Did Your Son Read the "The Little House on the Prarie" Series?

We did the whole series as read aloud when my son was 6 and my daughter was 4. They both LOVED them. I think my son would read through them again, if he thought no one would know he was doing it (he's now 10). My husband says he remembers reading the entire series in about 2nd/3rd grade and loving them as well. Contrary to below, I'd start w/the first one (little house in the big woods) - although it's simpler than the others, it really gets kids hooked because it's from the point of view of a 5-6 year old and they can really relate. then, once they're hooked they don't care how old the main characters are as you move through their childhood. My kids liked Farmer Boy the least.

I never suggested them to my son, but not because I didn't think they were appropriate. He just isn't a big reader and still has to be "pushed' to read. My daughter LOVES to read, and has declined to read any of them. My husband grew up like me, watching the series on TV through middle school, lol. (I read ALL of the books before the end of about 4th grade I think).

If he is interested in it, then it is fine. If he is not, that is fine too. Books are for whomever enjoys them.

There is only one type of books. Books. Your husband needs to lighten up.

OF COURSE, my son could read them.

My sons and I read them together as well as the ones about her daughter. They loved all of them. We also went to see Laura's home in Missouri.
My head wants to explode when I even think about anyone not being allowed to read these excellent books--especially with the poor quality and messages of so many books that kids read!

Don't confuse the book series with the old TV series. The books may have a girl for a principal character, but they aren't really "girly." You can learn quite a bit about pioneer living, and you can supplement with pioneer-times books featuring boys. Each book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's series stands by itself - it's not necessary to read all of them (although I *still* do).

Have your husband and your son read FARMER BOY - maybe even together. That's the one about Almanzo as a boy, and it's great. Of course, Almanzo shows up later as a grown man and a homesteader - try THE LONG WINTER, in which he saves the town. After that, perhaps they could read the others.

Your husband needs to shush it ... there is no "girl only" or "boy only" anything. Yeesh.

My oldest son read the entire series ... 4 times. He's even read some of my straight up romance novels.

Reading is good for the mind and the vocabulary. YES HAVE HIM READ THEM.

And for the record ... I allow my kids to read anything that peaks their interest.

Allow? Really? My son not only read them but drank up every Dear America and Royal Diary he could find. He also read all my daughter's American Girl books. I love that he loves to read and his mind open to anything.

I wouldn't force him to read it, but if he likes it, why not? It's written from a girl's point of view about growing up in frontier America. Your husband needs to chill on this one, especially if he's never read it and is just making an assumption based on the author.

I'd ask him if he think's Agatha Christie books are "girl" books.

I loved the Little House series, and no, I don't think it's just for girls. If your husband really objects, then start your son out reading "Farmer Boy". It doesn't have anything to do with the chronology of Laura's life and the main character is a BOY, if that makes your husband feel better (and if it helps to interest your son).

Allow? I'd encourage him to. My nephew is 10 and he read them. And yesterday he was watching the series, which he loves.

Yes, I would allow it if he was interested. It's just such not a big deal, just because the protaginast (sp?) is a girl. That's like saying a girl should not read Harry Potter, or Percy Jackson.

But if he was not, and was into something else reading-wise, that would be okay too. As long as he is reading, that should be all that matters.

Sounds like hubby needs to get a grip.

I have to say that my daughters love them best. I think my son didn't want to because of the ego thing. Now he is 12 and is totally into The Hardy Boys! I love it. My 4 girls 6-19 yrs. have now turned from the Little House series DVD's to the Waltons. Some episodes aren't age appropriate for the younger ones. I personally have tried to convince my son to read the Little House because I have a feeling he would like it once he tried, but he is too resistant.
Good Luck.
PS. sorry for babbling ~ I just love these oldies but goodies

M son had to read several of them for school (he is 9) Gosh we TRAWLED through those books, he hated them, he would prefer diary of a wimpy kid and how to train your dragon type stuff.

Sure I would let him.
Why not?

It is not "girly" it is simply learning about the world. Via pages of a book.
And it deals with a family.

But if he is interested in it or not, that is his choice to make.

The question is, is HE interested? Being from Minnesota, my son had to read one of the books and watch the videos of the old 1970s tv series and learn about the Ingall's-Wilder family as part of a school assignment.

Apparently, he and his (guy) buddies were far from interested in the books and only cared about the pioneers after they had to spend the day at an historic one room school house like Mrs. Ingalls Wilder attended and later taught at, and then later got to learn about the westward expansion, Jesse James' last stand in Northfield and the Civil War.

I think for the boys, it wasn't until they got to see real cannons getting fired off, getting to see real guns and pictures of the bank where the James robbery took place, and learning about the gore of war surgery methods of the pre-technological age at the local historic fort that he had any interest in state history, let alone the pioneers.

I think he thought the books didn't focus enough on the things boys care about, and alot on the experiences of a young girl on the prairie and later a young woman finding her way in life as a teacher, wife and mother. So I think this is why he didn't care for the books.

This of course is based what he has told me. Your son may like them. I guess try showing him the tv series on video (though they are not much like the books) and see if he's interested in reading about that time in history and take it from there.

Not sure I would say girlie.. Just let hm try one and see if he likes it..

Any good book is worth ones time. In our elementary school they studied Pioneer times here in America and one of these books was read to the entire class over time, while they worked on some of the crafts. The kids all seemed to enjoy them. Boys and girls.

If he likes them, then yes. My boys watched the TV series with me when they were that age.