Read Laura's story
Begin with Little House in the Big Woods, then follow the nine-book order even though Farmer Boy briefly changes viewpoint.
Book Series · 9 Books
Little House on the Prairie Books
In order from Little House in the Big Woods to The First Four Years.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's nine Little House books trace family life, work, travel, schooling, and settlement across the American frontier, from the Big Woods through Laura and Almanzo's early marriage.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Little House Books
Read the nine core books in their established series order, beginning with Little House in the Big Woods. Farmer Boy shifts to Almanzo's childhood before the sequence returns to Laura; The First Four Years is a posthumously published continuation of Laura and Almanzo's marriage.
The related Little House section contains samplers, treasuries, picture books, and later companion material. Those books are optional and do not create an alternate reading order for the nine core titles.
Sources: Penguin Random House's Laura Ingalls Wilder overview, Library of America's complete Little House contents.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The books portray close family life, ingenuity, and persistence, but also hunger, illness, dangerous weather, animal slaughter, fire, crop failure, and the death of a baby. The Long Winter is especially sustained in its depiction of isolation and near-starvation.
They also contain dated and harmful descriptions of Native people, Black people, and other groups, reflecting both their historical setting and the era in which Wilder wrote. Parents may want to read alongside children, add Indigenous perspectives, and discuss whose experiences the books center or leave out.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Wants shorter companion material
The Little House companion collection includes picture books, samplers, and treasuries rather than another numbered sequence.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$958
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 1932
Little House in the Big Woods
By Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator)
A young girl and her family live in a log cabin in the Big Woods of Wisconsin during the late 19th century.
238 pages· 33,170 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
6.1/7 Bookroo
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In 1871 Wisconsin, young Laura Ingalls and her family navigate the trials of pioneer life. Amidst harsh winters and self-sufficiency, they find joy in homemade Christmases, spring plantings, and Pa's soothing fiddle. As they prepare for their first trip to town, Laura's story unfolds, capturing the essence of frontier resilience and familial warmth. What adventures and challenges await in the Big Woods?
In reading order
Little House on the Prairie Series
9 books · Published 1932–1971
#1
Sale price
$958
Little House in the Big Woods
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 1932
A young girl and her family live in a log cabin in the Big Woods of Wisconsin during the late 19th century.
#2
Sale price
$958
Farmer Boy
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1933
A young farmer dreams of owning a horse, facing challenges and responsibilities on a New York farm.
#3
Sale price
$958
Little House on the Prairie
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1935
A pioneer family faces unexpected challenges on the Kansas prairie.
#4
Sale price
$958
On the Banks of Plum Creek
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1937
A pioneer family faces nature's fury with resilience and unity on Plum Creek.
#5
Sale price
$958
By the Shores of Silver Lake
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1939
A family braves the Dakota wilderness, building a new life by Silver Lake.
#6
Sale price
$958
The Long Winter
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1940
A brutal winter traps a town; survival hinges on a daring quest for food.
#7
Sale price
$1248
Little Town on the Prairie
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1941
A young pioneer navigates new social adventures and responsibilities in a growing town.
#8
Sale price
$958
These Happy Golden Years
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1943
Laura faces homesickness and challenges while teaching to support her sister's education.
#9
Sale price
$958
The First Four Years
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 1971
A young woman navigates marriage, motherhood, and farming in the late 19th century American Midwest.
Companion collection
Little House Series
8 books · Published 1988–2017
Optional picture books, samplers, treasuries, and reference material—not a second core series.
Sale price
$1299
A Little House Sampler
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1988
Discover untold stories that inspired the Little House series, revealing frontier life through Laura and Rose's eyes.
Sale price
$1499
A Little House Christmas Treasury
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1994
Experience Christmas on the prairie with heartwarming tales and vibrant illustrations.
Sale price
$375
Bedtime for Laura
Board Book · Ages 1–3 · 1996
Join Laura's pioneer adventures in her little house on the prairie.
Sale price
$759
My Little House 123
Picture Book · Ages 2–4 · 1997
Count objects in frontier life tales.
Sale price
$999
A Little House Reader
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1998
Discover the untold stories of a beloved pioneer writer's early life and hidden talents.
Sale price
$759
My Little House Book of Animals
Picture Book · Ages 1–6 · 1998
Discover prairie life through simple words and animals.
Sale price
$958
Old Town in the Green Groves
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2002
The Ingalls family must pause their journey west. Can they save enough to continue?
Sale price
$1248
The Little House Book of Wisdom
Picture Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017
Rediscover timeless wisdom from the Little House series with this illustrated quote collection.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Little House on the Prairie series?
There are 9 books in the Little House on the Prairie series. It began with Little House in the Big Woods in 1932, and the newest book, The First Four Years, was published in 1971.
What order should you read the Little House on the Prairie books in?
Start with Little House in the Big Woods and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #9.
What ages are the Little House on the Prairie books best for?
The series is best for ages 7–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Little House on the Prairie book is the longest?
The Long Winter (Book #6) is the longest book in the series at 67,661 words (334 pages).
Which Little House on the Prairie book is the shortest?
The First Four Years (Book #9) is the shortest at 24,277 words (134 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Little House on the Prairie to life.
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