Laura Ingalls Wilder Books

It seems that happiness eluded Rose.
Considering the other "Rose" books, this final book was far too short. Personally I would have liked it better if the author had written on about Rose leaving to go with Gillette Lane in the real estate venture. I'm one of those people who doesn't like to be left in the dark.
I read "From West to Home" a book composed of letters Laura wrote to Almanzo from San Francisco. From this book, we learn Laura visited Rose and Rose's husband Gil Lane in 1915. So we know Rose and Gil got married.
But actually it would have been better if Bachelor Girl had been longer or even another "Rose" book had been written.
I thought Paul was awful to Rose. He strung her along for so long and then left her to cope with the "damage" to her reputation and her character after she and Paul stayed out all night. It wasn't their fault the boat was late or slow, but people who knew her in town assumed she was trash after that and basically let her know what they thought.
Later in San Francisco, Paul visited Rose and stung her with a remark about her wearing makeup and went wild over Rose's remark about an egagement ring.
This book is entertaining, but I couldn't help wishing for a longer read.

As true Laura and/or Rose fans know, "Bachelor Girl" is simply a redress of Roger MacBride's 1977 "biography" of Rose Wilder Lane, which in turn was a rip-off of Roses's 1919 'semi' autobiographical novel, "Diverging Roads".

I feel this was a poor finish to the "Rose Years" series. Given that the MacBride family inherited the hugely successful and profitable "Little House" franchise from Rose, it's a shame that they've passed off this fictional account not once, but TWICE, as a true depiction of Rose's life as a young woman.

While the essentials and facts are mostly true, anyone who has read or researched Rose's life knows that Rose and Paul Cooley were never "engaged". And Gilette Lane was not the "dashing older man" portrayed in the books. In fact, he was one year younger than Rose! Evidence supports that they met while Rose was working in Kansas City and her subsequent move to San Francisco was likely to follow him there, marrying him the next year, BEFORE they sold real estate together.

My disgust with this book really lies in the fact that the owners of the Little House franchise (the MacBride heirs) should have shown more respect for both Rose and the fans of the series and ended the Rose years with a more accurate and honest portrayal of their benefactress.

The spunky characterization of Rose from the earlier books is gone here, and we're left feeling concerned about her choices and future. Nice example to set for girls of today who've read this series from the beginning!

The writing style is completely different than the other books. At times it reads like what I would imagine a Harlequin Romance would be like. The book is just dreadful and completely inappropriate for the target market, i.e., girls from 6 - 12. As other reviewers have stated (thorvald's and RoseFan's take below are spot on), Rose is no longer the self confident heroine but a confused follower. She falls in with the wrong crowd. I guess a parent who is reading along with their daughter could use this as a learning lesson, but the subject is too adult for the bedtime story age child. I suggest you avoid this book.

I think " bachelor girl" is excellent. It manages to portray an young adult's frustrations and dilemas almost accurately.
The way Rose felt frustrated about not doing anything useful, when she lived with her parents and then her struggle to work and support herself...May be this book is not appealing to children as it deals mostly with an young adult's mind...
and even the temporary loss of confidence in Rose is perfectly natural as any young and intellectual adult will go through that phase atleast once. I'm very impressed with this book.

I've read most of the rose years. The books before this one are interesting. In this last book, I was very displeased. Rose leaves home and boards in a small isolated room which leaves her with no friends. Although she makes friends towards the end, she ends up doing things she shouldn't and loses her engagment with her childhood sweetheart because of her new friends. This book was a disappointment to me after enjoying the books before this. :(

"Pioneer Sisters" begins with the family living in the woods of Wisconsin and we recognized some familiar sentences word-for-word from "Winter Days in the Big Woods" of the "My First Little House" series. Then in one brief chapter they head West in their covered wagon to Kansas. Here, Laura and Mary gather up Indian beads they find. In another chapter they move on to Minnesota. They play in a straw stack and get in trouble. The final chapter is a Christmas celebration. The only criticism I have for this particular book is where Laura hits her sister and later on after being corrected for this she talks about still wanting to slap Mary. Siblings will frustrate each other and that's a fact of life that children can relate to, but not all kids hit when they get mad and I guess I'd prefer that a potential role model didn't either. But they do learn about sacrifice and generosity in the very next chapter. If your child likes the "My First Little House" series and you feel that the original "Little House" versions are just a bit over his/her head right now, "Pioneer Sisters" is a great book to bridge that gap. I have to disagree with other reviewers who feel that the Little House stories are being too chopped up and dumbed-down for little readers. In my opinion, each series is valuable and age appropriate. The "My First Little House" picture books are great for introducing the stories with lots of pictures that help them envision Laura's world. Once your child can read a bit more, the original series of books are just too daunting because of how many pages they contain. "Pioneer Sisters" and the other chapter books in this in-between "Little House" series are perfect for this stage. You can't really expect them to absorb all the details and lessons that Laura Ingalls Wilder has to offer. That comes later as you read and reread the original versions.

