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Since I’m in the midst of re-organizing my bookcases as part of my fall spruce up,(see the post below)
I thought I’d share one of my favorite books for Show & Tell – The Little House Books.
I used to love the Michael Landon series and he will forever be who I think of when I think of Pa Ingalls! But the books came into my life much later. My first exposure was when I was homeschooling my daughter and we read them as part of our curriculum. That was many years ago. But I’ve re-read them on my own ever year!
My family and I were at a thrift store last year, the kind where there are lots of “hidden treasures”. Meaning it’s the kind where there’s junk piled upon junk piled upon junk! If you wanted the piece of furniture everything was sitting on, I don’t know how you would actually buy it because they’d have to move so much stuff off it! Anyway, I didn’t see this set, I walked right past it, but my eagle eyed daughter saw them. She knows how much I love reading these books. Usually I just check them out of the library, although I had started looking for them to purchase and had found two hardcovers. I’d seen sets like this on ebay but the bidding always went to high for me. So I was doing a happy dance when I saw the price and they came home with me.
There are so many lessons that we can learn from these books. They really did “Use it up, wear it out, make it do”. Ma Ingalls worked hard, Pa Ingalls worked hard, the children all had chores and expectations for behavior. They had fun family times enjoying simple pleasures. When times were hard they banded together and worked through it. Sometimes I think these books should be required reading.
“It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
Oh I just love the Little House books! I need to get copies for our home too. Your thrift store sounds like my kind of place. The more junky and packed the place is the more goodies I always find.
I read all the Little House books when I was a girl. I also loved the tv show as all the actors seemed perfect, especially Michael Landon as Pa.
Dianne
What memories!!!
M ^..^
I loved ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and the Little House books! ( and still do!)
Thank you for sharing your post!
Blessings~
Gail
My daughter has these too….in fact, when she was a youngster [she now 40]…she LOOKED like Laura from the TV show…you know, half pint?!!!
Stop by my show and tell when you have time, I’d love to have you visit with me this fine day. Happy weekend to you!!!
I recognized that family as soon as I saw your picture. I have always loved those books as well. I am partial to the Walton’s as far as TV viewing goes however. Your books look so pretty in the bookcase. I always like to read The Long Winter in Janurary.
My all-time FAVORITE books, my all time FAVORITE show. In fact, I just answered a questionnaire and one of the questions was What TV Series house would you most want to live in and I said The Ingalls house from Little House.
I still watch the series both on television and dvd
I always loved the show, but belive it or not I’ve never read the books. That’s a nice collection you have there.
I loved those books, my daughters loved them too. You might like the series by Gene Stratton Porter, "A Girl of the Limberlost". That was one of my favorites and I have reread it several times:>)
Hi Manuela –
I have the Little House books, too. I’ve been collecting them as I find them in thrift stores and at garage sales over the past few years. They are such a sweet reminder of life as it used to be for much of the folks in our country. Good reading!
~Adrienne~
That’s the very style of the set my daughter has, too. It was fun to see them again. Love those illustrations, too.
Love Little House! It comes on in the morning and afternoon and I watch it. I can watch the same episodes over and over and still cry. So sweet and inspiring! I have some of those books too somewhere.
They are the best! I haven’t read the series in years, but now I want to curl up and read. What a wonderful walk down memory lane. 🙂
Have a beautiful weekend,
Jen
Those are the best books! My mom bought me the soft cover set when I was a child. I loved them. Funny, I remember loaning out J9 to my cousin, Daisy, and she lost it. It is the only one missing to this day. LOL! Thanks for reminding me of these great books. I need to dig them out for homeschool time!
I just love Little House! And as much as I love the TV series, I like the books the best! There’s just something so special about getting lost in a book with your imagination. 🙂
I also love the way you’ve arranged your shelves! They look very pretty!
His,
Mrs. U
I always loved those books. I think I read “These Happy Golden Years” a million times.
I have a book from a few years back that is a compilation of columns that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote for a newspaper when she lived in Missouri before she wrote the Little House books. It’s so good–you may be able to find it, too. Lots of wisdom in her words.
Gosh! how a great find! I agree it should be a required reading, even my children generation, does not know what life was way back then. I exposed them to a lot when home schooling, but still they have no memories of the older ways. I am 50 and have done more the old way, than a lot of women ofmy age in my area. Love you S&H
I love those Little House books. Our teacher read them to us in class when I was in about the 4th grade. I’m 72 now so you know that was a long time ago. I was so excited when the TV series came out. I was a little disappointed that they changed so much of the stories but I guess they needed to. I think my greatest disappointment was changing the name Caroline to Carolyn. They really shouldn’t have done that. How nice you have these wonderful books.
Charlotte
Oh, just yesterday I was at a thrift shop that had one of these books for sale. They also had a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. If they are there when i go back i must get them. I read these books years ago when growing up in NY.
Hi Manuda, I have never read this series of books, but I would always watch Little House on the Prairie on television..I will have to find them at my library to read.Thanks for sharing… Hugs, Baba
My parents have this collection-looks just like yours! These books are everything you say. Love them.
Thanks for stopping by my place:)
~Linda
We always watched this show, it seemed to stand the test of time. Nearly always had a tear in my eye too. Thanks for paying me a visit.
This series is one near and dear to me. It was my first series I ever read as a child. I love the tv show too, but love the books more. Thanks for bringing back such sweet childhood memories….I may have to dig around and find my old copies!
What a great find Manuela. I never get lucky at thrift store. Probably because I never stay long. I need to get out and start looking again. Thx for sharing, very nice.
I like the books very much and will start reading them aloud to my two younger daughters when we are finished with our current book!
