Young fans of the Little House books will appreciate the continuing story of Caroline's childhood in this sequel to 'Little House in Brookfield', even though the book lacks the depth of characterization that made young Laura Ingalls so vibrantly real to readers of the original series. The episodic chapters detail various events in the life of seven-year-old Caroline. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 3-6‘Fans of "The Little House on the Prairie" books (HarperCollins) will probably enjoy this new series based on the notebooks of Caroline Quiner, who later became the mother of Laura Ingalls. The stories are centered in Brookfield, WI, and spill over with details of life there in the 1800s. Wilkes's descriptive prose style sets an appropriate tone for this episodic tale in which chapters are strung together like a series of vignettes. The hard work of farming, family life, and the ongoing struggle to support the family from the land are vividly conveyed. Throughout, the underlying strength and importance of a loving family is emphasized. Characters are somewhat two-dimensional. Caroline is sensitive and wise for her years. Her mother, a widow, is a strong, understanding woman who struggles to raise her four children and run the household alone. The Quiner children get into mischief at times, but it's all very tame. Caroline's mother demonstrates her determination and courage at the end of the book when she announces that she will find land of her own after learning that she must leave her present home. This seems to set the stage for a sequel. The book offers extensive historical information and presents the possibility for interdisciplinary teaching.‘Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr. 3^-6. This sequel to Little House in Brookfield (1996) continues the fictionalized story of six-year-old Caroline Quiner, the mother of author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Set in the small town of Brookfield, Wisconsin, in 1846^-7, Wilkes' episodic saga highlights a Fourth of July celebration, the departure of Caroline's beloved grandmother, a school bully, a maple syrup festival, and the uncertainties surrounding an impending family move. Based on letters written by Caroline Ingalls' sister Martha to Wilder, these reminiscences portray a lifestyle similar to that of the Ingalls family in Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods (1953). While some may question the need for yet another Little House spin-off, the vignettes flow smoothly and the characters (especially Caroline) have a spark that will endear them to fans of the original Little House. --Kay Weisman