1850 – 1910
Pioneer settlers were individuals and families who moved westward across the United States in search of new opportunities. They traveled in covered wagons and settled in new territories, building homes, farms, and communities from scratch. Life was tough, with challenges like harsh weather, limited supplies, and conflicts with Native Americans. You can find more books about westward expansion here.
Picture books
Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Picture biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, for young readers
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Dandelions
Lovely story about a girl and her family adjusting to their new Nebraska home
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Prairie School
Accessible story about a pioneer boy learning to read
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Rachel’s Journal: The Story of a Pioneer Girl
Fictional, visual diary of a pioneer girl
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A Little House Picture Book Treasury: Six Stories of Life on the Prairie
Charming stories from the Little House books, illustrated for young readers
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Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town
Joyful story about a real Kansas town founded by former sharecroppers
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Chapter books
Little House series
Classic series about a real pioneer family’s adventures
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Sarah, Plain and Tall
Award-winning novel about pioneer children adjusting to a new stepmother
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The Legend of Jimmy Spoon
Exciting story of a boy who runs away to the Shoshani, based on a true story
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Jenny of the Tetons
Novel about a fictional girl living with the family of a real trapper
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Land of the Buffalo Bones: The Diary of Mary Ann Elizabeth Rodgers
Fictional diary of a English girl moving with her religious community to Minnesota
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German Immigrants in America (You Choose: History)
Choose-your-own-adventure style book with stories about German immigrants
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My Face to the Wind: the Diary of Sarah Jane Price, a Prairie Teacher, Broken Bow, Nebraska 1881
Fictional diary of a young teacher on the Nebraska prairie
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West to a Land of Plenty: The Diary of Teresa Angelino Viscardi, New York to Idaho Territory, 1883
Fictional diary of a girl traveling by train to Idaho
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My America: As Far As I Can See: Meg’s Prairie Diary
Fictional diary, for younger readers, about a city girl discovering Kansas
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Prairie Lotus
Novel about a half-Asian pioneer girl finding her place
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Non-fiction books
Life on a Pioneer Homestead (Picture the Past)
Guide to daily life on a pioneer homestead
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A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840
Daily life of a pioneer family, with wonderful detail
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Pioneer Life from A to Z
A-to-Z guide to daily life as a pioneer settler
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Life in the West (A True Book: Westward Expansion)
Accessible introduction to pioneer life
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I Walked to Zion: True Stories of Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail
True stories from Mormon pioneers
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