MARTA MCDOWELL
McDowell (Beatrix Potters Gardening Life) commemorates the 150th birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder (18671957) with a captivating look at the beloved Little House on the Prairie authors relationship with nature. Mining her subjects novels and memoir for insights, McDowell traces Wilders interest in wildlife to the beginning of her childhood in the Wisconsin woodsthe setting for her first novel, Little House in the Big Woodsand then follows the chronology of the autobiographical Little House novels, providing a historical account of each books setting. In describing the ecosystems along the prairies, McDowell catalogues the various wildflowers that Wilder likely encountered when her family traveled across country. Maps, illustrations (including the beloved Garth Williams drawings from Wilders books), and photographs add a touch of nostalgia and aid readers in identifying the plants and geography described. McDowells warm descriptions of the author, her times, and the plants she loved provide a wonderful companion to Wilders books, while instructions on growing a Little Houseinspired garden add an interactive component. Gardeners, botanists, and fans of Wilder will love this book. Color illus. (Sept.)
