Happy Little Family

Fairchild Family Stories #1

by Rebecca Caudill, Decie Merwin (Illustrator), Gene Boyer (Illustrator)

Describes the way of life of four-year-old Bonnie's family living in the mountains during the early 1900's

Genres: Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Historical

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

American's children writer, as well as teacher and editor, known for her Appalachian fiction. Caudill graduated from Wesleyan College and, in 1922, received her master's degree from Vanderbilt University. She taught English in high school and college, and worked briefly as an editor. She moved to Urbana, Illinois, when she married James Ayars in 1931.

Caudill's book, Tree of Freedom, was a Newbery Honor Book in 1950. A Pocketful of Cricket was a Caldecott Honor Book.

The schoolchildren of her adopted state of Illinois vote each year on their favorite book. The winning book is given the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (RCYRBA) named in honor of Caudill and her contributions to Appalachian literature.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the little sister, 4-year-old Bonnie longs to be big enough to have and do all that her older siblings experience. Through adventures big and small, she soon learns that growing up isn’t as easy as she expected. A family-friendly tale set in simpler times when families, friends, and neighbors worked and played together.

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6-year-old and I adored this sweet story about the Fairchild family living in Kentucky during pioneer times. The focus is on the youngest child, Bonnie, who can't wait to grow up and be like her older siblings.

There's a strong family theme throughout with wonderful character building. It's written well with illustrations that offer a nice break in the text for younger readers. It's very enjoyable and reminded me of Little House on the Prairie.

5-stars

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Caudill really does an exceptional job with her writing. She writes just how a little child would think or talk; which makes it comical for the adults reading the book and relatable and engaging for the children listening to it.

The stories she tells are memorable and worth having a discussion over with your little ones as they are common situations your kids will run into. Should Debby have been envious of her sister's hat? Should Bonnie have treated her sister that way? It can help avoid poor responses before they happen.

And the characters - I really, really like them! They're in another book, Schoolhouse in the Woods!

Ages: 4 - 10

Cleanliness: Shucks is said. Two little girls argue. A little girl doesn't want the sunbonnet her parents give her - she is envious of her sisters.

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[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS An absolute delight! My six-year-old and I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Happy Little Family series. I don't know why these are so hard to find (no copies available in my local library district and the paperback reprints not inexpensive used--I ended up buying this new as a Christmas gift). These are perfect for children who enjoy gentle tales of yesteryear as this takes place in early 1900s Kentucky. This one is even tamer and less troublesome than Little House on the Prairie. There is talk of "Indians" here, specifically in that the family finds many arrowheads around their farm, but I did not find it as problematic as what's in LH. When Father finds a particularly beautiful arrowhead and all the children want it, he tells them, "I'm going to give it to the one who earns it... The Indians were brave people and often very wise. The Indian who made this arrowhead was an artist too. I'll give it to the one who proves he is as wise as the Indians were." Obviously, the past tense is rather troubling but I was pleasantly surprised that at least he spoke of the Indians in a respectful fashion. Later on, the son is out on the mountain after dark and hears noises he thinks sound like a gunshot and he is frightened the Indians might be out hunting. But, that's the extent of it. The family is a happy one, and the stories (five chapters total in the book, each a separate episode) are sweet and warm without being saccharine or unbelievable. The family has some squabbles and jealousy but I found this realistic and the family is generally kind and loving. The focus is on four-year-old Bonnie and her great desire to be more grown-up and her parents are sensitive and attentive to this without being push-overs. The peril, such as it is, is appropriate for younger readers and sensitively portrays the feelings of children without looking down on their fears or anxieties as "childish." I found the choice of a four-year-old protagonist an interesting one -- I think the overall writing style and length of chapters will generally be over the head of most four-year-olds and older children prefer to read books featuring characters their own age (or older). Yet, there is plenty with the older siblings (three girls and a boy, stair-stepping every two years) and both my four-year-old and six-year-old listened attentively and the story captivated me, as well. The illustrations are lovely and full of period detail and we are eager to read more in the series. These deserve to be better known! The series has been republished by Bethlehem Books so some readers may wonder if these are Christian in focus. While the family does attend church and there is mention of God, there is less focus on this even than in, for example, "On the Banks of Plum Creek" and mostly it is just a "good values" sort of book so I think it would be perfectly suitable for secular and religious families alike.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turning four is practically turning ten, or at least almost six. Just ask sweet little sister Bonnie who is thrilled to be out of babyhood and scrambling to play catch up to her 3 older sisters and 1 older brother in this enchanting Appalachian pioneer farm family.

