Fiction Books - Page 3

The First Four Years (Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A depressing postscript 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This was the only book in the Little House series I hadn't read yet (shut up, I AM from Kansas), mostly because I'd always heard it wasn't really a Little House book at all, just Laura Ingalls Wilder's journal of her first four years of marriage on the prairie. It is quite different in tone from the other books in the Little House series, even with an alternate wedding that's not nearly as romanticized as the one in These Happy Golden Years. Also, the chapters aren't divided by a quaint episode or schoolhouse observance like the previous eight books but simply by each of the first four years, reinforcing the journal-like tone. But the biggest surprise of the book is how obnoxious Laura has become. She initially denies Almanzo marriage because she doesn't want to marry a farmer and wants to live in the town with a merchant because they make all the money; then, after she gives in to his persistent promises that he'll make good, she continually nags her husband about the money they're not making. Plenty bad happens to them just like it did to her family when she was growing up, but now instead of a wide-eyed optimistic child, she's become a world-weary child-bride. Perhaps this is a more realistic view of Laura Ingalls Wilder than the previous books; if so, I'll take the romance.

Editorial Review:

For the first time in the history of the Little House books, this new edition features Garth Williams’ interior art in vibrant, full color, as well as a beautifully redesigned cover.

Laura Ingalls Wilder is beginning life with her new husband, Almanzo, in their own little house. Laura is a young pioneer wife now, and must work hard with Almanzo, farming the land around their home on the South Dakota prairie. Soon their baby daughter, Rose, is born, and the young family must face the hardships and triumphs encountered by so many American pioneers.

And so Laura Ingalls Wilder's adventure as a little pioneer girl ends, and her new life as a pioneer wife and mother begins. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier past and a heartwarming, unforgettable story.

By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 31 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

God's Providence 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is the fifth of nine books in the "Little House" historical fiction series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The book starts with the news, in the first chapter, that Laura's older sister Mary has gone blind. The information is related matter-of-factly, "Her blue eyes were still beautiful, but they did not know what was before them, and Mary herself could never look through them again to tell Laura what she was thinking without saying a word." (p. 2)

Laura has to become Mary's eyes and see for her, describing in detail what she is seeing so that Mary, too, can "see." The perceptive reader understands how central this experience, this role, was in shaping the future author of this series of books which are enduring across generations of readers, young and old.

Much later in the book, in the chapter, "On the Pilgrim Way," a much beloved, Reverend Alden is visiting, passing through with a very young (boy preacher) Reverend Stuart, and has just said to Ma, "I am sorry indeed, Sister Ingalls, to see the affliction that has come to Mary."

The reply comes, "Yes, Brother Alden," Ma answered sadly, "Sometimes it is hard to be resigned to God's will. We all had the scarlet fever in our place on Plum Creek, and for a while it was hard to get along. But I'm thankful that all the children were spared to us. Mary is a great comfort to me, Brother Alden. She has never once repined."

Brother Alden extends encouragement and comfort, "Mary is a rare soul, and a lesson to all of us...We must remember that whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and a brave spirit will turn all our afflictions to good. I don't know whether you and Brother Ingalls know that there are colleges for the blind. There is one in Iowa."

The account continues, "Ma took tight hold of the edge of the dishpan. Her face startled Laura. Her gentle voice sounded choked and hungry. She asked, 'How much does it cost?'"

In this book, perhaps more than the other books in the series, the author develops the subtleties of what the Ingalls family is all about, the close interrelationships of its members, their self-sacrificing devotion to one another. With the news that there are colleges for the blind, Laura determines to work hard so that the family can afford to send Mary to one, a theme that carries throughout other books in the series.

The author does a nice job of developing the central characters, especially Mary, whose blindness does not in any manner stop her from being a valuable, contributing member of the family. For example, it is Mary who warms and entertains baby Grace on her lap in the rocking chair by the fire, a repeated sweet scene.