I enjoyed reading this book. I think it is a sweet book for beginning readers, but definately lacking of the special essence that makes the little house books what they are. The author has taken some of the most memorable stories from Laura's books and gently adapted them for young readers today. The relationship between Laura and her two sisters is highlighted, which I believe is a wonderful thing for children today to be exposed to.The stories are still there, I won't deny that. However, I feel that as 'new versions' of the beloved little house books, the stories are being dumbed-down quite successfully! Who says Laura didn't write her books for beginning readers? By the time a child can read they can appreciate Laura's stories. I don't believe it is neccessary to adapt them at all. These new editions are bereft of many interesting coloquialisms of the day, and also Laura's own subtle magic woven into her words, which I am sure makes the plot more accessible, but takes away much of what makes the stories Laura's. I have loved to read of the Ingalls family since the age of six, and I still do, but I know that the reason I read them is not only for their adventures, but because of the Laura in every sentence. Please don't let's take Laura from Little House!

This is a great story about two girls named Mary and Laura they have a 1 year old sister named Carrie. They go to town and get all kinds of stuff they make Carrie a necklace made out of buttons. If I were you I would buy this book now!

I enjoyed reading this book. I think it is a sweet book for beginning readers, but definately lacking of the special essence that makes the little house books what they are. The author has taken some of the most memorable stories from Laura's books and gently adapted them for young readers today. The relationship between Laura and her two sisters is highlighted, which I believe is a wonderful thing for children today to be exposed to.The stories are still there, I won't deny that. However, I feel that as 'new versions' of the beloved little house books, the stories are being dumbed-down quite successfully! Who says Laura didn't write her books for beginning readers? By the time a child can read they can appreciate Laura's stories. I don't believe it is neccessary to adapt them at all. These new editions are bereft of many interesting coloquialisms of the day, and also Laura's own subtle magic woven into her words, which I am sure makes the plot more accessible, but takes away much of what makes the stories Laura's. I have loved to read of the Ingalls family since the age of six, and I still do, but I know that the reason I read them is not only for their adventures, but because of the Laura in every sentence. Please don't let's take Laura from Little House!

This is a good introduction to the Little House books appropriate for begining chapter book readers. This particular series is for children who are too old for the My First Little House Books, but not quite ready for the orriginals. But in my opionion, there are too many Little House adaptations (My First Little House Books, Little House Board Books, etc.) that are taking the orriginals and chopping them up into little pieces. And this book is rather brief, skipping from one event to another, and using stories from too many different books. But its still a nice story for younger readers.

...but we only really were able to do the button string as far as a kid activity. I have a 7 year old daughter who is crazy about the Little House books and I was searching for ideas of things to do at a Little House party. We made the bread from the book before the party for a decoration (which was difficult with a two year-old constantly needing attention), and it ended up beautiful and delicious.

We did the button string project with the kids at the party because we already had a lot of buttons around the house. The girls had fun stringing the buttons, but the end product isn't that impressive -- just buttons on a string. I think the corn cob doll could have been another possibility to try, but I didn't know that I would have enough adult help to get that to work. Wished that there were more crafts in the book suitable for my daughter's age. But I see other reviews where people wanted to have more difficult crafts. You can't please everyone.

there were more crafts than I expected, my seven year old is busy creating the crafts from the book. we are also reading the Little House book series, so this craft book ties in nicely.

This book is a great opportunity to learn about crafts and stories through the eyes and hands of a pioneer child. Children will enjoy the stories from Laura Ingles Wilder. With each story, a craft is illustrated with colorful pictures and detailed step by step instructions that are very easy to follow. A great teaching tool and a good book to add to your shelf.

I know that Carolyn Collins and Mary Collier wanted to keep their craft projects as simple as possible, so that they would be fun for our TV-glutted, skill-deprived youngsters. But in doing so, they curtailled themselves from creating a masterpiece of historical analysis like The Little House Cookbook.
How about showing some of the REAL projects that we read about in the Little House books, like the dresses that Laura and Mary laid out by drafting patterns on old newspaper, or the cabinetry that Almanzo built to delight his wife?
Aside from very young children, the handy people described in the Little House books manufactured items that were more useful and complex than Brownie Scout camp crafts. That it bears the "Little House" brand name does not separate this book from the pack.

