The Adventures of Laura and Jack Review

The Adventures of Laura and Jack — 

The Adventures of Laura and Jack [1932, Harper Trophy, ISBN 0-05-442045-0], by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Renee Graef is a 71-page juvenile fiction chapter book.

The Story:

Laura is a young girl growing up in the day of covered wagons and simple family life. As her family travels from place to place, the family's dog named Jack is a faithful friend that is spunky and fun. Although the odds are stacked against the little dog in many of the adventures, Jack seems to be able to survive anything. Yet, at the end, the family must move again and Jack is now old. Pa decides that Jack will ride in the wagon the next morning, but will the faithful dog be waiting with wagging tale in the morning?

My Viewpoint:

I remember watching Little House on the Prairie as a child. That show really appealed to me, and I remember Laura and her dog Jack on the show. My 8-year-old is now reading chapter books, and she really enjoyed reading The Adventures of Laura and Jack.

It is hard for me to imagine living in a lifestyle where the family would pack up and move every few years. It seems like Jack provided a needed constant in the family life. Although the ending was a bit sad, I believe this story was based on a true story, and true stories don't always end on a happy note.

This book does incorporate a few challenging vocabulary words but worked well for my child who is in the third grade.