Mary is mentally sharp and keeps the free-spirited, free-wheeling Laura on her toes, particularly when it comes to being truthful and describing accurately what she (Laura) is seeing. When Laura tells her the road in front of them has disappeared, Mary objects, saying that is impossible. Laura struggles to explain. In the chapter, "The Shanty on the Claim," Laura describes the shanty, which is papered with black tar paper fastened with yellow lath strips as "tiger-striped." Mary corrects her and points out that tigers are yellow with black stripes.

Laura gets her first glimpse of her future husband Almanzo Wilder, who along with his older brother Royal, passes the Ingalls family, the Wilder boys standing in a wagon, driving a beautiful, matched set of horses. Laura's attention is consumed completely by the beautiful horses, and she seems to scarcely notice the young men.

We cover this series, as well as the prequel series (The Martha Years, The Charlotte Years, The Caroline Years) and the sequel series (The Rose Years) in our home school curriculum with my grandchildren, who are currently 11, 8 and 6. My grandson enjoys the books at least as much as my granddaughters.

Editorial Review:

For the first time in the history of the Little House books, this new edition features Garth Williams’ interior art in vibrant, full color, as well as a beautifully redesigned cover.

The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they move from their little house on the banks of Plum Creek to the wilderness of the unsettled Dakota Territory. Here Pa works on the new railroad until he finds a homestead claim that is perfect for their new little house. Laura takes her first train ride as she, her sisters, and their mother come out to live with Pa on the shores of Silver Lake. After a lonely winter in the surveyors' house, Pa puts up the first building in what will soon be a brand-new town on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake. The Ingallses' covered-wagon travels are finally over.

On the Banks of Plum Creek

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Pa Loves Ma, Ma Loves Pa, and All's Right With the World! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 0 people found this review helpful.

ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK -- Who could forget the plague of grasshoppers, or spoiled Nellie's encounter with the crab, or Pa's sojourn in the blizzard, among other adventures?

We -- my three homeschooled grandchildren and I -- are going through the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books for the second time. We read them aloud during story time, and love every minute. These are books written about an American pioneer family in the 1800s with a strong moral compass. In an unsentimental style, the author writes simply of the day-to-day life she experienced firsthand growing up. As the title of this review suggests, a central theme, not only of this book, but the entire series, is that "Pa loves Ma, and Ma loves Pa, and all's right with the world," including in the face of all kinds of adversity and opportunity alike.

I enrich this time for my grandchildren by stopping occasionally to explain and discuss what we are reading about, be it an unusual word usage, a custom no longer practiced, how to do something by hand, historical facts... We have even stopped to do some research and measure out the height of a bear. Our family tradition is that the eldest grandchild (now 11) reads the last page of these books. Otherwise, I usually do the reading. We also try to get started right away on the next book in the series, the same day as we finish the one before, so as not to lose our momentum.

After going through the series the first time, we discovered (almost by accident at the local library) several other series of books, written by other authors, about Laura's great-grandmother Martha in Scotland, her grandmother Charlotte in Boston, and her mother Caroline in Wisconsin, so we decided to start over with the first of those books and carry on through. There is also a series about Laura's daughter Rose which we have not gotten to yet.

Reading through the other series in order has been time well invested. Like Laura, we have strong family roots in Scotland. We have four generations of our family living within close proximity, so my grandchildren know my father, their beloved great-grandfather, quite well, and this series helps them gain a feel of family and historical continuity, generation to generation. (Check for related book series under: Martha Years, Charlotte Years, Caroline Years, Rose Years).

I am investing in and building our own set of all these books in hardcover, having told my grandchildren that I plan to be around to read them to *their* grandchildren!

Editorial Review:

The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they leave their little house on the prairie and travel in their covered wagon to Minnesota. Here they settle in a little house made of sod beside the banks of beautiful Plum Creek. Soon Pa builds a wonderful new little house with real glass windows and a hinged door. Laura and her sister Mary go to school, help with the chores, and fish in the creek. At night everyone listens to the merry music of Pa's fiddle. Misfortunes come in the form of a grasshopper plague and a terrible blizzard, but the pioneer family works hard together to overcome these troubles.

