How old was Laura Ingalls Wilder when the Little House books were published?
Laura Ingalls Wilder was 65 years old when her first Little House book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932. While many authors begin writing early in life, Laura’s most famous works were written during her 60s and 70s, making her an inspiring example of how it’s never too late to share your story with the world.
Though she’s now known as one of America’s most beloved children’s authors, Laura didn’t publish her first novel until later in life. She began writing her autobiographical manuscript, Pioneer Girl, around 1929–1930, when she was about 62 years old.
This manuscript detailed the real events of her childhood growing up in a pioneer family, but it was not initially accepted for publication. However, with guidance and editorial support from her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, Laura transformed the material into a fictionalized series for children.
Timeline of the Little House Series and Laura’s Age
Book Title
Publication Year
Laura’s Age
Little House in the Big Woods
1932
65
Farmer Boy
1933
66
Little House on the Prairie
1935
68
On the Banks of Plum Creek
1937
70
By the Shores of Silver Lake
1939
72
The Long Winter
1940
73
Little Town on the Prairie
1941
74
These Happy Golden Years
1943
76
The First Four Years (posthumously)
1971
— (Laura died in 1957 at age 90)
Laura’s Early Writing Career
Before her books were ever published, Laura had already developed her writing voice. Her first professional writing job was in 1911, when she began contributing articles and columns to the Missouri Ruralist, a regional farming magazine. She was about 44 or 45 years old at the time.
Her essays often discussed topics such as:
Farm life and rural values
The changing roles of women
Self-sufficiency and modern conveniences
Reflections on the past and present
This experience honed her storytelling skills and made her a recognizable voice among Midwestern readers well before her books reached a national audience.
A Writing Legacy That Grew Over Time
Laura’s late start in fiction publishing is a powerful reminder that age is not a barrier to creativity. Despite the fact that she began writing books in her 60s, her Little House series has remained a cornerstone of American children’s literature for over 90 years.
