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Little Author In The Big Woods: A Biography Of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2014)

by Yona Zeldis McDonough(Favorite Author)

3.92 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

080509542X (ISBN13: 9780805095425)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

review 1: This enjoyable book is separate from Laura Ingalls Wilder's books about growing up in a pioneer family, but has that same feeling of intimacy, right down to the pencil illustrations. Very nice biography of a much-loved American author for elementary readers. Many incidents will be familiar for readers who have read Ms. Wilder's originals, but there is additional information that will fill out the details of her later life; this reads like a biography, not like one of the "Little House" novels.Laura emerges as a hard-working student and bright scholar who earned money during school holidays working for her neighbors. When her older sister loses her eyesight, Laura's keen powers of observation come into play as she describes the world to Mary and laid a foundation for her fu... moreture work as a writer.The end of the book contains descriptions of various games Laura and her friends played, recipes for johnny cakes, homemade butter, and gingerbread, a bibliography for further reading, and a glossary of terms.
review 2: The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder have long been a mainstay reading choice for many youngsters growing up. In that series, the author's descriptions of her family's adventures as they moved from place to place, enduring hardships but also experiencing joyful times, have captivated generations, including young readers today. This biography is filled with all sorts of anecdotes from Wilder's growing up days to her time as a school teacher when she was paid $20 a month to her later years when she wrote magazine articles. Later, at the urging of her daughter Rose, who was also a writer, she began telling the stories of her childhood. This biography provides just enough detail to keep readers' interest, even addressing gracefully the controversy over whether Laura or Rose wrote the Little House books. It's fascinating to return to a time when the country wasn't so settled and land could be had for hard work. I also enjoyed the recipes, games, and crafts included in the back matter as well as the adorable illustrations depicting Laura's world and the feisty personality that made others call her a wildcat. This is required reading for anyone who read and loved those Little House books and only made me want to reread them and find out even more about this incredible woman. less

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