I read this book with my almost five-year old son. I think the constant descriptions of hard work were initially interesting but eventually tiresome for him. I had to edit as I read, since I didn't want him to absorb the various racism, blondes-are-better, name calling and child abuse that wove throughout the book. I thought the drawings were well done, but there weren't enough of them and they often failed to capture the most interesting and salient parts of the narrative.

Loved it. Relatable and Laura explains things she knew wouldn't be readily known to her modern readers of the time. I grew up with this book and I look forward to reading it with my children.

Chloe, my 7 year old, gave this a 5. She absolutely loved Laura’s story. Rowan, my 10 year old, gave it a 3. They were both fascinated by how they lived life back then. Rowan was appalled at how little free time they seemed to have because of chores. I think it made them a bit more grateful for the relatively little they have to do now. We all loved learning about how they grew and made different foods. I loved the bit about the maple sap and syrup. So glad we chose to read these for history this year.

This is probably my 500 gazillionth reread of this book, but something about Williamsburg, and my mom’s screened in porch, and the birds all chirping always draws me to the Little House series. Little House in the Big Woods will always be my favorite (and most reread).

I’m continuously fascinated by the foodways descriptions in this book. I love how Wilder details the making of butter and cheese, the butchering and salting and smoking of meats, the wonderful sugar snow and all the maple sugar from it. I wish that more of us here in the USA still had such an intimate connection to our food.

Also, does anyone else find this a great book when you want some KonMari cleaning inspiration? Seriously. I’m in the process of prepping for a large move, and I need to clean out all of my clothes, books, etc. This book makes me feel like I can do it! And that life will be simpler, prettier, and happier if I do! If Ma can make do with having two nice dresses and a homemade straw hat, I think I can pare down my overly-stuffed walk-in closet a little bit.

Certainly, the novel gives a false sense of simplicity to the time period, but it’s also told from a child’s perspective. Young Laura had no notion of money and wars and the promises and lies of the US government. To her, life was the seasons and her family. The cozy nights of winter, the long summer evenings. Sometimes — especially when life is feeling particularly stressful — it’s nice to sink back into seeing the world through a child’s eyes.

Um, I don't have much to say. Nothing excessively bad happened in this book, because they were well-prepared and the winter wasn't that hard. I like to read about all the food that Ma makes; it makes me hungry sometimes. When Laura gets older, I think she will have to help in the kitchen. I, personally, love to help my mom in the kitchen. I feel like, I lived when Laura did, my family would be vegetarians, because I don't think me or my mom would be able to prepare the meat. My dad probably couldn't because he would be busy getting the meat. Sometimes, I think it would just be easier for everyone if we just all live in simper times. I also like it when little Laura describes the pretty dresses. When does Mary become blind? I feel mean because that's all I really want to know right now. I think that Cousin Charley deserved to be stung by the bees or yellow jackets. He's the boy who cried wolf in this book.

I haven't read these books or watched this show in years, but I grew up with Little House! I had forgotten how just how much I loved these books. While the traditional roles of men vs women, boys vs girls, and adults vs children (children should be seen and not heard) were what we would now see as dated, what was true is that the Ingalls family was a fine example of a hardworking family where everyone worked to help the family and their neighbors, and disciplining children was a matter of correction and done with love, not anger. I believe that children today would still get something out of these books, especially those who enjoy reading about an earlier time in our history.

This book felt more like a collection of short stories about the experiences Laura had growing up. This book starts with her at age 5 and we end up following her journey to adulthood and marriage. Reading this book makes me want to watch the old show all over again.