The Life Stories of a Pioneer Girl

“I declare,” Ma said. “It never rains but it pours.”

~from These Happy Golden Years, Chapter 20

One of the most frequent questions I have received over the years from those who love Laura’s books is, “Why hasn’t there been a factual documentary made about Laura’s life?”

Why indeed? A highly fictional television series gained wide popularity during the 1970s and early 80s. A movie and its sequel, touting themselves as the “true” story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, disappointed fans with its startling inaccuracies in 2000 and 2002. And in 2005, a Disney miniseries of Little House on the Prairie aired, closer to the mark than the original television series, but still containing significant deviations from the original book, even leaving out poor Carrie altogether!

These have left Laura’s readers wondering, when will someone produce a Wilder-related show that finally gets the story right?

That time has come, and as Ma says, it never rains but it pours. Wilder devotees not only have Dean Butler’s  The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder to look forward to this summer, but the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri, has produced a documentary of its own.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Life Stories of a Pioneer Girl was commissioned by the Wilder Home, which gives it an advantage most tv producers wouldn’t have had — access to original documents, photographs, and artifacts owned by the museum. The 25 minute documentary tells the story of the Ingalls family’s travels, with emphasis on the Wilders’ time in Mansfield.

This is an excellent resource for teachers to use in their classrooms, or for librarians or Wilder presenters to include in their programs. The documentary aired on Ozark Public Television in May, and is now available for purchase at the Wilder Home.

There is truly something for everyone in this beautiful documentary. Those new to Laura’s books will enjoy learning more about the characters, and how the “Little House” books came to be. Readers who have not had the privilege of visiting the Wilder Home in Missouri will be pleased at this opportunity to tour the home virtually and to see many of the artifacts housed in the museum.  Lifelong readers will cherish the ability to hear Pa’s fiddle played, and to listen to Laura’s own voice. Even the most avid of fans will delight in photographs that, to my knowledge, have never before been published or displayed.

This is a wonderful addition to Laura’s legacy and we are grateful to the fine folks at the Wilder Home for their hard work in the production of this long-needed program.

Buy yours today!