LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE reading information (The Laura Years)

The Ingall's sisters

The first Laura Ingalls Wilder book was published in 1932.

It's interesting to note that while Mrs. Wilder wrote the books about her own childhood that libraries generally do not put them in the autobiography section, but under fiction.  Rose Wilder Lane, Wilder's daughter, helped her with the editing.

The books listed here are the original ones.  Subsequent books were published, and they are categorized as collections of tales about Laura's great-grandmother (Martha Morse), grandmother (Charlotte Tucker Quiner), her mother (Caroline Ingalls), and finally, her daughter (Rose Wilder Lane). You'll see them referenced as: The Martha Years, The Charlotte Years,  The Caroline Years, The Laura Years, and The Rose Years.

Books are in series order.
Ratings are from GoodReads

Little House in the Big Woods
(1932)

4.13 Stars — 84,456 ratings

The Ingalls family settle deep in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. They are surrounded by miles of trees with no neighbors but the wildlife of that area. 

Reading Information:
Word Count: 33,586
Page Count: 198
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 5.0
AR quiz: 179
Lexile: 930L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
Casa Del Bosque 
(Little House In The Big Woods) 


Little House on the Prairie
(1935)

4.17 Stars — 108,128 ratings

Abandoning life in the woods, the Ingall's move to the great prairie were life is very different.  Here they meet Indians and must fight a wild fire.

Word Count: 52,038
Page Count: 335
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 53
--sample pages available

Espanole!
 Casa De La Pradera 
(Little House On The Prairie)


Farmer Boy
(1933)

3.99 Stars — 23,022 ratings

This story is about Laura's future husband.  In the story Almanzo Wilder wishes for a horse of his own, but his father doesn't think he's responsible enough.  How can he prove he is?

Word Count: 57,504
Page Count: 357
Accelerated Reading level: 5.2 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 112
Lexile: 820L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
Granjero De Diez Anos 
(Farmer Boy)

On the Banks Of Plum Creek
(1937)
4.17 Stars — 52,019 ratings

Laura and her family find a new home in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

Word Count: 55,214
Page Count: 358
Accelerated Reading level: 4.6 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 67
Lexile: 720L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
 Orillas Del Rio Plum
(On The Banks Of Plum Creek)

By The Shores Of Silver Lake
(1939)

4.13 Stars — 32,418 ratings

The Ingalls are now settling in the Dakota Territory, lured by a chance to own their own land. The new town of De Smet is unsettled though and filled with others longing to make a better living for themselves.  The Ingalls find they must defend their claim.

Word Count: 57,240
Page Count:  358
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 212
Lexile: 820L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
En Las Orillas Del Lago De Plata
(By The Shores Of Silver Lake)

The Long Winter
(1940)

4.13 Stars — 26,494 ratings

Who could believe it would snow from October to May?  This is a story about a truly Long Winter, and how the Ingalls survived it.

Word Count: 67,928
Page Count: 422
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 370
Lexile: 790L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
Largo Invierno
(Long Winter)

Little Town on the Prairie
(1941)

4.18 Stars — 36,984 ratings

Finally the snows have melted and Ingalls can get to town, where Laura takes a job and gets to spend more time getting to know Almanzo (her future husband).  The family also begins to save money for Mary to go to a college for the blind.

Word Count: 61,542
Page Count: 374
Accelerated Reading level: 5.4 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 327
Lexile: 850L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
 Pequena Ciudad En La Pradera
(Little Town On The Prairie)


These Happy Golden Years
(1943)

4.11 Stars — 25,471 ratings

Laura who is only 15 years old, moves away from her family (for the first time!) to teach school in a claim shanty twelve miles from home. She gets homesick, of course, but keeps working to help pay for her sister's tuition.

Word Count: 63,345
Page Count: 304
Accelerated Reading level: 5.6 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 497
Lexile: 840L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
Aquellos Anos Dorados 
(These Happy Golden Years)

The First Four Years
(1971)

3.83 Stars — 15,395 ratings

Now Laura is beginning life with Almanzo, her new husband.  They build their own little house and soon baby Rose is born.  They are happy but must work very hard to get their stead up and working.

Word Count: 24,046
Page Count: 126
Accelerated Reading level: 5.8 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 5012
Lexile: 1030L
--sample pages available

Espanole!
 Cuatro Primeros Anos 
(First Four Years)


compiled by Pam