Little Author in the Big Woods

June 30, 2014
Fans of the Little House series will welcome this opportunity to immerse themselves in the lives of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. McDonough’s (The Doll Shop Downstairs) slender, restrained biography offers answers to readers’ questions about which parts of her fiction are “true,” clarifying the differences between the stories and Wilder’s life. But the book, with few direct quotations from available diaries and letters, lacks Wilder’s voice and has little of the vivid detail and warmth of the fictional stories, reading like a somewhat-flat abridgement. Thermes’s playful, Lois Lenski–like pencil illustrations add welcome spirit and character, evoking Helen Sewell’s original illustrations of Wilder’s books more than Garth Williams’s well-known artwork of the 1950s editions. Other enhancements are McDonough’s thoughtful discussion of the controversy about the role Wilder’s daughter Rose played in the creation and publication of her mother’s books, and extensive back matter, which goes beyond the expected glossary and book lists to include recipes, directions for playing period games, and instructions for making a corn-husk doll. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Judith Ehrlich, Judith Ehrlich Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency. (Sept.)■

August 1, 2014
This condensation of the long, peripatetic life of Laura Ingalls Wilder will intrigue fans of the Little House series. After scant pages of prologue and the early life of Wilder's mother, the text begins a straightforward chronology with a mind-numbing parade of temporary homes, hardships and triumphs, and many, many descriptions of building construction. (No wonder Ma always seemed so tired.) Those who have read the Little House series will recognize names, places and incidents that went straight from Wilder's memory into her novels-more so than most works of fiction, as the text notes. (Readers will eventually learn the reason: Wilder initially expected to publish an autobiography for adults). Quotes from Wilder are interspersed with facts about her life, and a few facts are noted as different from her fiction. Ironically, the text sometimes reads like a lifeless summary of episodes that sparkle in the novels. However, there is a noteworthy emphasis on literacy-especially for girls-and on the values of three generations of "strong, smart women." Also, the biography extends Wilder's life far beyond the chronological boundaries of her books and into her writing career, relationship with daughter Rose and final years. The illustrations are lovely pencil drawings that pay homage to Garth Williams' work while maintaining originality. Less mesmerizing than Wilder's prose but similar in its simple sentences that convey big ideas. (author's note, epilogue, craft project, recipes, list of books by Wilder, glossary, further reading) (Biography. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2014

Gr 2-4-Anyone who has read the "Little House" series (HarperCollins) already knows a lot about its author, because she used her own life as the inspiration for those books. In fact, as readers learn here, when Wilder's autobiography was rejected by potential publishers, she rewrote it as a fictional book for children, thus launching her career as an author. This biography draws parallels between Wilder's life and writing, featuring both the hardships and joys of her experiences as a pioneer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The narrative is simple and straightforward, and the illustrations are innocent and cozy, calling to mind the original illustrations in the "Little House" books themselves. There is no bibliography, and while there is a list of "Further Reading," there is no explicit indication as to whether the author gathered her information from these sources or others. Overall, "Little House" fans will find a lot to love here, including supplements such as recipes and craft ideas from Wilder's life. Those who are less familiar with the series will find themselves well introduced to its timeless stories and to the independent, adventurous woman who created them.-Jenna Lanterman, formerly at The Calhoun School and Mary McDowell Friends School, New York City

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.