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© 2010 Universal Uclick

release dates: March 27-April 2 13-1 (10)

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal UclickFavorite Book Turns 75

A ‘Little House’ Anniversary

Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.

Do you love to read? If so, you’ve probably read at least one of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books about her life in pioneer America. This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Laura’s famous book “Little House on the Prairie.” This week, The Mini Page learns more about Laura and her books. Little girl on the prairie Laura was born in Wisconsin on Feb. 7, 1867. Her family moved around a lot when she was a child. When Laura was just 2 years old, her family moved from Wisconsin to Kansas. A year in Kansas The family settled in southeastern Kansas, near the Verdigris River. They lived in Rutland Township, near Independence, Kan. In 1977, researchers from the Kansas State Historical Society found the original foundation of the Ingalls home and the well dug by Laura’s father.

A short stay In July 1870, the U.S. Congress ordered the Osage Indian Reserve to be sold. The tribe moved to a reservation in Oklahoma. Also that year, the Ingalls family heard from the man who had bought their land in Wisconsin. He no longer wanted the land. The family was not happy with how things had gone in Kansas, so they decided to move back to Wisconsin.Family tales Although Laura was only a toddler when her family lived in Kansas, her parents and her older sister, Mary, shared with her many of the adventures found in the book. The story of this part of her life became one of the most beloved books for children.

“Little House on the Prairie” was Laura’s third book. This photo of her was taken when she was a young woman.

image courtesy HarperCollins Publishers

Volunteers built a log cabin on the site in Kansas using Laura’s descriptions from the book.

Indian territory When Laura’s family moved to Kansas in 1869, they settled on the Osage Indian Reserve. Many other Native American tribes had already been forced out of Kansas. White settlers hoped the Osage would have to move to Oklahoma, opening up the land in Kansas for farming.

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from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

13-2 (10); release dates: March 27-April 2®

Laura’s Life

Words that remind us of Laura Ingalls Wilder are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: ALMANZO, BLIND, BLIZZARD, BOOKS, DAKOTA, FARM, HOUSE, INGALLS, IOWA, KANSAS, LAURA, LITTLE, MINNESOTA, NEW YORK, OSAGE, PIONEER, PRAIRIE, ROSE, TEACHER, WILDER, WISCONSIN, WOODS.

Little House try ’nfind

Pioneer life was an adventure!

D R A Z Z I L B S K A N S A S E G A S O I G R T J S Q T T K O S C B T E E E H L S O K O W Z V U T S E A L L K S R L K R N X L O N C A A O E O A D A E A E R O H U G O N Y Z K W D D M G I E R N B N W O O D S O L L P R A I R I E J D N I L B I A H F A R M N I S N O C S I W


Basset Brown

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ready resourcesfrom The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

The Mini Page provides ideas for Web sites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.On the Web:• www.lauraingallswilderhome.com/kids.htm• www.littlehouseontheprairie.comAt the library:• “Prairie Girl: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder” and “Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder” by William Anderson


Moving on Have you always lived in the same place? Some kids move around a lot with their families, and others stay in one area for their whole life. Charles Ingalls, Laura’s father, worked at many different jobs. He raised crops and animals, worked as a carpenter, and hunted animals for meat and fur to sell.Back in Wisconsin After the Ingallses moved back to Wisconsin, many other settlers began to arrive in the area. Charles, whom Laura called “Pa,” wanted to live where neighbors weren’t so close by. When Laura was 7 years old, the family climbed into their covered wagon and started west, toward Minnesota.

A new way of life When Laura’s father came back, he was ready to move again. The family went to Burr Oak, Iowa, to work in a hotel in town. Laura and Mary washed dishes and did other chores. But they missed the prairie, so after two years in Iowa, they headed back to Walnut Grove. Soon they followed Pa to Dakota Territory, where he had found a job with the railroad. He promised they wouldn’t move again.A helpful sister Mary had lost her eyesight during a long illness. After school, Laura would come home and repeat her lessons to Mary so that she could keep up with her education.Laura grows up At 15, Laura became a teacher. She also fell in love with Almanzo Wilder, and they married when she was 18. She and Almanzo had a daughter, Rose, and a son who died soon after he was born. The Wilders spent most of their lives in Missouri.

