Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House on the Prairie” book series has been criticized for its portrayal of Native Americans and for depicting a romanticized and sanitized version of frontier life. Wilder’s depiction of the Ingalls family’s interactions with Native Americans has been deemed racist by some critics.
Additionally, her book’s references to “half-breeds” and “savage” Native Americans have been viewed as insensitive, particularly in recent years. It is important to note that the books were written during a different time and cultural context, and Wilder’s historical views, which were quite prevalent during the time Laura was a little girl as well as during the years the books were published.
However, these views and some of the language Wilder used do not align with those of today. As a result, the books have been removed from many school’s curriculums and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, awarded for long lasting contributions to children’s literature, was renamed in 2018 due to the racism in the books.