Happy Little Family is the first of four books in the Fairchild Family series by Rebecca Caudill. HLF is a beautiful and idyllic opening to a lovely and life giving series that focuses in on the daily milestones of a just turned 4 year old pioneer and life on that early American farm.

While this first book follows the seasonal rituals and ways of life natural to the Fairchild, Watterston, Huff and Sawyer families, it specifically focuses in on the relationship between Bonnie and her father - a strong, loving, tender and wise farmer who is the special ally of his littlest girl.

This series and this book especially is a true celebration of traditional family values and the real dynamics of a happy but totally normal family. My young family got lost in this story and moaned every night when the chapter ended and we had to put the book down for another day.

An excellent book for family read aloud. Easily as enjoyable as Little House on the Prairie, Caddie Woodlawn, Understood Betsy, Betsy Tacy or Grandma's Attic. Equally enjoyable for brothers and sisters.

In terms of difficulty or intensity, it is a touch easier than Betsy Tacy. Comparable to Grandma's Attic or Understood Betsy. A wonderful introduction to Caddie Woodlawn or Laura Ingalls Wilder.

An excellent series to own with lovely sketch illustrations. An ideal series for grandparents to have for visits with grandchildren.

[Meredith McCaskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom read this aloud when I was little, and it ended up being the perfect book to introduce my 6 and 3-year-olds to reading chapter books at bedtime. The stories are drawn from the author’s childhood in the late 1800s/early 1900s in the Smoky mountains. Very gentle, episodic, perfect for littles.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was this when I was younger? Belongs on the shelf next to All-of-a-Kind, Betsy-Tacy-Tib, Moffats, etc.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this sweet book aloud to my 3 and 5 year olds!

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four-year-old Bonnie Fairchild and her older siblings Althy, Debby, Emmy, and Chris live in the Kentucky hills in the early 1900s. As the youngest child, Bonnie is often babied by her siblings, but now that she is four she feels big enough to start doing some of the things they do, including wearing fancy hats, going ice skating, walking a path alone, and attending school. Happy Little Family covers a year in the life of the Fairchilds, telling a story set during each season which highlights the family's daily living and Bonnie's quest for greater maturity and responsibility.

I read Happy Little Family aloud to my own four-year-old (Little Miss Muffet), and her two-year-old sister (Little Bo Peep) also listened in. While the characters have not quite made the impression that Mary, Laura, and Carrie Ingalls have made upon my girls, Miss Muffet was completely enamored of Bonnie. As a child who frequently laments how long it takes to grow up, my daughter related very strongly to Bonnie's desire to be big enough to have the privileges afforded to her older siblings.

As a read-aloud, this book works nicely. The chapters are short enough to be read in one sitting without having to break them into smaller chunks, and there is a good number of illustrations throughout the book that provide context and easily re-engage a distracted listener. The writing is also really pleasant to read aloud, with lots of fun dialogue and inner monologues from Bonnie's point of view.

There is also a true sweetness to this book that is endearing and not a bit saccharine. Bonnie and her family all feel like real people, and though their day-to-day lives are very different from ours, their concerns, desires, fears, and interests are very similar to those of contemporary kids. Parents looking for a first chapter book, or for a read-alike for Little House in the Big Woods or Betsy-Tacy will definitely find what they need in this book. There are also three sequels: Schoolhouse in the Woods, Up and Down the River, and Schoolhouse in the Parlor, which I plan to have Little Miss Muffet (a very early reader) read independently as we can get our hands on them.

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet little story surrounding the different seasons in a year of the Fairchild family, mainly focusing on the youngest, Bonnie, just turned four at the beginning of the book. Bonnie is in a hurry to grow up and be like her big siblings, but her parents encourage her to enjoy what she has and can do now. I loved the author's book "Tree of Freedom" growing up and had I known about this one when I was younger, it probably would have been a favorite too.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

children's author who writes about life in Eastern KY in the 20's and 30's

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud to the kids- very sweet simple story about the youngest member of a large family. I loved these ones growing up.

