These Happy Golden Years

The eighth in the Little House series is read by the consistently excellent Cherry Jones, whose earnest, slightly husky voice is a perfect match for the stories. Jones finds just the right pitch and tempo to capture the various personalities, and one can hear her smiling when she narrates. In this story, Laura is a grown-up young lady, who at 16 works for a living, teaching school and sewing on the weekend to supplement the family's income. She's also courted by a beau, Almanzo Wilder, who takes her out for buggy rides on the prairie. This production, enhanced by fiddle music that punctuates the chapters, provides hours of family entertainment. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

October 1, 2006
Gr 4-6-Children will enjoy hearing Tony Award-winning narrator Cherry Jones read Laura Ingalls Wilders stories about her family and her life on the prairie almost 125 years ago in this eighth book in the Laura Years series. Laura is 16 years old, teaching school, and working at local stores to make extra money to help her family send her blind sister to school. She and her girlfriends enjoy sleigh rides, buggy rides, and singing school. But will she decide the time is right to settle down in her own little house with Almanzo Wilder, who courts her throughout the book? This sweet tale about teenage life, first love, and new responsibilities has stood the test of time. The narration is pitch-perfect, and the music provided by Paul Woodiel brings Pas fiddle to life. An excellent choice for school and public library collections."Casey Rondini, Hartford Public Library, CT"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.