This book is a heart warming addition to the category of historical fiction. The story basically shows the obstacles Laura and her family have to get through to prepare for the frigid winter.
A nice, laid back account of a family's days preparing for and living through winter in Wisconsin.
It's also LITERALLY a little house: The scale of the house as depicted in the first spread seems to be so small that there's not only one room, but not even room for beds! This seems to be a disconnect with the artist, since beds are MENTIONED but clearly not drawn! Did they have futon-style beds like in Japan? Where are they stored? It just feels like TOO SMALL a living space for FIVE PEOPLE AND A DOG, even by old-timey standards!
It's a decent slice-of-life book, but there are a few nitpicky things wrong with it, if you think about it too hard. Also, the dog gets a passing mention early on, then NEVER AGAIN.
Recommended if you like slice-of-life stories, though!
My daughter is 2 and every night before bed she asks for "Dora(Laura) and her puppy Jack". We have read this every night for almost a month and she will not go to bed without it. I grew up reading Little House on the Prairie so it is wonderful to see that my daughter has taken an interest in some of my favorite childhood stories.
The illustrations in this picture book rendition of the Little House books is far better than the ones in "Sugar Snow". These look like they were done with car unlike the ones in the book mentioned above which seemed rushed and a bit creepy, especially since little Carrie's head seemed far too big for her body.
The story telling in this volume is also a step up from "Sugar Snow" which I found boring in comparison. "Winter Days" reminded me more of the actual novels and their ability to transport you to Laura's world.
As a little girl I remember my dad reading Little House books to me. I love the picture books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They do not do justice for her chapter book series but these short stories are good for beginner readers. Especially for young girls who love the Little House series! My favorite part about the Winter Days book would have to be the illustrations! They are beautifully done with colored pencil and flow really well with the story. This particular story takes you back in time to pioneer days to prepare for the winter months. Laura walks you through her days spent with her mom, dad, and two sisters.
I loved the Little House books as a little girl, so I love that this version introduces early readers to this series. It's a great look at pioneer life through the view of easy historical fiction.