[Kelsey Righter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars, because a chapter book that is of great literary style and appeals to -small- children is very hard to come by. Caudill's storytelling is exactly what I have been looking for in terms of a read-aloud for my 6 year old. I can't wait to continue the series. I am only surprised that there seems to be very few libraries that have these books!! It is a shame!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to Jemima (5) and it’s such a sweet read and perfect for little girls! Amos and Lewis liked listening in on it too sometimes.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book because the family is kind too one another and they show strong love as well.
Another reason I like this book is because the mother and father when they go away they bring back presents that make all of there children happy. I also like this book for another reason for there names
there names are Althy, Chris, Emmy, Debby, and Bonnie.

Also when the youngest child Bonnie gets lost a couple of times in the story the older siblings and parents are concerned for her.


I highly recommend this book for people who like kind books with kind actions towards family.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

We’ve read a few similar books to this one in the last year (All-of-a-Kind Family, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew) and I just think this kind of book isn’t my favorite. All those books have families with five kids (mostly girls) and I have a hard time remembering who is who. I liked this okay, but it wasn’t particularly memorable or charming for me personally.

This was from Audible Stories and the narrator’s Southern accent felt overdone and distracting.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little read aloud with my girls.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming stories from a four year old's view.

[Emma Grace Blumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet- a good read aloud for little girls (especially ones with older siblings :)

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect read aloud for my own four year old. She loved it, her brothers enjoyed it also, and we’ll probably read it again when she’s almost five and no longer little.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was great, awesome, and amazing too!
I actually read the second one first not on purpose!
( thanks Shiv for letting me borrow them! )

[Betsie Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 Read Harder Challenge - Reread a childhood favorite book.

I remember this as being the first chapter book I read myself.

[Meg GlitteryOtters · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so sweet. It was written in the 1940's and it really feels you are being transported to a different time and place.

I didn't like one comment by the father about his daughter being wiser than many Indians. (It was in a chapter about finding arrowheads.) He does say that Indians are brave and wise, though.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bonnie Fairchild is 4 in this first in the Fairchild series, set in 1900s Kentucky.

[Alana/MiaTheReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

My four-year-old adored this read-aloud and the two older kids enjoyed it, too! You could easily read it aloud in two or three sittings.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover of the edition I read said something like, For all those who love the Little House books. But this is nothing like those. No detailed descriptions of frontier life, no how-Pa-and-Ma-made-its, nothing like that. Scrappy little episodes that do get longer as the book goes, but the first two or three were disappointingly unfinished, cut off almost in mid-sentence. The characters are sadly undeveloped; Ma particularly seems to be limited to smiling and helping the kids get dressed, or going off on the horse and coming back. Maybe that's meant to reflect a four-year-old's self-absorption, I don't know. We don't even really know what part of the country they live in, just "the mountains."
The best children's books appeal to adults and kids both. For my money, this doesn't pass that test.
Another short, fast read for non-readers of the younger set.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

We listened to this free on Audible Stories. I think I would have liked the physical book better, because the narrator wasn’t my favorite. She wasn’t the best at differentiating the different characters with her voice, so sometimes I got confused about who was speaking since I couldn’t see the text; and her Southern accent sounded a bit too syrupy and affected at a few points, and actually made it harder for my 7yo (and me) to understand what she was saying. At the beginning of the book I actually thought the character Bonnie was a boy called Barney for a little bit.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the stereotypes around Native Americans (including the assumption that only their relics remain and not the people, or that they would be dangerous).

[Bryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute 1947 children's book about a rural family, almost entirely from the point of view of the youngest child, 4-year-old Bonnie. As a modern parent I read this was mixed feelings -- it is sweet and cute and the family is charming and the landscape is lovingly described, and also who in their right mind lets a 4-year-old have that much freedom to wander the landscape alone? It just takes one twisted ankle or one impulsive berry-eating or anything else along those lines -- the kinds of things 4-year-olds do ALL THE TIME -- and the story turns into a tragedy. I mean, I did grow up in the past, I too was a 4-year-old wandering around the neighbourhood by myself, but having kids of my own I find it hard to fathom, and it did rather interfere with my enjoyment of the book.

[Kymberli Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cozy read, just what I needed to break up the emotional rollercoaster of the full-length novel I am also reading. This story reminded me of "Sally Does It", which is a book I grew up on and really enjoyed. I will be continuing the series.

Favorite scenes/sentences: "Don't you think I'm big enough to have a hat, Father?" "Almost," Said Father. "When will I be big enough?" Asked Bonnie. "All too soon." Said Father.

"When you can read 'cat' you've finished being little forever and ever."

Bonnie smoothed the wrinkles of the handkerchief. "I'll just keep it," She said. "To remember when I was little."

Oh, my heart.