The Long Winter

The Long Winter is the sixth book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved Little House series, an autobiographical children's novel published in 1940. Set in southeastern Dakota Territory during the brutal winter of 1880–1881, known as 'The Snow Winter,' it recounts the Ingalls family's struggle against relentless blizzards, extreme cold, and near-starvation. The story begins in August 1880 when Pa Ingalls notices unusually thick muskrat dens, foreshadowing a harsh winter. As blizzards trap the family and town, supplies dwindle, trains halt due to impassable tracks, and the community faces dire shortages. Laura helps with chores amid the adversity, while heroes like Almanzo Wilder and Cap Garland risk perilous journeys across the prairie to find hidden wheat caches, saving the town from famine. The narrative captures accurate historical details, including town names, blizzard severity, and the Chicago and North Western Railway's suspension of service until spring. A Newbery Honor Book in 1941, it highlights themes of resilience, courage, and family bonds. In 2012, School Library Journal ranked it #84 among all-time children's novels. This paperback edition features Garth Williams' classic black-and-white illustrations, 352 pages, aimed at ages 8-12.