Pollyanna vs Little House in the Big Woods

Both "Pollyanna" by Eleanor Hodgman Porter, Porter, Neil Reed, Lee Giles and "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder are popular choices for readers interested in Aunts and Cheerfulness. This comparison helps you decide which to read first — or whether both belong on your list.

Shared Themes

FamilyFictionJuvenile LiteratureJuvenile fictionFamilies
Cover of Pollyanna

Pollyanna

Eleanor Hodgman Porter, Porter, Neil Reed, Lee Giles

1912

The whole town is playing the game, and the whole town is wonderfully happier-and all because of one little girl who taught the people a new game, and how to play it. Suddenly orphaned, Pollyanna is sent across the country to a small town in Vermont, where she will live with her strict Aunt Polly. But Pollyanna doesn't seem to notice how stern and unfeeling her aunt really is. When feeling unhappy, she simply plays her "glad" game-finding a silver lining in every cloud. Eventually, Pollyanna brightens the lives of everyone in town with her infectious game, and finds a home for every stray cat, dog, and child she encounters. But then a terrible accident happens and Pollyanna can't find anything to feel glad about anymore. All her new friends turn out to support her, but will that be enough to restore Pollyanna's cheerful outlook on life?

Published 1912
Books like Pollyanna
Cover of Little House in the Big Woods

Little House in the Big Woods

Laura Ingalls Wilder

1932

"Little House in the Big Woods" is an autobiographical children's novel written by Laura Ingalls Wilder and published by Harper in 1932. It was Wilder's first book published and it inaugurated her Little House series. It is based on memories of her early childhood in the Big Woods near Pepin, Wisconsin, in the early 1870s. Based on a 2007 online poll, the U.S. National Education Association named the novel one of its ""Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children"". In 2012, it was ranked number 19 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal – the first of three Little House books in the Top 100.

Published 1932
Books like Little House in the Big Woods

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier to read: Pollyanna or Little House in the Big Woods?
Reading difficulty depends on your familiarity with the genre. Check each book's page count and subject matter above, and start with whichever aligns better with books you've enjoyed before.
Can I read Pollyanna and Little House in the Big Woods in any order?
Yes — these are standalone works. You don't need to read one before the other unless they're part of the same series.
Which book is better for beginners?
If you're new to this genre, look at the shorter book with broader appeal and start there. You can always come back for the other.

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