If you’ve read and loved the Little House books, you’ll want to read this book full of photos and illustrations related to the life and stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The oversize paperback includes historic photos of Laura’s family including aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents; the different sites where she lived with her family; the interior of various homes as well as the furniture and other memorabilia including Pa’s fiddle and Ma’s china shepherdess.

Reading this book is especially rewarding for those who aren’t able to visit the museums and other sites in the various Midwest United States. I loved the origin story of this book: Japanese translator Yumiko Taniguchi introduced the Little House books to Japanese readers through her translated books. In 1987 she wrote to the author, William Anderson, a specialist in the subject of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her times, asking him to describe the land and places depicted in the series, so that Japanese fans could know about the rural beauty of the wide prairies and dense forests. He connected with a photographer and together they “gathered and described the most important aspects of what remains from Laura’s past and what is preserved for the future.” The result is this book.

I was surprised to see that this is published by Harper Perennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, because the look and layout of the book is quite unprofessional. The captions don’t always line up with the photos they are next to, and the photos and illustrations are arranged as if by an amateur desktop publisher (a do-it-yourself job).

Despite the nonprofessional look of the book, reading it will surely bring the Little House books to life, and would be a welcome addition to anyone wanting to revisit the pioneer life and times of Laura Ingalls Wilder. It would also make a nice gift for any Little House fan, both young or young at heart. ( )

A good guide book and great pictures! ( )

This book deserves a place on the shelf beside the Little House series. It is a useful and beautiful complement to the text and illustrations of the books. ( )

Nicely done! Good collection of photos and historical research into the locations and times of Little House on the Prairie. ( )

For someone who loves Laura Ingalls Wilder, this book is so satisfying. The majority of the book, separated by each place Laura lived, is filled with beautiful pictures of where Laura really lived, corresponding direct quotes from her work with images. This book allows a reader to flip through and compare images created in his or her head to the actual setting. The book provides maps, timelines, historical facts. In other words, it acts as an encyclopedia of all things Laura Ingall Wilder. The beauty of her life and her books, I think, is found the simplicity and beauty of those places she lived and those whom she was surrounded by. This book capture all of this. It makes Laura Ingalls Wilder feel like your next door neighbor. While it would be difficult to incorporate in an ELA classroom, I would immediately recommend to any reader who cannot put down Wilder's books. I'll never forget getting this book for Christmas and divulging in every picture and caption, finally understanding that what Laura had experienced and written about was so real and beautiful. ( )