I'd hoped for a nice selection of crafts. While a few of the items listed are interesting and "crafty" (the quilt, bead crafts, straw hat, hood), most are defintely stretching the definition. I wouldn't consider a garden or a loaf of bread to be a 'craft'... and does anyone REALLY need instructions to figure out how to make a button string? The original Little House books explain quite well how to make the orange flower and button lamp. (And what you'd do with a decorative button lamp is a puzzle to me anyway.) We learn how to make the tassles for Mary's bedshoes, but there are no instructions for making the shoes themselves.

I expected this book to be of the same quality as Miller's biography of Laura "Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder," which is a first rate work. Unfortunately, this book is substantially inferior in every way.

This book purports to be a history of De Smet as it was when Laura grew up, but is instead a hodge podge of essays ranging from Charles Pierce's theories to the paintings of Harvey Dunn. So instead of learning about De Smet, we have the privilege of learning how educated and erudite the author is. Instead of learning about the town and its characters, we are regaled with the author's theories of how the plow broke the plains.

Occasionally there are nuggets of new information about De Smet, and about some of the characters who appear in Laura's book or were known to her when she lived there. But these nuggets tend to be heavily wrapped in Miller's academic jargon and theories. Evidently, there is not much to be said about any small town, even De Smet, so you have to talk about others things that you conveniently already happen to know: "Place and Community (and De Smet)," "Freedom and Control (and De Smet)," "Fact and Interpretation (and De Smet)," and so on and on.

"Dreary" and "boring" are adjectives Miller uses more than once to describe life on the prairie: those same adjectives apply in spades to this book. It is very difficult to get through, so buy it and read it only if you're into self flagellation.

I think this book is very interesting and very informative. I am a huge LIW fan and I think that any fan of her books would definately enjoy this biography on her life.

I also believe that anyone who doesn't believe that she really exsited should also read this book as well.

This book looks at various historical aspects of the world Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about, and focuses especially on one of her books, Little Town on the Prairie, and on the town of De Smet, SD. I found it very interesting finding out more about the town that was the focus of Wilder's later books. This book is done as a series of essays, and at times repeats information from one essay to the next. However, it is well written and obviously very well researched, and adult fans of Wilder who want to find out more about her and more especially the larger world and time she lived in will enjoy this book.

This book tells about six-year-old Caroline Quiner, who would grow up to be Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother. Caroline and her sister, Martha, are opposites. Martha always says whatever comes to mind, but Caroline is very quiet. But when two rich girls are mean to Martha, Caroline is the one to stand up for her!

This book follows a year in the life of six-year-old Caroline who will grow up to be Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother.

I love the Little House on the Prairie Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and anticipated really enjoying this book. I am left questioning its place. The language is not easier than the original series, but it is about a younger child. I'm not even sure who wrote this book. The author's name does not appear on the jacket. Although Wilkes' name is on the title page, a note on the copyright page says adapted by someone else.

The illustrations try to approximate the original series, but are not quite the same flavor. It's like vanilla ice cream with an artificial sweetener instead of sugar.

You will not be giving a child a shorter Laura Ingalls Wilder book, but if your reader refuses to pick up a longer book, this may be appropriate.

I have a few books in this series and they are all very sweet and simple. My two year old really likes these and has been enjoying them since she was one. They are a pleasant nod to a simpler time when families worked side by side. The only point in this book that veers from the original series is that Pa calls Laura his little helper instead of his half pint. =)

I can't help wondering who the target market was for this book. Usually a boardbook would indicate that it was for a baby and/or toddler. But what baby knows who the Ingalls are, and what toddler understands that Laura and Pa used to live over a hundred years ago and that it made sense then to build your own doors. (Answer: none)

Since that only leaves you-and-me-the-adults as the intended market, I'd have to advise you to give this one a pass based on the fact that not only is the topic not all that appropriate for small ones, but there are only five pictures --if you include the front cover. They are nicely drawn, by the way, but printed in such soft pastels that, again, I don't think they'd be all that appealing to the boardbook set.

Pam T~

I always wondered about Laura's life during those lost years. The book is very sad, but I'm glad it was written. My 9-year-old daughter and I both read it and enjoyed it.

I have read all the Little House books, and even though this was not by Mrs Wilder, it is an excellent read. I just wish it had been longer, forget the purists, put it on your bookshelf with the other ones and encourage your children to read all of these books they are wonderful for children and adults.

This is an excellent book. I truly enjoyed reading it. It goes along with Laura Ingalls Wilder's other little house books. I truly enjoy all of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.

I too am a true Little House fan. I agree with the others who wrote about Laura's hair. I noticed off of the bat that she had bangs. You would think the author/illustrator would of remembered that it was a big deal for Laura to cut her bangs. I was dissappointed when Grace and Freddie just popped up in the book. Rylant could of gone into more details about how the girls felt about Ma having another baby. For the girls to come home and there was a baby there seemed a little far fetched. I did noticed that there is a new edition of the book with Laura's hair in long braids. I guess enough people complained.

