Which Book Is Netflix's Little House on the Prairie Based On? Plus How to Read the Series in Order!

July 15, 2026

Authored by: Laura Bray

Is Netflix’s new show, Little House on the Prairie, inspiring you to read the books? Are you wondering which books the series is based on? We’ve got you covered!

Whenever I hear the beginning of the theme song for the 1970s television version of Little House on the Prairie, my heart swells with nostalgia. The music takes me back to my childhood. Once a week, when I heard the opening of the theme song, I would come running into the living room eager to see what Laura was up to next. Like most families in those days, our television screen was tiny in comparison to the TVs of today, but the beginning of that show always seemed larger than life.

As much as I loved the show, I didn’t read the Little House books until adulthood. I knew I wanted to introduce my young daughter to the magic of the Little House on the Prairie series but ended up confused as I stood in front of the library shelf, unsure of which book to read.

Like any popular book series or movie franchise, fans produce multiple ways to read a series. Here are three ways you can approach the series, depending on your reading goals.

Read the series by publication date.

The simplest order to read the books in is by publication date. It’s a wonderful way to see how Laura Ingalls Wilder told the story. If you are a writer, it’s also an interesting look at Wilder’s progress as an author.

Little House in the Big Woods (Published in 1932)
Farmer Boy (Published in 1933)

This book is not about Laura’s childhood, but her husband Almanzo’s childhood. It’s one of the reasons people have strong opinions about the reading order. Many people feel it shouldn’t be included as part of the series.

Little House on the Prairie (Published in 1935)

This is the most famous book. It is filled with stories we identify with the original television series and the new series on Netflix.

On the Banks of Plum Creek (Published in 1937)
On the Shores of Silver Lake (Published in 1939)
The Long Winter (Published in 1940)
Little Town on the Prairie (Published in 1941)
These Happy Golden Years (Published in 1943)
The First Four Years (Published in 1971)

This book was published after Laura Ingalls Wilder’s death. It was found in her papers, unedited, so there is controversy about whether Wilder would have wanted it published which, if you are reading it to study Wilder’s craft at writing, is interesting to note.

Read the series in the chronological order of Laura’s life.

If you just want to follow the early life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, put Farmer Boy aside to read as a stand-alone book and then read the rest of the books by date published.

Take a Deep Dive into Little House on the Prairie

If you are feeling overwhelmed by taking on the multiple book series, focus on reading just one, Little House on the Prairie. To add to the experience, watch both versions of the television series and, if you want to read a retelling of the story from Caroline Ingalls’s view, read the book, Caroline by Sarah Miller. It was a Prairie Pages pick in 2025 and we all loved it!

Join us for the Modern Prairie Book Club each month to discuss books and make friends. Learn more here.

Check out our Little House Collection of items! From bonnets, to dresses, to home decor, Little House fans are sure to find something fun.