Little House in the Big Woods

Little House in the Big Woods was published in 1932 by American author Laura Ingalls Wilder. The first in a nine-book series, the autobiographical narrative relates the story of a family of homesteading pioneers living and laboring in Wisconsin. The story is illustrated by Garth Williams, whose drawings of the Ingalls family are often considered iconic and an integral part of the reading experience.

This is a classic children’s tale set during an era of western expansion, beloved by generations of youth and taught in schools to help children understand how early pioneers survived while also imparting moral lessons in a sweet and accessible way. The story was made even more popular by several 20th century television shows and remains a staple on bookshelves today.

Themes in the book include self-reliance, social duty, and family life. This first book in an episodic series covers one year in 1871. It begins by introducing, in the third person, a little girl who lives in a gray house made from logs.

Plot Summary

Laura Ingalls is four years old at the time of the story, which begins by outlining some of the encounters the Ingalls family (Ma, Pa, older daughter Mary, and baby Carrie) has with the animals that surround their homestead, including Pa’s hunting trips and saving the pig from a bear as winter approaches.