Recently, I bequeathed one of my childhood treasures to my eight year-old daughter – my box set of Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My daughter Eliza had to first prove herself worthy; I refused to pass it on to her until she had finished reading both Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie.
Little House in the Big Woods is the first “real” book that I can recall reading. My grandmother Lillian started off reading it to me, but somehow, somewhere around the family goes to the “sugaring off”, I found myself reading it to her instead. For the rest of my childhood, I read all the books in this pale yellow box again and again.
Even as a child, I picked up on the fact that Ma’s attitude towards Native Americans was racist and cruel. It seemed wrong to me that Laura’s only occupational choices were schoolteacher or wife. My daughter and I have been talking about these things as well. It is a part of our history that is better to acknowledge than to ignore. But my daughter likes the books because they include so many details about life in a very different time. The books aren’t about heroes, but about ordinary people. Laura and Mary, Carrie and Grace, Ma and Pa, even Jack the dog are vividly alive for her. Maybe next summer we will have to take a mother-daughter field trip to Walnut Grove, MN to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.
The real treasure for me has been watching her discover the same joy in reading these books that I experienced as a child. Maybe one day, she will pass this treasure on to her own children.
This post is a response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Treasure.
The Human Rights Warrior 
Is it true you can actually see the writings of Laura on the wall in their home since she couldn’t find paper?
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I’ve heard that, too, but don’t know for sure. Laura started writing the books when she was 65 at Rocky Ridge in Missouri. That is another museum that I would like to visit one day! Thanks for your comment!
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I just love that you’re passing on this kind of treasure. I was a Little Women fan myself 🙂
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I liked Little Women and one the book, but the subsequent books weren’t that interesting to me. I should reread them now. Thanks for your comment, Tina!
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Love this post. You and your daughter have a very special relationship. It is a treasure. I had that kind of bond with my own mother. We shared the love of reading and writing throughout my life. I will always be so thankful for the time we spent together.
It is good to see other mothers and daughters that have that same relationship. Treasure your time together, it is so precious.
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Thank you! I’m so glad that you had such a close relationship with your mother – she will always be with you because of that. Good reminder to be treasure our time together right now. Thank you!
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what a wonderful gift to pass on down to the next generation
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Yes, it is! I tried reading the Little House books with my sons, but they didn’t really get into them. One of them has my Borrowers box set, however, and the other has my Dark is Rising box set. Thanks so much for your comment!
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“watching her discover the same joy in reading these books that I experienced as a child.” – a treasure, indeed.
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Yes, it really is, isn’t it? Thank you so much for your comment!
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I love those books! My mother read the whole series to me as bedtime stories when I was around the age of eight. I could (and did) read a lot myself but I always enjoyed that bedtime story being read to me.
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I agree, there is nothing that makes you feel more safe and loved than being read to at night. Even my 12 year old son asks for a bedtime story now and then. Thanks for your comment!
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perfect treasure. I can see the covers of mine as I write this. I’d love to visit the museum too.
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I’ll have to take pictures for you when we go. They actually have preserved the dugout on the banks of Plum Creek. You can visit between May and October. In Pepin, WI, there is another Laura Ingalls Wilder historical site with a log cabin. It is not the actual Little House in the Big Woods, but very much like the one she lived in. We may have to stop by that one as well. Thanks for your comment!
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What a wonderful gift shared between generations. As a kid, I loved these books and I’m sure they contributed to my interest in American history.
The photo of your daughter captures the excitement of starting a new book very well!
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Oh what a great idea. I will have to dig mine out for my daughter – i think they’re in a trunk at my mum’s house. I loved those books and the tv series too!
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Thanks for bringing back good memories of beloved childhood books. I also still have my boxed set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I hope you and Eliza make the road trip to Walnut Grove and Pepin. One of the things I really treasure is sharing my love of reading and books with my step-daughter.
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Isn’t it great to have someone to share that love of reading with? So glad you can experience that with your step-daughter. Thanks for your comment, Jenny!
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