Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote beloved children's books chronicling her childhood experiences as a pioneer. Her famous Little House on the Prairie series warmly portrays family life and early American frontier living.
If you enjoy reading books by Laura Ingalls Wilder then you might also like the following authors:
L.M. Montgomery is a beloved Canadian author best known for heartwarming stories about family, friendship, and rural life. If you enjoy books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Montgomery’s writing will speak directly to you.
Her classic novel Anne of Green Gables follows young orphan Anne Shirley as she arrives at the Cuthberts’ farm on Prince Edward Island. Anne is spirited, imaginative, and always seems to land in mishaps—but she has a warmth and humor that endear her to everyone around her.
This charming story beautifully captures rural life, childlike wonder, and the growing bonds between Anne and the people she comes to love as her family.
Books by Margaret Atwood often explore themes of resilience and survival, set against challenging or changing environments in ways readers of Laura Ingalls Wilder may appreciate.
In her novel Alias Grace, Atwood tells the story of Grace Marks, a young servant accused of murder in 19th-century Canada. The book’s vivid historical details and Grace’s compelling account remind readers of Wilder’s realism and attention to everyday life on the frontier.
Through Grace’s own fragile yet determined voice, Atwood draws readers deeply into the question of guilt and innocence, truth and memory, in ways that echo Laura’s thoughtful storytelling style.
If you enjoy Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories about family life and growing up on the American frontier, then Louisa May Alcott could be your next favorite author.
Alcott’s classic novel Little Women follows the March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate childhood, adolescence, and the struggles of life during the American Civil War.
Each character is a lively, relatable young woman with her own ambitions, dreams, and obstacles to overcome. Jo, passionate and determined, dreams of becoming a writer.
Meg experiences the challenges of romance and adulthood, while shy Beth and spirited Amy each face their own trials. At the heart of this novel lies the warmth, love, and sacrifices within a close-knit family.
Fans of Wilder’s vivid portrayals of family life and vivid historical details will find much to cherish in Alcott’s touching tale.
Virginia Lee Burton was a talented author and illustrator who created heartwarming and beautifully illustrated children’s books.
Her stories often celebrate the simplicity of rural life, community values, and the comforts of home, themes familiar to readers who enjoy Laura Ingalls Wilder. In Burton’s delightful book The Little House, readers follow the life of a charming country house.
The home witnesses the slow transformation of the countryside into a bustling city, as time passes and generations come and go. The story beautifully captures nostalgia for simpler times and highlights the importance of preserving our heritage amid change.
Readers who cherish Wilder’s gentle storytelling and appreciation for rural life may find something special in Burton’s classic tale.
If you enjoy Laura Ingalls Wilder’s warm stories about family and childhood adventures, Eleanor Estes could be a fantastic author to explore. Estes is known for her heartfelt books that capture the joys and trials children experience in everyday life.
One of her most beloved novels, The Hundred Dresses, tells the story of Wanda Petronski, a quiet girl from a poor family who claims to own a hundred beautiful dresses at home.
When Wanda is teased by classmates who don’t believe her, the story gently explores themes of kindness, empathy, and understanding in a way children and adults will both appreciate.
Estes’s writing feels authentic and thoughtful, similar in style and warmth to Wilder’s stories, making her books a pleasure to read.
Beverly Cleary is an author known for writing humorous, relatable stories about everyday childhood adventures and family life. Her book Ramona Quimby, Age 8 captures childhood joys and struggles through the eyes of Ramona, a spirited eight-year-old girl.
Ramona tries her best to handle school, cope with a misunderstood incident involving egg yolks in her hair, and deal with family ups and downs.
Cleary’s lively dialogue and believable characters draw you into Ramona’s world, making it easy to connect and laugh along with her experiences.
Readers who love Laura Ingalls Wilder’s realistic portrayals of childhood challenges and family bonds may find Beverly Cleary’s work equally enjoyable.
Maud Hart Lovelace is an American author known for stories inspired by her Minnesota childhood. If you’ve enjoyed Laura Ingalls Wilder, you’ll likely appreciate Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy, the first in a series about two best friends, Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly.
Set in a small Minnesota town, this gentle and humorous book captures everyday adventures through the eyes of these engaging characters.
From their very first meeting at Betsy’s fifth birthday party, readers follow the girls as they start school, face playground problems, and find creative ways to have fun. Lovelace vividly recreates childhood friendship and family life at the turn of the 20th century.
