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Little House Chapter Books: Laura #4
School Days
School Days
School is always exciting for Laura Ingalls and her sisters. Laura knows that learning can be fun, and there are so many friends to play with at recess!
The Laura Chapter Books are part of an ongoing series of Little House Chapter Books.
School is always exciting for Laura Ingalls and her sisters. Laura knows that learning can be fun, and there are so many friends to play with at recess!
The Laura Chapter Books are part of an ongoing series of Little House Chapter Books.
80 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 1997
About the author
Laura Ingalls Wilder
494 books5,686 followersLaura Ingalls Wilder was an American author, journalist, and educator whose "Little House" series transformed the arduous reality of the American frontier into a foundational pillar of children's literature. Born in the "Big Woods" of Wisconsin to Charles and Caroline Ingalls, Laura’s childhood was a nomadic journey through the heart of a shifting nation. Her family moved across Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakota Territory—often staying just ahead of legal evictions or chasing the promise of fertile soil. These years were marked by extreme hardship, including the "Hard Winter" of 1880–81 in De Smet, South Dakota, where the family survived near-starvation. Despite the struggle, these experiences provided the raw material for her eight-volume record of pioneer life, a series that has since been translated into over forty languages.
Before becoming a world-renowned novelist in her sixties, Wilder lived several distinct lives. At fifteen, she became a teacher in one-room prairie schools, a job she took primarily to support her family financially. In 1885, she married Almanzo Wilder, beginning a partnership that endured fire, paralysis from diphtheria, and the heartbreaking loss of an infant son. These trials eventually led them to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. It was here that Laura developed her voice as a professional writer, serving as a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist for over a decade.
The Great Depression and the 1929 stock market crash wiped out the Wilders’ savings, providing the ultimate catalyst for Laura to pen her memoirs. Her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane—a successful author in her own right—encouraged her mother to adapt her autobiography, Pioneer Girl, into a format more suitable for children. This resulted in a complex and often rocky literary collaboration; while Lane provided the professional "style," Wilder provided the "substance" and narrative heart. The first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when Laura was sixty-five.
Wilder’s legacy is a blend of immense literary success and modern historical scrutiny. While her books remain staples in classrooms for their vivid descriptions of 19th-century domestic life, her portrayals of Native Americans and African Americans have led to recent reevaluations. In 2018, the American Library Association renamed the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award" to reflect these evolving cultural sensitivities. Nonetheless, Wilder remains a monumental figure in American letters, a woman who successfully "saved the American soul" by documenting the grit, faith, and unyielding persistence of the pioneer spirit.
Before becoming a world-renowned novelist in her sixties, Wilder lived several distinct lives. At fifteen, she became a teacher in one-room prairie schools, a job she took primarily to support her family financially. In 1885, she married Almanzo Wilder, beginning a partnership that endured fire, paralysis from diphtheria, and the heartbreaking loss of an infant son. These trials eventually led them to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. It was here that Laura developed her voice as a professional writer, serving as a columnist and editor for the Missouri Ruralist for over a decade.
The Great Depression and the 1929 stock market crash wiped out the Wilders’ savings, providing the ultimate catalyst for Laura to pen her memoirs. Her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane—a successful author in her own right—encouraged her mother to adapt her autobiography, Pioneer Girl, into a format more suitable for children. This resulted in a complex and often rocky literary collaboration; while Lane provided the professional "style," Wilder provided the "substance" and narrative heart. The first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when Laura was sixty-five.
Wilder’s legacy is a blend of immense literary success and modern historical scrutiny. While her books remain staples in classrooms for their vivid descriptions of 19th-century domestic life, her portrayals of Native Americans and African Americans have led to recent reevaluations. In 2018, the American Library Association renamed the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal" to the "Children's Literature Legacy Award" to reflect these evolving cultural sensitivities. Nonetheless, Wilder remains a monumental figure in American letters, a woman who successfully "saved the American soul" by documenting the grit, faith, and unyielding persistence of the pioneer spirit.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 16, 2026
Perfect for shadow to Laura becoming a teacher 💜
September 11, 2010
It was cool because it went through Laura's life time of going to school. She went from elementary school, to high school. The book was short, but it was good.
May 30, 2011
This book is about Larura and Mary going to tifferent schools.