And so continues Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and her family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier past and a heartwarming, unforgettable story.

Out of the Dust

Karen Hesse

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 839 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Out of the Dust 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read this book for the first time this year and wondered why I didn't have to read it in when I was in school. The main character Billi Jo has to over come a lot and does a wonderful job of it. This could teach so much to young readers. I strongly believe that this book be in the schools as a required read.

One of my favorites. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The first time I read this book was in fourth grade, and it has been a favorite ever since. Like previously stated, it is not the most uplifting of stories, but you can't expect everything to be pleasant and delightful all the time. I honestly would reccommend this to someone of any age to read atleast once.

Editorial Review:

When Billie Jo is just fourteen she must endure heart-wrenching ordeals that no child should have to face. The quiet strength she displays while dealing with unspeakable loss is as surprising as it is inspiring.

Written in free verse, this award-winning story is set in the heart of the Great Depression. It chronicles Oklahoma's staggering dust storms, and the environmental--and emotional--turmoil they leave in their path. An unforgettable tribute to hope and inner strength.

Ox Cart Man (Picture Puffins)

Donald Hall

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Entertaining in a peaceful way 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Gave this account of a year in the life of a farm family to my 2-1/2 year old grandson. Worked, because the first time he asked his father to "read it again." Appealed to me, since it shows a natural cycle of growing/making things, selling them, and starting over. We may not operate quite this way, but it may still provide understanding of the world to a youngster. Appealing pictures, peaceful telling - perhaps the most "exciting" event is the farmer kissing his ox good-bye at market. Maybe a good bedtime story.

Ox-Cart Man 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is one of my family's all-time favorite children's books, with lovely, quiet pictures and a calm tone in the text. We love the feeling of the "circle of seasons" that it gives, as well as a glimpse back into a simpler era. The story also portrays the ethic of working hard and being rewarded for it. I read it to all five of our children as they were growing up. This Christmas I bought it for our 23 year-old daughter, who had asked for it. She doesn't have children yet; she just loves the book and wanted it for her own library. I was pleased to see Donald Hall's poem, "Ox-Cart Man"-- almost identical to the words in the children's book-- in Garrison Keillor's book called Good Poems, an anthology of poems he selected and arranged.

Editorial Review:

A lyrical journey through the seasons and passing years of one New Englander's family evokes the feeling of historical America.

Marguerite Henry Treasury of Horses (Boxed Set): Misty of Chincoteague, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, King of the Wind

Marguerite Henry

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Wonderful Collection 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is a very fine collection of Ms. Henry's books. One of my very favorite books as a child was "King of the Wind" and it was because I was looking it up that I found this collection. For anyone, young or old, who wants to enter into the wonderful, and magical world created by a well-crafted story, these three books will take the reader, and transport her/him into the lives of Agba, Joel Goss, and Paul and Maureen Beebe, and the horses that meant the world to them. There just is nothing like the relationship between a horse and the person who loves (and is loved in return) that horse! And there is no feeling on earth like the one you get on top of a horse, riding off down the trail. These books give the reader a look into the changes the love of a horse can bring about in a person's life, and I heartily recommend the books, especially if you haven't got a horse!

Editorial Review:

Sixty years ago, legendary author Marguerite Henry introduced Misty and allthe ponies of Chincoteague Island to boys and girls around the world. TodayMisty of Chincoteague and all of Marguerite Henry's stories are considered some of the greatest horse tales ever told. In honor of this, Aladdin is very pleased to bring out Ms. Henry's award-winning titles in onebeautifully designed boxed set that is the perfect gift for horse fans ofall ages.

KING OF THE WIND

NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER

MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE

NEWBERY HONOR BOOK

JUSTIN MORGAN HAD A HORSE

NEWBERY HONOR BOOK

A Little Prairie House (Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Long, long ago, a little girl named Laura Ingalls headed west toward the prairie with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their good old bulldog, Jack. They traveled far each day in their covered wagon, driving through tall grass until they found just the right spot for their new home. With the help of their kind neighbor, Mr. Edwards, Pa built a snug little house for the family in the middle of the wide-open prairie.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now for the first time, the youngest readers can share her adventure in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story-books. Renee Graef's warm paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life.

