“Once upon a time, sixty years ago, a little girl lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little gray house made of logs.”

From Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods.

As a little girl growing up in the 1870s, Laura and her family witnessed a world and way of life that is dangerous, unexpected, yet very rewarding.  While Pa and Ma work hard to build a life out of the harsh Wisconsin countryside, they also do their best to make sure that Laura and her sisters, Mary and Carrie, have some fun along the way.  Fall brings a host of jobs and responsibilities for the family, even for young Laura who is now old enough to help with some winter preparation jobs.  As Christmas draws near, Laura and older sister Mary are looking forward to a holiday spent with both immediate and extended family.  However, the entire family is really looking forward to visiting their grandparents’ home to harvest and refine the sweet treat of maple syrup.  The girls all enjoy the simple pleasures in life such as Pa playing the fiddle, enjoying playing in nature, helping to bring in the harvest each fall, and enjoying the warmth and safety that their work allowed them to savor each winter.  Despite the many dangers that life presents the Ingalls family, they never waver from their work ethic and their love for each other.

Wilder’s popular Little House series begins with a book that does very well to create a setting and characters that are relatable, captivating, and timeless.  The illustrations are simple, yet powerful when coupled with the unfolding story.  Now while there are some more mature ideas presented from the lifestyle of the characters (and world at the time), the details are never gory, but realistic and descriptive.  Little House in the Big Woods is a realistic look at life in years past filled with both the hardships and sweetness that made the series so popular for readers of all ages.