A home in a hillside Near the town of Walnut Grove, Minn., the family stopped along Plum Creek. Their first home there was hollowed out of a hillside, with a roof made of sod. Later, Pa built a house for them and planted wheat in their fields. Laura and Mary loved going to school in Walnut Grove. But after grasshoppers destroyed the wheat crop, Pa had to travel far away to find work.

® 13-3 (10); release dates: March 27-April 2

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeDouble-Nut Brownies

You’ll need:• 1 cup butter• 1 (8-ounce) package bittersweet

chocolate baking squares• 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet

chocolate chips, divided• 2 cups sugar What to do:1. In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, microwave butter, bittersweet chocolate and half

of chocolate chips for 2 to 3 minutes on high. Stir every 30 seconds until melted.2. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla; mix well.3. Blend flour and salt into mixture.4. In a separate bowl, mix walnuts, pecans and remaining half-package of chocolate

chips. Add to batter.5. Grease a 13-by-9-inch pan. Pour batter in pan and spread evenly.6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares.You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.


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Meet Brian Henson Brian Henson co-stars as the voice of Wilson in “Wilson & Ditch: Digging America.” This online program on PBSKIDSGO.org follows two gophers as they explore America. He is the chairman of the Jim Henson Company. Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, was his father. Brian has produced TV shows such as “It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” and “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.” He not only produced but also co-wrote

and directed “Jim Henson’s Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story.” He is the producer of the PBS preschool series “Sid the Science Kid.” He has also worked on several movies, including “The Great Muppet Caper,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Muppet Treasure Island.” He works on puppet technology with the Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Brian, 47, was born in New York City. He appeared in the first episode of “Sesame Street” in a film about the number 3 that was directed by his dad. He has three sisters and one brother.


Lisa: What are marshmallows filed under in a library? Larry: The Dewey Gooey Decimal System!

Lois: Why was the clock banned from the library?

Lena: It tocked too much!

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All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Lucy: What volume in the library tells you everything about bicycles?

Lance: A bicyclopedia!


Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy and Basset Brown are taking their wagon across the country. See if you can find:• letter A • kite • banana • tooth• frog • bell • scissors • pencil• bird • arrow • cat • sailboat• word MINI • musical notes • letter Z • leaf• light bulb • canoe • envelope


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• 4 large eggs• 1 tablespoon vanilla• 1/2 teaspoon salt• 1 cup flour• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

The Mini Page’s popular series of issues about each state is collected here in a 156-page softcover book. Conveniently spiral-bound for ease of use, this invaluable resource contains A-to-Z facts about each state, along with the District of Columbia. Illustrated with colorful photographs and art, and complete with updated information, The Mini Page Book of States will be a favorite in classrooms and homes for years to come.

NEW!

To order, send $15.99 ($19.99 Canada) plus $5 postage and handling for each copy. Make check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to Universal Uclick. Send to The Mini Page Book of States, Universal Uclick, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206. Or call toll-free 800-591-2097 or go to www.smartwarehousing.com. Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Book of States (Item #0-7407-8549-4) at $20.99 each, total cost. (Bulk discount information available upon request.)Name: _____________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________City: ______________________________________________State: __________________________ Zip: ________________

The Mini Page® Book of States


13-4 (10); release dates: March 27-April 2®

A Life in Books


The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

‘Little House in the Big Woods’ This book starts in 1871, when Laura’s family moves back to Wisconsin from Kansas.

Laura was in her 60s when she decided to write about her childhood. She was 68 when “Little House on the Prairie” was published in 1935. Her daughter, Rose, helped her with much of the writing and editing. The Mini Page provides a description of the “Little House” books about her life.