I liked this book ok, but like other reviewers, I missed the detail of Laura's original books. I kept expecting to get to the part where Mary loses her sight. If I recall correctly, at the beginning of Silver Lake, she tells us that Mary had gone blind after suffering from scarlet fever.
I also thought it was odd that the girls never noticed that Ma was pregnant! I didn't notice the bangs in the illustrations till I read the reviews here, but they are absolutely right!
I can understand why Laura left out these years in her books. With little Freddie dying, Mary losing her sight, and moving to places she was not enthused about, she likely did not care to share these stories.

If you are a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, then run screaming the other way from this book or any other by Thomas "T.L." Tedrow. He writes in the foreword that "this book is a fictional account of Laura's life," but then has the audacity to claim that it "retains the historical integrity of her columns, diary, family background, personal beliefs, and the general history of the time in which she lived." If you know anything about Laura Ingalls Wilder, you'll know that just about everything Tedrow writes about her does not remotely retain historical integrity of her family background. He says Laura and Manly built "Apple Hill Farm" instead of Rocky Ridge. He has Laura seeing northern lights from southwestern Missouri (so unlikely, it's ridiculous), while Manly (from upstate New York near the Canadian border) doesn't know what "them things" are. Little idiocies like that--as if Tedrow didn't bother to study anything about her life. And if you know anything about the historical time, you'll know even Tedrow's historical "facts" are incorrect. The book opens in 1906 with Laura and Manly getting ready to go to the World's Fair in St. Louis... but the World's Fair in St. Louis was in 1904. Tedrow mentions General "Danny Custer" of Little Big Horn fame... whoops, T.L., that would be "George Custer." If he felt the need to use real people from history (such as Wilder and Alice Roosevelt, in this book), then why not get the history correct? Shoddy research. And if he just wanted to write a fiction book, why not just use fictional characters? Why indeed? Because no one would have bought his drivel about "The Younguns," so he probably thought he could get someone to buy it by piggybacking on the popularity of a real author. I gave this book one star because it makes an excellent coaster.

Very fun reading. In this 5th book, Laura is sent on assighnment to the St. Louis Worlds Fair. The Young'uns win a dog show (through trickery, of course) and get free tickets to the Fair. Trouble and Disaster follow in their wake. Meanwhile, Laura meets a bunch of colorful characters and ends up rescueing an African pygmy. Good read.

If you ever have the chance to read this book you will be shocked, as I was, to read what appears to be the result of a dare. If there was a challenge to write a picture book about traveling West in pioneer days that would give any thinking child nightmares, this is the winning effort. People drink bad water, someone has a wooden leg as a result of a fight with a bear, people go off to hunt never to be seen again, Indians attack and leave skeletal remains....what was the publisher thinking?! I picked this up at a used book store because the illustrations are fantastic (Phillipe Dupasquier), but that is all this title has to offer.

I hope the next time jake0415 posts a review for a title on Amazon.com that he actually posts it on the correct book! "Going West" is NOTHING like what is described in the above review. It is a sweet, touching adaptation of the "Little House" stories that chronicles the family's decision and quest to strike out west. Trust, faith and taking pleasure in the small things of life are all evident here and the illustrations couldn't be better!

The main purpose of this guide is to acquaint the reader with what is to be found along the designated historic highway and places that have a significant relation to Laura Ingalls Wilder. The book is an overview of different regions in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived in the 1800's as described in her books. Starting in Wisconsin and ending in South Dakota, taking you town by town, following the movement of Laura and her family as she grew up on the Western Frontier.

The journey is broken down into sections that highlight a few places to visit in each area. Starting in Wisconsin's Upper Coulee Country & Mississippi River Valley, to the Mississippi Valley & Bluff Country of Minnesota & Iowa, then to the Minnesota River Valley and finally the Prairies of Minnesota & South Dakota. Interesting period history and some geographic information is given on these regions throughout the pages, which also exhibits a good share of black and white pictures. After these chapters come a few notes on Festivals & Pageants in certain towns along the route. Then the author talks about different travel option ideas for interest, such as small convoy camping or large group motor coach tours. At the back of the book is a quick reference list mainly giving phone numbers and some other contact information for towns & cities in each of the previously mentioned areas.

The book is fairly decent but meager and it really may not be what you expect. It provides very little in direct help on planning a trip (recommended places to eat or stay) but does gives a "lengthy" explanation of the Dakota Conflict of 1862. It's just as much, or maybe even more so, a book of U.S. history facts, findings and events as it is of an actual travel guide.