A year in the life of two young girls growing up on the Wisconsin frontier, as they help their mother with the daily chores, enjoy their father's stories and singing, and share special occasions when they get together with relatives or neighbors.

Pa's homestead thrives, Laura gets her first job in town, blackbirds eat the corn and oats crops, Mary goes to college, and Laura gets into trouble at school, but becomes a certified school teacher.

Ma and the girls follow Pa west by train where they make their home at a rough railroad camp and plan for their own homestead.

Almanzo Wilder comes to Walnut Grove with his siser Eliza-Jane, the new schoolteacher. The Ingalls decide to adopt Albert. Nels Oleson is reunited with his estranged sister. A faith healer convinces the citizens of Walnut Grove to trust him. Caroline's father discovers a talent as a storyteller while grieving after the loss of his wife. Laura and Mary are held captive by escaped convicts until Charles disarmes the criminals. Albert and a friend accidentally...

Laura and her sisters share some good and bad times when they attend different schools near their various prairie homes.

A family travels from the big woods of Wisconsin to a new home on the prairie, where they build a house, meet neighboring Indians, build a well, and fight a prairie fire. Includes a detailed account of how the novel was written and published.

Mr. Edwards helps Laura and her family celebrate a happy Christmas on the prairie.

At the end of the nineteenth century, nine-year-old Almanzo lives with his family on a big farm in New York State where he raises his own two calves, helps cut ice and shear sheep, and longs for the day he can have his own colt.