Readers who enjoyed Laura Ingalls Wilder’s vivid tales of frontier life and childhood adventures may also connect with Willa Cather.
Cather captures early American settlers’ courage and perseverance in novels full of strong characters and rich descriptions of the prairie landscape.
Her book O Pioneers! follows Alexandra Bergson, a determined young woman who grows up in the tough environment of Nebraska settlers.
After her father’s death, Alexandra takes responsibility for the family farm and faces harsh conditions, rivalries, and personal struggles with quiet strength and determination.
The novel brings the landscape and era to life, showing readers how relationships, dreams, and hard work shaped the American Midwest.
Betty Smith is an American author known for writing heartfelt stories about family, resilience, and everyday struggles. Readers who enjoy Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series might find a similar warmth and sincerity in Smith’s novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
The book follows Francie Nolan, a young girl living with her family in the early 1900s, through poverty and the ups and downs of life in Brooklyn’s tenements.
Francie’s experiences with hardship, small joys, and the strength of family bonds create an authentic and touching narrative. Betty Smith captures the spirit and hopefulness of childhood even amid tough circumstances.
Jean Craighead George is an American author known for stories about young characters exploring life in nature. Her book My Side of the Mountain follows the adventures of Sam Gribley, a teenager who leaves home to live alone in the Catskill Mountains.
With only basic supplies and his determination, Sam learns to survive off the land, makes friends with animals, and faces challenges of wilderness living across changing seasons.
Readers who loved Laura Ingalls Wilder’s vivid descriptions of pioneer life, family bonds, and survival skills would find themselves at home with Sam’s journey of independence and exploration in nature.
Pamela S. Turner writes books that blend fascinating true stories with a vivid sense of adventure and discovery. Her nonfiction often highlights remarkable figures and exciting events from nature and history, portrayed in ways that ignite curiosity.
In Crow Smarts, Turner introduces readers to the incredible intelligence of New Caledonian crows. She follows researchers as they uncover how these birds craft tools, solve intricate puzzles, and pass knowledge down through generations, much as humans do.
For fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder who appreciate storytelling rooted in real life experiences and fascinating facts from the natural world, Pamela S. Turner’s lively approach will feel comfortable yet refreshingly new.
Patricia MacLachlan is a thoughtful storyteller who beautifully captures family life, nature, and heartfelt moments in history. Her book, Sarah, Plain and Tall, follows the story of Anna and Caleb, two kids whose mother has died.
When their dad decides to find a new wife, Sarah arrives from Maine—as her letters describe—to see if she’s a good fit for their prairie home. Through Anna’s hopeful yet cautious eyes, readers explore themes of loneliness, change, and the quiet bonds that form between people.
MacLachlan’s quiet strength and gentle sensitivity will speak clearly to those who cherish Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories.
Readers who enjoy Laura Ingalls Wilder could find another great storyteller in Alice McLerran. McLerran writes heartfelt tales about family, community, and life’s simple joys.
In her book Roxaboxen, she tells the touching story of children who transform an ordinary desert hillside into a lively imaginary town. With boxes becoming houses, rocks outlined as streets, and desert glass serving as treasure, the children build their own special world.
The story warmly captures how imagination shapes childhood adventures and treasured memories. Fans of Wilder will appreciate the gentle storytelling and authentic charm that fills McLerran’s writing.
Books by Natalie Babbitt often offer readers an inviting blend of gentle storytelling and themes of family, nature, and growing up. If you’ve enjoyed Laura Ingalls Wilder, you might like Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting.
It is about a young girl named Winnie Foster who stumbles upon the Tuck family and their incredible secret—a hidden spring that grants immortality. Through Winnie’s experience with the Tucks, the story explores ideas about the value of living fully and naturally.
The novel beautifully captures childhood curiosity, relationships, and life’s inevitable changes—themes readers of Wilder will find familiar and comforting.
Cynthia Rylant is an author whose stories beautifully capture everyday life in rural settings and small-town America. Readers who appreciate Laura Ingalls Wilder’s warmth and quiet storytelling will likely enjoy Rylant’s Missing May.
This gentle book tells the story of a young girl named Summer who navigates the loss of her beloved Aunt May. Set in rural West Virginia, the novel explores themes of family ties, grief, and hope.
Through honest and tender moments, Rylant guides readers into Summer’s journey to heal and find meaning in simple joys and heartfelt memories.