mabel o'donnell introduces me to laura ingalls wilder

I've been feeling all nostalgic after reading Singing Wheels for the billionteenth time since 1962.

Singing Wheels was my 4th grade reader in the Alice and Jery Basic Reading Program, first published in 1940 by Row, Peterson and Company. It was written by Mabel O'Donnell with beautiful illustrations by Florence and Margaret Hoopes (surely you recognize Star and Bright in the picture above). I know I've blogged about the book before, because it was my introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilder. Chapters from Little House in the Big Woods (1, 7, and 8) and Farmer Boy (22 and 23) were adapted for use in Singing Wheels, yet even more than those chapters of the two "Little House" books can be found as inspiration for bits and pieces throughout Singing Wheels.

See if THIS doesn't sound like an old friend, and make you want to read more.
- posted by pioneergirl at 11:25 PM