‘These Happy Golden Years’ In this book, Laura begins her teaching job 12 miles outside of De Smet. Soon Almanzo Wilder is bringing her home to see her family at the end of each week

in his horse-drawn sleigh, and their friendship grows into love.

‘Farmer Boy’ In this book, Laura tells the story of her husband, Almanzo Wilder, as he grows up on a farm in New York.

‘On the Banks of Plum Creek’ The Ingallses’ sod home and their challenges in Minnesota are part of this tale of Laura’s time near Walnut Grove, Minn.

‘By the Shores of Silver Lake’ In this book, Laura takes her first train ride into Dakota Territory. The Ingalls family finally settles in the town of De Smet.

‘Little Town on the Prairie’ This book tells the

story of Laura’s first job sewing shirts, and her family’s effort to save money to send Mary to the College for the Blind in Iowa.

‘The Long Winter’ The Ingalls family’s time in Dakota Territory continues. This book is about the blizzards of 1880-81, when no food or other supplies could be brought in by train.

‘The First Four Years’ Laura and Almanzo marry and settle on the South Dakota prairie. This book tells the story of the birth of their daughter, Rose, and the challenges the young family faced as pioneers.

The Mini Page thanks William Anderson, author of “Prairie Girl: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder” and “Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder,” for help with this issue.

Next week, The Mini Page is about those mysterious water towers you see in every town.

A letter from Laura Sometime after Almanzo died, Laura wrote a letter to children. We share part of it here: “The ‘Little House’ books are stories of long ago. Today our way of living and our schools are much different; so many things have made living and learning easier. “But the real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with the simple pleasures and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong.”

all images courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers

How many “Little House” books have you read? In the box at right, make a check mark beside each one, and circle your favorite.

The “Little House” Books(in order of publication)

“Little House in the Big Woods”“Farmer Boy”

“Little House on the Prairie”“On the Banks of Plum Creek”“By the Shores of Silver Lake”

“The Long Winter” “Little Town on the Prairie”

“These Happy Golden Years”“The First Four Years”

release dates: March 27-April 2 13-5 (10)

(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 13, to be used in place of ad if desired.)


(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 13.)

Standards Spotlight: A ‘Little House’ Anniversary

Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer activities that will help your students reach them.This week’s standard:• Students use biographies and stories to understand the individuals who

are honored by the nation. (Social Studies: History)Activities:1. Draw pictures of five things you would take with you if you had to

move.2. Find newspaper pictures that show three different kinds of houses

people live in today. 3. In the newspaper, find three jobs from Laura’s time that people still do

today. Find three jobs that did not exist when Laura was growing up.4. List three jobs that Laura did in her lifetime. Now find items in the

newspaper that would have made her jobs easier. 5. Ask an older family member about growing up. Write a story about his/

her childhood and jobs he/she did.(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

®from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

Supersport: Tracy PorterHeight: 5-11 Birthdate: 8-11-86Weight: 186 Hometown: Port Allen, La. Peyton Manning’s pass was spiraling toward an Indianapolis receiver. But then, New Orleans’ defensive back Tracy Porter snagged the ball in mid-air and raced 74 yards for a touchdown. That super play clinched a 31-17 Super Bowl win for New Orleans.

Two weeks earlier, in a conference championship game, Porter had a key interception that helped the Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings. Tracy has a knack for stealing the ball — and the spotlight. During a standout career at Indiana University, he intercepted 16 passes and made 212 tackles. A second-round NFL draft pick in 2008, he cracked New Orleans’ starting lineup as a rookie. He also has suffered several injuries along the way. But these days football life is downright heavenly for Porter, the Saints and their celebrating fans.

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by Betty Debnam

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(Note to Editor: Above is camera-ready, one column-by-31/2-inch ad promoting Issue 13.)

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