House in the Big Woods book cover, illustrated by Garth Williams | |
| Author | Laura Ingalls Wilder |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Little House |
| Genre | Family Saga Western novel |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers, Later, Scholastic |
Publication date | 1932 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) |
| Followed by | Farmer Boy |
Little House in the Big Woods is a children's novel by Laura Ingalls Wilder and was published in 1932. This book is the first of the series of books known as the Little House series.
The Little House series (also known as "Laura Years") is based on decades-old memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder's early childhood in the Big Woods near Pepin, Wisconsin, in the late 19th century.
Historical background
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder was born to Caroline Ingalls and Charles Ingalls on February 7, 1867, near Pepin, Wisconsin.[1] At that time, she had one sister, Mary Amelia Ingalls. Wilder’s actual birthplace is about seven miles (11 km) north of Pepin, and is marked by a replica cabin along the Pepin County highway CC (formerly Wisconsin 183) at the Little House Wayside (near Lund).[2] Pepin celebrates her life every September with traditional music, craft demonstrations, a "Laura look-alike" contest, a spelling bee, and other events. Other places the Ingalls’ lived in the Little House books have also been restored and preserved for visitors.
The family actually lived in the Big Woods twice. When Laura was still a baby, Pa had the urge to move west, so the family packed up and moved via covered wagon to Independence, Kansas. Laura’s sister, Carrie Ingalls, was born while they lived in the Kansas Territory, and Laura saw her first Indians (Osage) and how they lived. The family returned to the Little House in the Big Woods after a couple of years.[3] Laura and Mary went to school for the first time in Pepin (not Walnut Grove), an experience that is not included in Little House in the Big Woods. The school's name was Barry Corner School. In 1874, the family started their journey to Walnut Grove, Minnesota, stopping for a while in Lake City, Minnesota.
In the book, Laura turns five years old. Actually, she was only three. According to a letter from her daughter, Rose, to biographer William Anderson, the publisher had Laura change her age in the book because it seemed unrealistic for a three-year-old to have specific memories such as she wrote about.[4] This is also why Laura portrayed herself as 6–7 years old in Little House on the Prairie, to be consistent with her already established chronology. Since she skipped writing about 1876–1877 when the family lived near Burr Oak, Iowa, her age progression in later books is seamless.
At age 18 Laura married Almanzo Wilder.[5] A year of Almanzo’s childhood in rural New York is memorialized in her second book, Farmer Boy. Together they raised horses, which Almanzo loved, and homesteaded for decades. They had one daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, and lost a son in infancy. Rose grew up to become an author, among other things. Laura wrote over the years in the form of essays and articles for newspapers and magazines, mostly articles related to homesteading.[6] For Little House in the Big Woods, and each of her books, Laura wrote out the manuscript by hand. Her daughter Rose typed and helped edit it before it was published in 1932.[7] The well-known illustrations by Garth Williams appeared in the revised edition, first published in 1953.[8]
Story
Little House in the Big Woods describes the homesteading skills Laura observed and began to practice during her fifth year (see comment on Laura’s age, above). This first volume does not contain the more mature (yet real) themes addressed in later books of the series (danger from Indians and wild animals, serious illness, death, drought, crop destruction). Hard work is the rule, though fun is often made in the midst of it. Laura gathers woodchips, and helps Ma and Pa when they butcher animals. Laura also helps Ma preserve the meat. This is all in preparation for the upcoming winter. Fall is a very busy time, because the harvest from the garden and fields must be brought in as well.
The cousins come for Christmas that year, and Laura receives a doll, which she names Charlotte. Later that winter, the family goes to Grandma Ingalls’ and has a “sugaring off,” when they harvest sap and make maple syrup. They return home with buckets of syrup, enough to last the year. Laura remembered that sugaring off, and the dance that followed, for the rest of her life.
Each season has its work, which the author makes attractive by the good things that result. In the spring, the cow has a calf, so there are milk, butter and cheese. Everyday housework is also described in detail.
That summer and fall, the Ingalls again plant a garden and fields, and store food for the winter. Laura’s Pa trades labor with other farmers so that his own crops will be harvested faster when it is time. Not all work was farming. Hunting and gathering were important parts of providing for the family as well. When Pa went into the woods to hunt, he usually came home with a deer then smoked the meat for the coming winter. One day he noticed a bee tree and returned from hunting early to get the wash tub and milk pail to collect the honey. When Pa returned in the winter evenings, Laura and Mary always begged him to play his fiddle; he was too tired from farm work to play during the summertime.[9] In the winter, they enjoyed the comforts of their home and danced to Pa’s fiddle playing.
Related books
In addition to the Little House books, four series of books expand the Little House series to include five generations of Laura Ingalls Wilder's family. The success of the Little House series has produced many related books including two series ("Little House Chapter Books" and "My First Little House Books") that present the original stories in condensed and simplified form for younger readers. There are also Little House themed craft, music, and cookbooks.
Notes
- ^ Gormley, Laura Ingalls Wilder: Young Pioneer, p.36
- ^ Anderson, The Little House Guidebook, p. 11
- ^ Anderson, Prairie Girl, pp.2–7
- ^ Anderson, Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Iowa Story pp.1–2
- ^ Anderson, Laura's Album, p. 29
- ^ Anderson, Laura's Album, pp.41–45
- ^ Anderson, Laura's Album, pp.53–54
- ^ Anderson, Laura's Album, p. 72
- ^ Each Little House Book contains lyrics to folk or patriotic songs. See The Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook reference below for full lyrics and music.
References
- Anderson, William. Laura’s Album: a remembrance scrapbook of Laura Ingalls Wilder. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 1998. ISBN 0-06-027842-0.
- Anderson, William. Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Iowa Story. Burr Oak, Iowa. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum. 2001. ISBN 0-9610088-9-X
- Anderson, William. Prairie Girl: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 2004. ISBN 0-06-028974-0
- Anderson, William. The Little House Guidebook. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 1996. ISBN 0-06-446177-7
- Garson, Eugenia and Haufrecht, Herbert. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook: Favorite Songs from the Little House Books. New York: HarperCollins Children's Books. 1996. ISBN 0-06-027036-5
- Gormley, Beatrice. Laura Ingalls Wilder: Young Pioneer. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. 2001. ISBN 0-689-83924-3
- Ward,S. Meet Laura Ingalls Wilder. New York: Rosen Publishing Group. 2001. ISBN 0-8239-5712-8
- Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Dear Laura: Letters From Children To Laura Ingalls Wilder. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 1996. ISBN 0-06-026274-5
- Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House in the Big Woods. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 1953. ISBN 0-06-026430-6
- Wilder, Laura Ingalls. A Little House Traveler: Writings from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Journey Across America. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 2006. ISBN 0-06-072491-9
External links
- Photo of a replica log cabin about 7 miles north of Pepin, WI. http://www.btinternet.com/~prgreetham/fgtrail/BigWoods.html
- Rock Pickle Publishing – a Historic Children’s Book website with reviews, publication history, photos of original covers, etc. http://www.rockpicklepublishing.com/websites/littlehouseinthebigwoods/littlehouseinthebigwoods.html
- Fact and fiction of Laura Ingalls Wilder from A to Z http://www.pioneergirl.com