Patricia Reilly Giff is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Newbery Honor books, Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. She lives in Trumbull, Connecticut.
Gr 3-6 A brief biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder that may interest readers of the ``Little House'' (Harper) books. Obviously, a short biography of the author of nine autobiographical novels can't give readers much new information about her life. However, Giff does explain that Wilder started writing at age 65, after being encouraged by her daughter, Rose, and describes her life with Almanzo, the birth and death of a son, and her writing for local newspapers. Information about the Laura Ingalls Wilder award is sketchy at best, not stating that the award was first presented to Wilder, and stating that it is given ``to a children's author whose books are wonderful and loved by children.'' Giff includes quotes and facts from the ``Little House'' books, and her biography of the author should appeal to Wilder's fans. Margaret C. Howell, Cameron Elementary School, Fairfax County, Va.
Fans of Wilder's popular Little House books will want to turn to this biography to learn which parts of the stories actually happened. Beginning with the first book, set in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, Giff supplies the pertinent facts. Important events, she explains, such as the death of a baby brother and later, the death of Wilder's own child, were left out of the series. This spare account of Wilder's experiences has a reminiscent air; in an author's note, Giff says she wanted children to know ``how difficult some of the times in Wilder's life really were.'' To this end her book is sadder than some of Wilder's fiction. Even after 20 years of journalism, Wilder felt ``I didn't know how to write'' and was asked to revise the first book, issued in 1932 when she was 65. Ages 7-11. (September)
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