I loved these books ~ I remember crying when Mary went blind and their little dog died.
Actually I read all the books before the series came along. I was a teenager by that time and had “outgrown” those books,so I never really cared for the show!
Nowadays I find myself rereading all the classics of my childhood like Little Women and the Secret Garden and my beloved Anne of Green Gables. I just may have to seek out those Little House books!
Manuela,
I bought a set like your Laura Ingall’s books and had sold them in my booth at an Antique Mall…My daughter has the complete set also.
I’m always pleased that you’ve been by….Betty
My house is full of books mainly my husbands.
I just loved the episodes of little house on the priarie, it was my saturday afternoon telly with my sisters. I still love them now they are timeless.
Thanks for sharing and stopping by my blog.
Clare
I liked so much the tv series when I was younger! Thanks for sharing your books. And thanks for stopping by my Show Tell.
They are favorites in this household, also. Have a nice weekend. Sally
We love the Little House books as well! One of our homeschool friends is using the Prairie Primer for her curriculum – I don't know if it's the one you used but it's based on the Little House books.
Thanks for visiting my Show & Tell – I'd love to see your three-tier cake stand on a Show & Tell one day.
I NEVER missed watching the series on TV and I loved reading the books when I was younger. I agree…it had so many good lessons to teach. That’s probably why I’m a young proper lady today. 😉 Ha!
OMG I LOVED those books when I was a kid! In fact, I had that very set and read them until they fell apart.
I am wondering if you can help me – I have a decorating dilemma! I have a relatively large living room, cream painted paneling and all of my wooden furniture is mismatched! I have a country style couch in greens, creams, wine, blues and dark blue curtains. What colour should I paint a hope chest, tall double book case, coffee and end table?
Can you help me??
I love finding books I read growing up, especially in well-loved versions. Thrift stores and antiquey places are funnest when you have to dig for the good stuff. There’s a lot that people miss when they don’t take the time to look!
I used to watch the show. I’ve only read a couple of the books and I LOVED them. I’ve been looking for more of them at thrift stores and yard sales ever since.
Oh, I had the series of books as a girl and the Show, Ughh, I waited with baitd breathe every week to watch. I introduced the show to my daughter when she was about 8 or 9 and she still watches the show on Fox Family!I miss that Nelly Olson
Hi Manuela,
What a wonderful book collection. I love to find hidden treasures too.
Have a great week.
Grammy
I have that same set of Little House books, my daughters didn't want them after they grew up! Can you imagine!! I'm hoping someday they will take them back, but they both have boys, so they may not.
Nice S&T!
Katherine
I love Little House books!!!! Your bookshelves are so nice. I wish mine looked like that. Mine are full of old textbooks that need to be disposed of.
Little House on the Prairie! One of my family’s favorite book series, too.
I received this very set as a child, THEN another set (that I pray is packed up somewhere) as an adult. Both from my mom. I read them over and over. I loved the story, the moral, and the artwork. I also have (I hope) extra writings of Laura Wilder, when she wrote for a local paper in later years. Your set reminds me I want to re-read them! Kudos to your daughter!!!
Hi Manuela! I love little house! I still watch it, I can only imagine the books because the books are alway so much better than the movies. I’m glad you found something that you love so much. Deb
I love those books and the show. Great show and tell.
I read all the Little House Books, my daughter has read all the Little House Books, and now my Grand Amy Rae is reading all the Little House Books…timeless! And your right, they should be required reading!
Warm Regards,
Susie
Hi Manuela….e-mail me before you make the bread, the recipe is slighlty wrong. I learned that after many failed loafs. Have a wonderful weekend, isn’t the weather today beautiful. I was finally able to shut off the air and open up the house. I’m off tomorrow to visit and photograph Barnsley Gardens up in Cartersville..I’m hoping it’s as nice as it looks in pictures…
I loved the Little House books growing up. I’ve read and reread them for years. Even read them to my hubby several years ago. When my daughter got old enough I collected hard back copies for her. Fortunately Costco was carrying them at that time and they were just as cheap as the paperbacks. Because I read the books before I ever watched the show I had a hard time getting into the show as I felt they weren’t true to the story. Just my opinion though. I love junk stores like the one you mentioned. I’ve got one that is close by that I just love to visit. Thanks for all the inspiration in your blog.
I am so glad to see books in your book cases. Why do decorators think you should have only stuff in book cases. I have bookcases in my house to hold my many books….. I occasionally add other things to cut down on weight. And to make looking at them a bit more interesting.
Where are we to put our books…. in a closet?
I love peeking into people’s bookcases. I loved Little House on the Prairie. The books and the t.v. series. I wish they would make more shows like that today. I did watch a great movie yesterday called Saving Sara Cain and it was directed by Michael Landon Jr.
Dear Manuela,
I love Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her books have been a delight in our homeschool for many years. I just love all the wisdom and simplicity you glean from reading them. You have a nice collection of old books. We enjoy collecting them too.
Blessings, Paula
I have the same set of books and oh, how I love them, too! I read Little House on the Prairie when I was 11 years old. :0)
~Kelli
I just finished reading mine too! I had to go an buy a new set because my old ones finally fell apart. Did you know the new set does not have the first four years???? ! Thank goodness that book is okay….
we love these books. We are on the third book of the series.
Thank you for stopping by my blog and for sharing on yours. Blessings, i
These are my favorites too…my Mom’s best friend gave me Little House in the Big Woods when I was 7 and I fell in love with it. I have passed it on to Grace and hope she will have the same warm memories about it that I do.
Manuela,
I like your Little House books!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your kind comment on my dishes – you are so right, so many patterns, so little money! 😉