Little Town on the Prairie

Little House, Book 7

By: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Narrated by: Cherry Jones

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

The little settlement that weathered the long, hard winter of 1880-81 is now a growing town. Laura is growing up, and she goes to her first evening social. Mary is at last able to go to a college for the blind. Best of all, Almanzo Wilder asks permission to walk home from church with Laura. And Laura, now 15 years old, receives her certificate to teach school.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts.

©1941, 1969 Little House Heritage Trust (P)2005, 2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Narrator could’ve done with less twang...

I’m a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and have never understood why audio productions weren’t widely available, so I was very excited to see the whole series appear BUT I don’t understand why the narrator went in the voice direction (particularly for Laura and Pa) that she did.
Laura was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Minnesota and South Dakota—I’m not aware of any very strong regional accent from those places (the author doesn’t do a Minnesota accent at all, it’s a very definite homespun twang), and with the emphasis throughout on proper grammar and her mother having been a teacher, and the lack of ‘local color’/slang words in the text, I’m just perplexed as to why the narrator/director recorded it that way. (I did go back and check the narrators other work, in case that’s just her normal speaking voice, and it’s not, so this was a stylistic choice)
The accent/speaking style is evident in the sample, so just be aware that it doesn’t (as I thought it might) diminish through the text or kind of grow on you (at least it didn’t on me). I finished the audio but it annoyed me mildly throughout.
I’m just disappointed because sometimes audio can add so much to a text, particularly one I’d share with my kids. On the plus side, I do like the inclusion of fiddle music and the song excerpts being actually sung (the narrator does a good job with those, I will say—it adds something hearing a tune rather than just seeing the text printed). Her forced (unnecessarily) accent just makes this one I wouldn’t whole-heartedly recommend as I would a fantastic production.

Happy to share the laura ingalls books with my kids and read again myself

I am happy to have a way to listen to these books as a family, but I would prefer another narrator. She does a good job with the different voices, but I had to take breaks since I just really don’t like her voice.

OMG LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Love this series soooooo much! When I was in second grade my whole class read Little House In The Big Woods, and ever since then I loved learning about the pioneer life. I’m in sixth grade now and when my mom downloaded the Little House Series on Audible I decided to give it a try. I love Cherry Jones’ voice, it is sooooo soothing! I can’t believe that some people actually DON’T like it! I have listened to all the books except Little Farmer Boy, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. I have to say, sometimes Cherry’s singing sound a little off key, but I think that’s because it might be hard to sing in Pa’s voice AND stay on pitch. I listen to this series every night to go to sleep, and I love it! Usually I never want days to end, but now I’m always looking forward to listening to it! I would definitely recommend this book to almost all ages! (I don’t think babies and/or toddlers would listen to it) I like romance and really like the chemistry between Laura and Almanzo in Little Town On The Prairie, and it’s not super obvious or too sexual for younger kids. It is very subtle. I think Laura Ingalls Wilder is an amazeballs author and this series is definitely a GREAT listen.

Thanks Cherry Jones and Laura Ingalls Wilder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Review of Little Town on the Prairie

This story is great and engaging! I love Laura Ingalls Wilder. She is a talented writer.
However, what I disliked about this performance was Cherry Jones as the narrator. Her voice is too raspy, too harsh and too loud. It is very hard to listen to her.

Laura's Spirit Shines Through It All!

Ah, Laura's growing up! DeSmet has become the "Little Town on the Prairie", and here she finds her first job (rather, it finds her). Though the work is tiring, she happily does it: anything so that Mary can go to the college for the blind in Vinton.
The book is so filled with Laura's spirit: working, sticking up for little sister Carrie even though it gets her into trouble with the flailing and resentful Miss Wilder, sticking up for her very self when the wicked Nellie Olsen re-enters her life, fighting to keep the corn crop safe, and most wonderfully: the gaiety she finds in a life in town. There are literary societies, sociables, birthday parties. Oh, what fun!
But what is the young Mr. WIlder doing escorting her home? And oh how wonderful those two brown Morgan horses of his are!
Cherry Jones breathes wonderful life into the text: Ma's smiles, Pa's twinkling eyes, Laura's enthusiasm all come through with her wonderful narration.
One note: By now, you've discovered that these books will have you talking about the narrative in historical context. I.e. Yes, the west was settled by pushing Native Americans out and the racism therein. In this book, you'll be explaining "Darkies". Kinda touchy stuff, but you can manage, yes?

7-year-old’s review

I liked this book because it was really interesting. Someone who loves reading books would like this book.

Super sweet read

These books never fail to make me happy. I found myself feeling so proud of Mary finally going to the college for the blind, and so proud of Laura getting her teacher's certificate. And Almanzo. <3 Of course I also continued loving the historical context of the story.

Only two more books to go, I think? I'm looking forward to them. :)

Content Advisory for those who want to know:
Mention of strangers swearing, and also a mention of the husband in a family Laura works for swearing while he and his wife constantly argue. (The actual words used are never stated outright.)

Laura witnesses a couple drunk men causing some destruction and singing. (She thinks it's funny.)

Mention of a minstrel show and a song from it is sung that repeatedly uses the term "darkies". Pa himself is in the show and plays one of these characters and apparently wears black face. Because these kinds of shows were common back then none of the characters have a problem with it, but it could make modern readers cringe a bit, and parents may want to have a discussion about it with young children.

Yes!

Love the voice of the narrator. The story is very good. It's rich with history.

R.E.M

Great book a little sad but still amazing and awesome love it but wish there was more

So sweet

It is so sweet and cut I would suggest it to one between 100 I really liked it and it is a good book

Spruce

It was amazing I loved it so Mitch i think you should read it lol

My favorite book

Loved it my go to book and series in this troubling time 2020 to 2021

Almost perfect

This is a great book one of my favourites. The reader had a calm voice which expressed great emotion and I love how pa’s fiddle is actually played and the songs sung. The one twist is though the reader has a great voice, it is a little coarse.

A wonderful rendition !

These books have had a great influence on my life. In these troubled COVID times, they have once again proved to be an inspiration and a comfort. Thank you so much to the talented actress who brings them alive.