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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Laura Ingalls Wilder Reading Challenge

Anybody that knows anything about me knows that I LOVE Laura Ingalls Wilder!  She is my favorite children's author and probably the number one historical figure I would want to meet.

I remember the first time I came across her book Little House on the Prairie.  At the age of seven, I was already a devoted fan of the Little House on the Prairie TV show.  My school was having a book fair in the library.  That's when a company would come and sell books and trinkets.  I remember looking around at the books with my friend Stacy Cameron.  I found a little book about a dog.  Then, when I went to go pay for my book, I saw a yellow paperback book that had a drawing of a covered wagon with two little girls peeking out the back.  My jaw nearly dropped in surprise.  I couldn't believe that there was a book about my favorite TV show!  The dog book was set aside and I bought Little House on the Prairie.  So began a lifelong love of all things Laura which spilled over into a love of pioneer life and the 1800's.  I have been to all of the midwest Laura sites and have many of the books written by and about her.  I'm looking forward to when I read the books to my daughter and take her to see some of the Laura sites as well.  Oh, and I'm still a fan of the show as well.

Barbara H. who writes for the blog Stray Thoughts is hosting this Reading Challenge for the month of February.  Laura's birthday is February 7th which makes it an appropriate time.

For this challenge, I will be reading Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, and Farmer Boy.  If time and opportunity allows, I will read more of the series.  Unfortunately, because all of my Laura stuff is packed away right now, I have to get the books from the library.  I also want to see if I can find any Little House picture books to read with my daughter (my own Baby Grace).  If I can find a copy of the cookbook, I may attempt a recipe or two. (Don't hold your breath.)

If you'd like to join in on the challenge, click the picture above and read all about it.

3 comments:

  1. I love her, too! Reading her series when I was about 9 or 10 is what got me hooked on reading and made me want to write. Lauren was supposed to be "LAURA" after her, but Terry wanted "Lauren" at the last minute...in the delivery room!

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  2. Oh wow -- how fun to have been to all the Midwest Laura sites. I was just reading about the setting up of a museum at her last home in Mansfield.

    I'm so glad to have you join us for the challenge! It is a lot of fun already.

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  3. Valerie, I think that reading the Little House books got me hooked on reading, too. I guess if you can get your children to reading something they really enjoy, they'll be more likely to love it, too.

    Barbara, I love the Mansfield museum! I have been there, I think, 5 times. It's only about 5-6 hours from here. It's been probably eight years since I've been. I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to go and enjoy it.

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