My son (nearly 5) and I have been listening to Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder at bedtime. Cherry Jones’ performance is wonderful and he really enjoys the slice-of-life nature of the books.
I’m looking for more books or audiobooks that might be appropriate for his age, though I’m not fussy about more adult concepts. I do need a book with clean language and low stakes.
What we love most about Little House in the Big Woods is Laura talking about their life, like churning butter, collecting honey from bee trees, and just generally living their early American life.
I would love recs for more books like this, historical daily living from any time period or place! Thank you!
by mamajoyyy
7 Comments
Maybe try Booky by Bernice Hunter
If you can find the older American Girl books they would do. The historical dolls used to each have a 5 book series about the times they were in. They were discontinued a good while back.
Maybe the Boxcar Children? Anne of Green Gables has some chores but might be too literary/flowery.
Caddie Woodlawn, the author’s grandmother living on a farm in 1870’s Wisconsin. Johnny Tremain, silversmithing apprentice in revolutionary era Boston. Look into Lois Lenski. She wrote YA historical fiction.
Sounder, about sharecroppers in Jim Crow south. But only if you want to cry your eyes out. Where the Lilies Bloom, poverty in Appalachia. Same but less traumatic.
He might be too young yet but A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is an amazing book about living poor in NYC in the early 1900’s. He is too young (sexual themes) but put this on your shelf.
All of a Kind Family, the day to day adventures of 5 Jewish sisters living in New York in the 1910’s. I remember enjoying it as a kid.
There’s Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman.
Both are slice of life books about girls living in mediaeval England.
{{The courage of Sarah Noble}} by Alice Dalgliesh