Laura Ingalls Wilder Books

Don't be fooled into thinking these books are even remotley based on the Laura Ingalls Wilder of the "Little House" books. She is presented as a minor character and this very fictionalized version of her life in Missouri. Pass this series by and get "Rocky Ridge" books by Roger Lea MacBride instead.

These books, (very) loosely based around the adult life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, are works of fiction which use the names of real people. This, in and of itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it must be clearly understood by the reader (and thus clearly stated by the author and/or publisher) that this is what is ocurring. For those who, like myself, grew up with the "Little House" books, these titles will be a disappointment. The writing is extremely average, the plot lines are thin, and the author seems to be more interested in narrating the live of a widowed clergyman and his rambunctious children (and his search for another wife) than anything else.

If it were not for the "Little House" connection, these books would never have gotten anywhere. As it is, give the series a miss.

For those readers who have grown up with and enjoyed the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (like myself and my children -- both male and female), these books may be a tempting purchase. After all, they purport to "fill in the blanks" after Laura and Almanzo were married and moved to Missouri.

Let the buyer and reader beware. These books are works of fiction, only loosely based on the life of the Wilder family. The writing is average, at best, and the purpose of the books seems to be to an advertisment of the author's own series concerning a fictional pioneer widower clergyman and his children. Essentially, what the author has done, is to use a popular and well-known name, that of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and to take advantage of that name for his own future publishing profit.

Not worth the time or effort.

2.5 stars for average children's writing -- 0 stars for what seems to be the author's intent. Let's call it a generous two stars and leave it at that.

I concur with other reviewers that these books seem to focus much more on the adventures of the Youngun children than Laura Ingalls Wilder. The author was clearly using the inclusion of Wilder to draw in readers so his next set of books, solely about the Younguns, would do well.

I think if I were Laura, Manly, Pa, Rose, or any other family member written about in these books, I would be turning over in my grave. Although Tedrow did include a forward stating that these books were fictional, I couldn't understand how he could find it within himself to totally ignore some pretty major aspects of their real lives. For instance, Laura never had another baby at the age of 39, as she did in Tedrow's last book. Pa has passed away several years before he and Laura took their trip "Home to the Prairie". Tedrow also turned Manly, and especially Pa, into dumbed-down hicks. Pa especially was turned into quite the cardboard character.

It was really a pretty low move for Tedrow to use Laura's name to draw in readers. If he was really so interested in writing *fiction* books about fictional characters, such as the Younguns, he would have been better off brushing up on his writing and character development skills, so he could gain an audience in a more respectable way.

When I saw my public library throwing away these books, I couldn't believe it and I bought them for a dime each. "Laura Ingalls Wilder" books, I thought. No. Not even close. After having read Tedrow's work, I can see why the library threw them out. These "days of Laura Ingalls Wilder" books not only tell us nothing accurate about Laura Ingalls Wilder, but also lay forth inaccuracies of her time period. This is not historical fiction; there is nothing historical about these. I would hope the estates of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane would stop this man from using the Wilder family for his fodder. Tedrow should be ashamed of himself.

Translation is very poor. I bought the book with the hopes to enjoy it and was not able to. I've read the book in English and it was still hard to get through the Spanish translation. At one point in the first few pages of the book there is even missing lines from the original work that did not make it to the Spanish translation.

The book is a masterpiece but the translated copy a disgrace.

This book is the most pitiful attempt at a biography that I have ever read, even for chilren's books. Most of my fifth grade students could have done as well. The book is filled with inaccuracies. "Laura was happy in Iowa." NO! None of the family was happy in Iowa. That is the reason Laura did not write a book about that period of her life. Many unhappy events happened to the family there. In the next paragraph, Glasscock refers to the "Wilders" becoming sick when she obviously means the Ingalls! The author suggests that Rose was born in Missouri. No, Rose was born in South Dakota and moved to Missouri when she was a young child. Almanzo became ill in South Dakota, not Missouri. So...on and on. This book is not worth the time or money! Pitiful!!

My wife has many of the books concerning this family.
I recently bought her three more including this title. Though this title is meant for the young reader, I still feel the author is
ripping off the public. All the material as well as the photographs
is available in other titles. Nothing new here.