Reading is a formative childhood experience that leaves lasting memories. All the hours you spend sitting in your room devouring fictional stories as a kid transport you to another world, encouraging your imagination to wander. One of our favorite childhood books, Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, has stood the test of time since its release in 1935 and was adapted into a TV series in 1974. The book series is at the forefront of readers' minds once again now that Netflix is debuting a reimagined TV series. Just in time for the series' premiere (July 9), Parade asked librarians to share their picks for books like Little House on the Prairiefor kids and adults.
Whether you grew up reading the classic book series and want to pass on the fun to your own children or you're looking for something to read as an adult, the book selections featured below include something for every personality and age.
If you've never read Little House on the Prairie, you're missing out. Rachael Welsh, a librarian who goes by @rachaelreads on Instagram, describes the book as "pure Americana."
Little House on the Prairie is the third in a series of nine books that chronicles the Ingalls family between 1871 and the 1880s as they cross the American frontier. The historical fiction series starts in a log cabin in Wisconsin and follows the family as they travel in a covered wagon to build a new life.
Per the book series' description, it was inspired by Ingalls Wilder's childhood and features "detailed portrayals of homesteading, one-room schoolhouses and close-knit pioneer communities."
"The stories explore themes of family resilience, hard work and perseverance as the characters face blizzards, crop failures, and isolation. With its authentic depiction of daily pioneer activities from ice cutting to hay twisting, the series has resonated with generations of readers seeking heartwarming family stories rooted in American history," the description reads.
7 Best Books Like 'Little House on the Prairie' for Kids
1. 'Sarah, Plain and Tall' by Patricia MacLachlan
Amazon
"It's a touching story about finding home, building trust and discovering that families can be formed in unexpected ways," Helmick tells Parade.
"Before Sarah arrives, Anna and her younger brother Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she sing? Will she stay?" the book description reads.
2. 'Our Only May Amelia' by Jennifer L. Holm
Amazon
According to its description, May Amelia Jackson has a "love of adventure" and shuns her family's desires for her to act more prim and proper.
"She's sure she could do better if only there were at least one other girl living along the banks of the Nasel River. And now that Mama's going to have a baby, maybe there's hope," the book description reads.
3. 'Hattie Big Sky' by Kirby Larson
Amazon
"Hattie has spent her life being sent from relative to relative," the librarian says. "She finally grows tired of this life and makes her way to Montana all on her own to live on her late uncle's homestead. She has to work hard but creates a family with her new neighbors and fellow homesteaders."
"Despite daily trials, Hattie continues to work her uncle’s claim until an unforeseen tragedy causes her to search her soul for the real meaning of home," the book description reads.
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4. 'One Big Open Sky' by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Amazon
"In 1879 Mississippi, Lettie and her family, much like the Ingalls, are in a covered wagon headed west to Nebraska. This book is narrated by Lettie, her mother Sylvia and Philomena, a teacher who is also traveling with them," the librarian shares.
Lettie, who is described as a "young dreamer" in the book description, hopes that her father, Thomas, is right that Nebraska will provide them "an opportunity to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations on their very own plot of land."
However, Thomas' "desire for control overpowers his common sense" soon enough and the group navigates danger along the way.
5. ‘The Ballad of Lucy Whipple' by Karen Cushman
Amazon
"In this book, Lucy has been moved from her comfortable home in Massachusetts to California during the Gold Rush, where her mother thinks they will find their fortune, just like Pa Ingalls sought the best for his family by moving them out West," she says.
The book is set in 1849 and follows 12-year-old Lucy as she "helps run a boarding house and looks for comfort in books while trying to find a way to return 'home,'" per the book description.
6. ‘Prairie Lotus' by Linda Sue Park
Amazon
Welsh is also a fan of the book and appreciates that the narrator is half Chinese.
"Hanna and her white father have moved to a town in the Dakota Territory where he is opening a dress goods shop," she tells Parade. "Hanna dreams of being a dressmaker and is excited to pursue an education like her mother dreamed for her, though she has to deal with racism from other townspeople. Like Laura Ingalls, Hanna is a story of perseverance and following your dreams."
7. ‘The Birchbark House' by Louise Erdrich
Amazon
"The Birchbark House follows an Ojibwe family living near Lake Superior during the same era as Laura Ingalls Wilder's stories," Helmick explains. "Erdrich offers young readers a beautifully written Indigenous perspective that enriches our understanding of American history while celebrating family, tradition and community."
"The Birchbark House tells the story of Omakayas and her family, who live on an island in Lake Superior. One day a white settler comes to their lodge, but an invisible force follows with him," Welsh shares.
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2 Cozy Frontier & Pioneer Books for Adults
8. ‘Where the Lost Wander' by Amy Harmon
Amazon
Set in 1853, the book follows Naomi May, who becomes a widow at 20 years old.
"Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both," the book description reads. "But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart."
9. ‘These Is My Words' by Nancy E. Turner
Amazon
The author's family memoirs inspired the book, and it follows Sarah Prine, "a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier." The book follows Sarah as she navigates "turbulent events, both joyous and tragic," and chronicles her love story with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot.
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2 Modern & Diverse Alternatives to Laura Ingalls Wilder
10. ‘News of the World' by Paulette Jiles
Amazon
The book—which was also adapted into a movie—follows Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, an elderly widower who is offered a $50 gold piece to bring a young orphan named Johanna to her family in San Antonio.
The book follows the duo as they travel 400 miles to reunite Johanna with her relatives.
"Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes and refuses to act 'civilized.' Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forming a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land," the book description reads.
11. ‘The Four Winds' by Kristin Hannah
Amazon
The book begins in 1921 and introduces readers to Elsa Wolcott, who is considered "too old to marry," per the book description. After marrying a man named Rafe Martinelli, whom she meets one night, Elsa later finds herself in a "tenuous marriage." Meanwhile, the Great Depression has set in, and everything on her family's farm is dying."In this uncertain and perilous time, Elsa―like so many of her neighbors―must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or leave it behind and go west, to California, in search of a better life for her family," the book description reads.
Quick Reference: Librarian-Approved Frontier Books by Age
Book Title
Core Themes
Kids (Ages 7-10)
Our Only May Amelia
Adventure, American pioneer experience
Kids (Ages 10-14)
One Big Open Sky
Autonomy, Black self-emancipation, Westward expansion
Kids (Ages 12 and up)
Prairie Lotus
Prejudice, perseverance, belonging
Kids (Ages 8-12)
Where the Lost Wander
Grief, love
Adults (Ages 18+, appropriate for mature teens 16+)
News of the World
Community, family
Adults (Ages 18+, appropriate for mature teens 16+)
Family, endurance, courage
CanvaPro/Parade
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Sources:
Sam Helmick is the president of the American Library Association (ALA).Rachael Welsh is a librarian who goes by @rachaelreads on Instagram.Hence then, the article about 11 books like little house on the prairie for kids and adults according to librarians was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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