I recently stumbled upon a series of books I had not thought about in years. Little girls everywhere love an adventure. That’s why, regardless of race, class and even chronological age, girls everywhere have enjoyed the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder depicting her family’s journey across the American midwest in the late 1800s. I certainly did as an African American girl growing up in southern Virginia.
I remember reading the books in elementary school. Even after I got tired of the series (my attention captured by Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web), I continued to bring books home because my mother was reading them. It may be nostalgic embellishment, but I’d swear that I remember seeing her finish one, close the cover gently, and sigh. That sigh was filled with pleasure at a lovely read and sadness that the read was done.
There are numerous books in the series, some published during Wilder’s lifetime and others posthumously. My favorite versions are the early editions illustrated by Garth Williams.
The books are widely available in bookstores. You can learn more about Laura Ingalls Wilder here and about illustrator Garth Williams here.
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