Renée Graef recieved her bachelor's degree in art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is the illustrator of teh paper dolls and the Kirsten books in the American Girls Collection. She is also an avid hat collector, with over 150 hats at last count. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her huisband, Tim, and thier children, Maggie and Maxfeild.Join the Ingalls family as they pick a special spot on the prairie and build their snug log cabin home.Their new neighbor, Mr. Edwards, comes by to help, and after the hard work is through, everyone sings and dances to the joyful music of Pa's fiddle. Renee Graef's enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth William's classic artwork, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life in this eleventh title in the My First Little House Books series, adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks.

Blueberries for Sal (Picture Puffins)

Robert McCloskey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 87 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

My niece loves this book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

She has hundreds of books and everytime I visit she would ask me to read her this book. She loves the illustrations... especially the seal!

blueberries for sal-- 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

sweet book for little kids. It is an excellent book to read aloud to your children and grandchildren. It is about a girl out picking berries for her mom and it shows a baby bear doing the same for his mom.

wonderful childs book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I loved this book as a child so I got it for my
grandchildren. They aren't as impressed with
the pictures from 1950 as I was, but still is
a good story.

bland 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I don't understand the positive reviews here or the caldecott award. The sketchings are artistically done, true, but in a way an adult can appreciate intellectually; they don't really evoke emotion. The story is a yawner.

Editorial Review:

"The adventures of a little girl and a baby bear while hunting for blueberries with their mothers one bright summer day. All the color and flavor of the sea and pine-covered Maine countryside."--School Library Journal, starred review. Caldecott Honor Book. Full-color illustrations.

My Book of Little House Paper Dolls: The Big Woods Collection

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

We liked it! 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I bought this for my 7 year-old daughter for Christmas. She really liked the dolls, and we thought the backgrounds and the pockets for the dolls were great. The only problem is that even though the dolls are punch-outs, the clothes have to be cut out very precisely with scissors, so she needed a lot of help with that.

Editorial Review:

Here, for the first time, is your very own collection of paper dolls inspired by the classic Little House books. Inside this book you'll find Laura, Mary, Baby Carrie, Ma, Pa, and their faithful bulldog, Jack. From helping Ma gather food in the garden to watching Pa play his fiddle, now you, too, can be a part of Laura and Mary's happy days in the Little House in the Big Woods.

A playtime package for young Little House fans: six full-color paper dolls made of durable and sturdy card stock (Laura, Mary, Ma, Pa, Baby Carrie, and Jack the bulldog); several easy-to-detach and authentic outfits for each character; two full-color pull-out scenes (a cozy room inside the Little House and the garden outside); a special pouch to store everything; and the complete text of Winter Days in the Big Woods interspersed throughout the book.

Winter Days in the Big Woods (My First Little House Books)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

An Old Fashioned Winter 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

"Winter Days" is one of my favorite books in the "My First Little House Books" series, and one of my favorite books about autumn. The Ingalls family prepares for winter with time for the harvest and food storage. Mary and Laura participate in daily chores and entertain themselves with their rag dolls, paper dolls,and by using a thimble to draw on the frosted window. Beautiful illustrations bring Laura's log cabin world to life, and are an excellent starting point for discussing how life is different then it used to be, and how some things never change.

Daughter's Favorite 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This was my daughter's favorite book from the time she was about 3-8 years old. I bought it as a introduction to the original Little House books and continued to collect the entire set of these "First Books". Bright, cheery with excellent artwork showing strong family relationships.

Perfect Introduction 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

For anyone who has loved the original Laura Ingalls Wilder books, or even the television series years ago, this is a perfect introduction to the very young. My children have enjoyed these books for years and have now moved on to the books Wilder herself wrote. Put together, they've created fond, wholesome childhood memories for my children.

Editorial Review:

Laura helps Ma and Pa make the little log cabin snug and cozy for the snowy days ahead.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)