Wisdom of Ma

"If wisdom's ways you wisely seek,

Five things observe with care.

To whom you speak,

Of whom you speak,

And how, and when, and where."

Written in Laura's album after an altercation with Nellie Oleson

Survey Results: The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure

Our readers were almost evenly spread out on when or if they would be purchasing a copy of The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure.

Here are the results:

30% said they didn't plan to read it
25% said had pre-ordered it, while another 25% said maybe
20% of our readers said they would buy it once it's out

The majority of our readers not opting to purchase the book surprised me. The majority of the reviews on Amazon have been favorable. I'm one of those people who usually buys anything to do with Little House on the Prairie or Laura Ingalls Wilder anyway, but I think this is such a new idea in the Laura World that it would be of great interest to many.

Thanks for participating in our survey. We'll have a new one coming soon.

New Book for My LIW Collection: Mary Ingalls on Her Own

I really shouldn't buy books. I have more books in  my office than I can shake a stick at. Yet, when it comes to anything Little House or Laura Ingalls Wilder, I usually plunk down my hard earned cash.

My friend Marilyn reviewed this title for us in 2008 here. Since then I've had the book on my wish list, but never bought it because I had so many other books to read. When I placed a recent order with Amazon, I needed to reach $25 for free shipping, so I picked up the book.

I'm not sure when I'll get to read it, but you'll get a chance to read my thoughts once I do.

What's the latest Little House or Laura Ingalls Wilder purchase you've made?

Vintage LHOP Autographs and Plates up for Sale

Lennon Parker, administrator of PrairieFans.com and the Little House on the Prairie forum, Prairie Talk, is making available for sale some of his LHOP collection.

Cards were signed during a cast ball game from the 70's. Photos (never been published) also come with the sale. The autographs were signed from the cast as children/teens which make them rare. Signatures include ...Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush, Kyle Richards (now on a reality show with sister Kim Richards), Melissa Gilbert, Johnathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim and Bonnie Bartlet as the only adult. As a bonus a signed picture of Brian Part (Carl Edwards) will be included.

Also available is a set of six Little House plates with hangers.

For more details please visit http://www.pioneerontheprairie.com/prairie_forums/boards.php?topic=683&board=_pc

The Complete Little House Nine-Book Set Remains a Bestseller at Amazon

Spending time around Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Prairie fans, I've heard some interesting things over the years. One thing that came up recently is the continued popularity of the Little House series with a generation of children whose regular book picks include paranormal and fantasy titles.

When browsing through Amazon's bestsellers over the past couple of weeks, I discovered that The Complete Little House Nine-Book Set can sometimes be found on their Most Wished for list in Children's Books.

If I visit the set's Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Little-House-Nine-Book-Set/dp/0064400409/ it is listed as a bestseller in the Number 1 spot in two categories: Children's Books, Literature, Short Story Collections (that is an odd category for these) and Children's Books, History & Historical Fiction, Fiction & United States, 1800s. It also ranks as #20 in Children's Books, Literature, Classics.

Why is it that the books remain popular when GenYers and GenZers are coming farther and farther away from the times in which Laura lived? Perhaps one of the elements is what Dean Butler spoke of during our interview. He mentioned that Little House was old when it was new. That's one of the glories of historical fiction. But I also have to believe it largely has to do with the way the books are written. Wilder shared the pioneering experience--its struggles and triumphs--but as Dean pointed out, she did so with a healthy dose of romance and optimism. The sense, he said is, "that if we’re together, and if we stick together and work hard, we will survive and we will do well. We love each other so we are going to stand up for each other and help each other."

I know that's what attracted me to the show, and then to the books. Perhaps our children are looking for those ideals too.

What about you? Why do you believe the books remain popular? Do you know children who are reading them right now? What do they say about them?