More Gifts for Laura Fans

Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Series Deluxe Remastered Edition - DVD. All nine seasons of the beloved classic show starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert.

Dean Butler, who portrayed Almanzo Wilder on the Little House on the Prairie, produced this documentary about Almanzo's life growing up on a farm in Burke, NY. Using old photographs, excerpts from Wilder's Farmer Boy, and the beautiful landscape in Burke, NY, Butler has brought Almanzo Wilder to life in a unique and touching way. I reviewed it here.

Historical photographs, book excerpts, reenactments, and expert insights give viewers a glimpse into the life of one of America's most beloved writers. The artwork of illustrator Cheryl Harness captures the essence of Wilder's Little House series and brings this legacy to life through animation. Discussions with Laura Ingalls Wilder biographer, John E. Miller, and Pamela Smith Hill, editor of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography, add depth to this engaging story covering Wilder's legacy.

Bonus features include topics on Native Americans and African Americans on the prairie, the beautiful work of American artist Harvey Dunn, and the Morgan Horse. Viewers are encouraged to travel behind the scenes with director Dean Butler as he chronicles his work on this documentary, and there is a discussion with illustrator Cheryl Harness on her contributions. Produced in association with Friendly Family Productions.

See my review here.

This 2005 television mini-series marked a return to the autobiographical books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Portraying a more realistic view of the pioneering era than the now classic television show, Little House on the Prairie, this Disney production chronicled the life of the Ingalls family as they staked their claim in Kansas. 

Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder is a CBS production that was originally released as two TV movies in 1999 and 2002. Now on one DVD, this chronicles the life of a teenage Laura in De Smet, how she meets Almanzo Wilder, their courtship and marriage, life on Rocky Ridge Farm, and Laura's return to De Smet to see her ailing father. You can read my thoughts on these movies here and here.