September 17, 2026
I read these all when I was in elementary school and have always loved Laura Ingalls Wilder and her stories. I’m reading this one with my daughter this month for a school project and realizing how special those books always were for me growing up.
The history, living in another little girls head in a different time, the sisters together with ma and pa. The little house on the big woods. It’s all the best.
The history, living in another little girls head in a different time, the sisters together with ma and pa. The little house on the big woods. It’s all the best.
October 8, 2017
I think we should just read the regular books.
January 1, 2019
I always love reading these short chapter books. Very nostalgic.
March 5, 2019
This was a cute compilation of some of Laura's school days.
March 31, 2020
This will be perfect for reading groups!
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June 19, 2022ropj23rj
May 27, 2024
Brought me back to my childhood days, just like I wanted my "Memory Lane May" readathon to do.
August 21, 2024
Was a very cute book I really liked it and thought it was the perfect way for young readers to still enjoy this lovable series!
December 11, 2016
Reading Level: 2.8
Summary: The Laura Chapter Books are an ongoing series of Little House Chapter Books. In this book, Laura and her sisters share some good and bad times when they attend different schools near their various prairie homes. Laura's most favorite thing to do at school is playing with her friends at recess! Readers enjoy the gentle adaptation of the Little House Novel in this story while being entertained by the beautiful black and white illustrations.
Characteristics that support this Genre: Early Exploration and Settlements, American History,
Westward Exploration and Expansion, Communities and Ways of Life, Farm and Ranch Life, and
Extended Families.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits: Organization - students will write in order the sequence of the different schools that Laura and her sisters attend in the book. Ideas- students are asked to write a descriptive paragraph about the school they like the best in the book and why they like it.
Classroom Integration/Mini-Lessons/Content Connections: Social studies - Through reading these texts,discussion and completing a KWL chart or graphic organizer, students learn why pioneers left their homes and families to journey west. During December, students can study a Pioneer School day! The teacher can dress in her prairie finest (sunbonnet and all) and has sunbonnets and aprons for the girls and suspenders and hats for the boys. The desks are arranged in rows, the boys separate from the girls, and our generally happy teacher becomes a stern schoolmarm.
Summary: The Laura Chapter Books are an ongoing series of Little House Chapter Books. In this book, Laura and her sisters share some good and bad times when they attend different schools near their various prairie homes. Laura's most favorite thing to do at school is playing with her friends at recess! Readers enjoy the gentle adaptation of the Little House Novel in this story while being entertained by the beautiful black and white illustrations.
Characteristics that support this Genre: Early Exploration and Settlements, American History,
Westward Exploration and Expansion, Communities and Ways of Life, Farm and Ranch Life, and
Extended Families.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits: Organization - students will write in order the sequence of the different schools that Laura and her sisters attend in the book. Ideas- students are asked to write a descriptive paragraph about the school they like the best in the book and why they like it.
Classroom Integration/Mini-Lessons/Content Connections: Social studies - Through reading these texts,discussion and completing a KWL chart or graphic organizer, students learn why pioneers left their homes and families to journey west. During December, students can study a Pioneer School day! The teacher can dress in her prairie finest (sunbonnet and all) and has sunbonnets and aprons for the girls and suspenders and hats for the boys. The desks are arranged in rows, the boys separate from the girls, and our generally happy teacher becomes a stern schoolmarm.
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September 29, 2009Clara and I started this book about a week ago and we are both really enjoying it. The chapters are pretty short, but there is always a lot we can talk about. The illustrations are just adorable...love those old-timey pencil sketches! In today's chapter, Laura restrains herself from hitting Nellie Oleson because "Pa told her never to strike anyone." Hmmm...definitely a lot to talk about there!
We concluded this book today. A short, fun read and a great introduction to the Ingalls family. This was a nice conversation starter on all things school-related.
We concluded this book today. A short, fun read and a great introduction to the Ingalls family. This was a nice conversation starter on all things school-related.
January 26, 2017
My four year old continues to be captivated by this series - she found the blizzard chapter to be especially thrilling. This has been a wonderful way for us to experience Little House together at her young age.
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May 21, 2009JEAR3-Wil
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April 17, 2012AWESOME!!
June 15, 2013
I really like the details in it. My favorite part was when the blizzard came because I like how the author described what it was like in a blizzard.
October 13, 2014
Five stars!
August 1, 2015
A "gentle adaptation" of the original Little House novels. Simple and sweet.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews