A Little House on the Prairie Book Club (Free Printable Packets)
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There is something about gathering the kids around a stack of well-loved books that feels like slowing time down. The Little House stories have been doing that for families for generations, and starting a Little House on the Prairie book club has quickly become one of our favorite ways to read together across a whole range of ages.
We built this one around the first two books, Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie, because they are the perfect on-ramp for little ones and big kids alike. To make it easy, we put together two free printable book club packets you can grab below, plus the full five-book reading list, a sweet paper doll pick, and the shows to watch when you finish. Half the fun is deciding whether Nellie Oleson deserves a redemption arc.
Start Here: The First Two Books
You can absolutely read the whole series, and we hope you do, but the first two books are where we like to begin. Little House in the Big Woods is cozy and gentle, full of butter churning, maple sugar, and stories by the fire, which makes it wonderful for the youngest listeners. Little House on the Prairie then opens the world up with the covered wagon, building a home from scratch, and bigger conversations older kids love to dig into. Together they carry a group of readers from about age four all the way to twelve.
Free Printable Book Club Packets
Each packet is print-and-go and built for a family or group with mixed ages. Inside you will find discussion questions marked by age, a “Words to Know” list, a journal prompt, hands-on crafts, a map and setting page, a character spotlight, a real pioneer recipe, and a draw-and-color page. Pop in your email below and we will send both packets straight to your inbox.
The Full Little House Reading List
When your crew is ready to keep going, here are the first five books in Laura’s story, in order. These are the classic paperback editions we reach for again and again.
Little House in the Big Woods
The cozy one that started it all. Laura’s family makes almost everything by hand in their little log cabin, from churning butter to sugaring maple. It is gentle and warm, perfect for your youngest listeners.
Little House on the Prairie
The covered wagon rolls west and Pa builds a home from the ground up. Bigger adventures and bigger questions make this a favorite for older readers, with a prairie fire, a deep well, and a Christmas that almost did not come.
On the Banks of Plum Creek
The family trades the wagon for a Minnesota farm and a house dug right into the creek bank. Laura starts school, meets the not so kind Nellie Oleson, and weathers a grasshopper storm that changes everything.
By the Shores of Silver Lake
The Ingalls family heads to Dakota Territory as a brand new town rises from the prairie. Laura sees her first train and becomes her sister’s eyes, in a tender chapter of growing up.
The Long Winter
Blizzard after blizzard buries the little town for months. The family twists hay for heat and grinds wheat for bread while two brave young men risk everything. A gripping true story of hope and grit.
Don’t Miss the Paper Dolls
If you want to bring the stories off the page, the My Book of Little House Paper Dolls: The Big Woods Collection is such a sweet companion. Little hands can dress Laura, Mary, and Ma while the chapters are read aloud, and it pairs beautifully with the Big Woods packet.
Watch It Together: The Original Series and the New Netflix Reboot
The original Little House on the Prairie series is still such a warm, comforting watch. There is something deeply nostalgic about it, the kind of show that wraps the whole family in that same cozy, unhurried feeling the books give you. It is a lovely way to linger in Laura’s world a little longer after the last chapter.
There is also a brand new Netflix reboot arriving July 9, 2026, which brings the prairie to a whole new generation. Watching the beloved older series and the fresh take together can spark the sweetest conversations about how one story can touch us in different ways, and about the feelings that stay with us long after the credits roll.
Tips for a Cozy Family Book Club
- Read aloud together. Even strong independent readers love hearing these stories out loud.
- Let each age pick the questions that fit. The packets are marked so littles can answer out loud while big kids write.
- Pick one craft or recipe per book instead of doing everything. Churning butter or baking cornbread makes the story stick.
- Keep a family journal or map going across the whole series so kids can see how far the Ingalls family travels.
However you read them, we hope these stories give your family the same cozy, unhurried hours they have given ours. Which Little House book is your family starting with, and which craft are you most excited to try?
Looking for more great reads for kids? Try our 17 Back to School Books for Kids We Love next.
