By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House-the Laura Years)

The fifth book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's treasured Little House series, and the recipient of a Newbery Honor—now available as an ebook! This digital version features Garth Williams's classic illustrations, which appear in vibrant full color on a full-color device and in rich black-and-white on all other devices.Laura Ingalls and her family move from the banks of Plum Creek to the wilderness of the unsettled Dakota Territory. Here Pa works on the new railroad until he finds a homestead claim that is perfect for their new home. Laura takes her first train ride as she, her sisters, and Ma come out to live with Pa on the shores of Silver Lake. After a lonely winter in the surveyors'house, Pa puts up the first building in what will soon be a brand-new town on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake. The Ingalls's covered-wagon travels are finally over.The nine Little House books are inspired by Laura's own childhood and have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier history and as heartwarming, unforgettable stories.

Celebrate Little House, available once again with the classic Garth Williams artwork gracing the covers and black–and–white interiors.

Amie Rose Rotruck - Children's Literature

In the fifth "Little House" book, newly reissued, Wilder continues the chronicle based on her own life. After a bout with scarlet fever leaves the Ingalls family in debt and one member blind, they decide to head west where money and land are easier to find. A train ride is only the first of new experiences Laura encounters during the journey west. Rough railroad men, treacherous sloughs, and heavy blizzards make for a dangerous environment, but Laura does "not ever want to go back to Plum Creek," like her mother and sisters. After a winter in the surveyor's house, the family files a claim and begins work on their homestead, along with many other people in the new town of De Smet and the surrounding countryside. Laura "sees" all this verbally for her blind sister Mary and helps her learn how to sew and do household work. When the family finds out that there are colleges for the blind, Laura becomes determined to become a teacher and earn money so that Mary may go to school. Not only is the book a well-written continuation of the "Little House" series, it provides a good picture of what life was like in the early days of the west, "'Building over your head and under your feet.'" Fans of the original books will miss Garth Williams's wonderful illustrations. 2003, Avon, Ages 8 up.

In the days of the building of the railroads and the final settlement of the West the Ingalls family moved from Minnesota, the scene of On the Banks of Plum Creek, to Dakota Territory. Pa became a railroad man for a time until he found a homestead and filed a claim. The family spent the winter in a surveyor's house sixty miles from the nearest neighbor. There was excitement when Laura and Mary took a thrilling train ride and when the attempted payroll robbery took place. That winter the family spent their happiest Christmas ever. In the Spring Pa put up the first building on the town-site near his claim, and two weeks later there was a brand-new town. Unexpected visitor Grown up Riding in the cars End of the rails Railroad camp The black ponies The West begins Silver Lake Horse thieves The wonderful afternoon Payday Wings over Silver Lake Breaking camp The surveyor's house The last man out Winter days Wolves on Silver Lake Pa finds the homestead Christmas Eve The night before Christmas Merry Christmas Happy winter days On the pilgrim way The spring rush Pa's bet The building boom Living in town Moving day The shanty on the claim Where violets grow Mosquitoes Evening shadows fall The Ingalls family had fared badly in Plum Creek, Minnesota. They were in debt. Mary was blind now. So Pa went West to work at a railroad camp in Dakota Territory where he could make as much as fifty dollars a month! Then he sent for his wife and four children, and they became the first settlers in the new town of De Smet. But the railroad brought hordes of land-hungry people from the East. Had Pa waited too long to file his homestead claim? - Back cover. Laura was washing the dishes one morning when old Jack, lying in the sunshine on the doorstep, growled to tell her that someone was coming. 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.