Little House on the Prairie: A Review

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Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series has always been one of my favorite books. I first started reading this series when my second-grade teacher had given me the book Little House on the Prairie, the first of nine of an autobiographical novel series. It’s a literary gem, captivating readers all around the world with sweet, simple prose and illustrations.

This book chronicles the life of Laura Ingalls and her family as they pioneer the American frontier during the late 19th century. Even in the 21st century, the heartwarming tales and enduring lessons remain relevant, cementing the series as a cherished classic.

The series begins with "Little House in the Big Woods," where the Ingalls family is introduced, consisting of the protagonist Laura Ingalls (later Wilder), her mother, father, and older sister Mary. The family lives in a log cabin nestled deep in the Wisconsin woods, farming, hunting and gathering for food. Wilder's storytelling immediately transports readers to a simpler time, where the daily routines of pioneer life are brought to life with delicious details. 

Wilder illustrates the joys and hardships of homesteading through specific events throughout the year. In the winter, despite the weather being harsh and cold, the Ingalls visited their relatives, harvesting maple syrup and refining it into maple sugar. In the spring, with plentiful milk, the family creates cheese and butter. In the summer, the family plant their gardens, while in fall, animals were butchered in preparation for the winter. In this way, Wilder’s illustrations allowed readers to better understand the way of life of early American settlers through the innocent perspective of a child. 

I personally loved the homey, slow-life feeling of the novel. Although narrating Ingall's life only 200 years ago, the story felt as fantastical as Narnia to me, and it began to cultivate my wanderlust, and curiosity for the past. One specific moment I loved was when the Ingall's slaughtered a pig and made crackling. Described as being "too rich" for little girls to have, I remember drooling and dreaming about what crackling would taste like. I did get to try something like crackling, yet distinctly different, a few years later, and was a bit let down, as it tasted more oily than savory. However, this only deepened my understanding of the book: in a time when meat was a lot rarer and difficult to cultivate than now, crackling must've been a true delight for the Ingalls.

As the series progresses, the Ingalls family embarks on a series of adventures, ultimately settling in Kansas, where they establish their little house on the prairie. Each book in the series offers a unique perspective on frontier life, from farming and hunting to interactions with Native American tribes.

While not yet addressed in the first few books, the Little House on the Prairie series doesn’t shy away from addressing the complexities of American frontier history. While the series is primarily a reflection of Laura's personal experiences, it offers a glimpse into the broader issues of manifest destiny, westward expansion, and the impact settlers had on Native American communities. 

In conclusion, Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" series is a timeless treasure that transcends generations. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to transport readers to a bygone era, offering a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of pioneering families without completely glorifying the westward expansion of settlers, at times addressing the negative impacts settlers brought to existing native communities. Therefore, with the series being a beautifully written autobiography that addresses complex, mature topics, the Little House on the Prairie books are a must read for all students alike.