My Little House Craft Book {Review}

There are some books that quietly earn a permanent place on your homeschool shelves. They may not look flashy, they may not promise a full curriculum, but once opened, they reveal themselves to be rich, immersive, and deeply memorable. I hope you enjoy my review of one of those books, the My Little House Craft Book.

For families who love literature-based learning, hands-on projects, and meaningful connections to history, this book is a gem. Whether you are already planning a little house on the prairie unit study or simply looking for creative ways to enrich your homeschooling, My Little House Craft Book offers a beautiful bridge between storytelling, history, and practical life skills.

Catch Up! If you haven’t read all about our first week on the prairie, I would encourage you to go and read my Little House in the Big woods post. This covers everything we did from making nightdresses, to prairie cooking and making button strings. It also gives you a good idea of everything we achieved with our own little house on the prairie renovations!

In this review, I’ll explore what makes My Little House Craft Book such a valuable resource for homeschooling families, how it fits naturally into a little house on the prairie unit study, and why it continues to be loved decades after its publication.

What Is My Little House Craft Book?

My Little House Craft Book was written by Carolyn Strom Collins and is designed to accompany Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House series. Rather than simply retelling the stories, the book invites children and parents to step into Laura’s world through hands-on crafts, recipes, and activities inspired directly by pioneer life.

The book focuses on traditional skills that the Ingalls family would have relied upon, such as:

• Sewing
• Patchworking
• Knitting
• Decorative Stitching
• Doll making
• and using up bits and pieces found around the house

Each activity is connected to life on the American frontier, making it an ideal companion for a little house on the prairie unit study.

Why My Little House Craft Book Works So Well for Homeschooling

One of the reasons My Little House Craft Book works beautifully for homeschooling is that it doesn’t feel like a workbook. There are no fill-in-the-blank questions or rigid lesson plans. Instead, it offers invitations — invitations to slow down, make something with your hands, and experience history in a tangible way.

Homeschooling allows us to move beyond textbooks and into experiential learning. This book supports that philosophy perfectly by encouraging multi-age learning, skill-building through doing, cross-curricular connections and, best of all, meaningful family time.

Because the projects range in complexity, they can easily be adapted for different ages, making it a wonderful resource for families homeschooling multiple children.

A Natural Fit for a Little House on the Prairie Unit Study

If you are planning a little house on the prairie unit study, My Little House Craft Book is almost essential. The crafts and activities align closely with the themes, seasons, and daily life described in the novels.

As children read about Laura twisting hay, helping Ma sew, or watching Pa build furniture, they can recreate similar experiences through the book’s projects. This deepens comprehension and helps children truly understand how people lived during the pioneer era.

Rather than simply reading about history, children experience it, which is one of the greatest strengths of literature-based homeschooling.

Organisation and Layout of My Little House Craft Book

The book is thoughtfully organized and easy to use, even for busy homeschooling parents. Each project includes:

• A brief historical context
• A list of materials
• Clear, step-by-step instructions
• Illustrations to guide the process

The language is friendly and accessible, making it possible for older children to read and follow instructions independently while still being approachable for younger learners with adult support.

This layout makes My Little House Craft Book ideal for relaxed homeschooling days, weekend projects, or special unit study blocks.

Adapting the Book for Different Ages

One concern some parents have when using hands-on resources is age appropriateness. Fortunately, My Little House Craft Book is extremely flexible.

• Younger children can help with simple tasks, observe, and participate in storytelling.
• Middle-grade children can complete most projects with light supervision.
• Older children can take on more complex tasks independently and even research further historical context.

This makes the book especially valuable for long-term homeschooling families who may revisit it over several years.

Building Patience and Perseverance

Unlike quick crafts designed for instant results, many projects in My Little House Craft Book take time. This is a feature, not a flaw.

Children learn skills, patience, problem-solving, attention to detail and, of course, pride in their completed work.

These qualities are often difficult to teach directly but emerge naturally through meaningful projects. This is one of the many advantages of hands-on homeschooling.

Creating Family Memories Through Homeschooling

One of the most beautiful aspects of using My Little House Craft Book in your homeschooling journey is the memories it creates. These are not disposable crafts that get thrown away at the end of the day.

No, they are beautiful homemade items made using skills that the children can then carry into adulthood. Made with shared experiences that strengthen family bonds. For many homeschooling families, these moments are the heart of education.

Check out week two! Last week we focussed on Farmer Boy. This is the second book in the Little House on the Prairie book set. During the week we did lots of prairie cooking (hasty pudding, making a sour dough starter and some prairie bread) and also made some button lamps, a prairie ladder, and some peg hooks. Gary and the little ones did some gardening in our prairie garden and we tried to make some more of our rag rug.

Strengths of My Little House Craft Book

There is much to love about this book:

• Timeless content
• Strong connection to beloved literature
• Encourages hands-on learning
• Suitable for multiple ages
• Supports a relaxed but meaningful homeschooling style

It is especially valuable for families who enjoy unit studies, literature-based learning, and gentle, interest-led homeschooling.

Potential Limitations to Consider

No resource is perfect, and it’s worth noting a few considerations:

• Some materials may require substitutions
• Projects take time and preparation
• Adult involvement is often needed

However, for most homeschooling families, these are minor trade-offs for the depth of learning offered.

Using My Little House Craft Book Beyond a Unit Study

While the book is a natural fit for a little house on the prairie unit study, it doesn’t have to be limited to that context.

Many families enjoy:

• Seasonal crafting
• Slow living projects
• Skill-based learning blocks
• Summer enrichment activities

This versatility adds to the book’s long-term value in a homeschooling home.

Why This Book Stands the Test of Time

Decades after its release, My Little House Craft Book remains popular because it taps into something universal: the desire to learn by doing.

In an age of digital overload, this book invites children to unplug, use their hands, and experience learning in a deeply human way. For homeschooling families, that invitation is incredibly valuable.

Final Thoughts: Is My Little House Craft Book Worth It?

If you are homeschooling and love literature-based learning, hands-on projects, or historical unit studies, My Little House Craft Book is absolutely worth adding to your collection.

It is more than a craft book. It is a doorway into pioneer life, a companion to a beloved series, and a powerful tool for meaningful homeschooling.

Whether you are planning a full little house on the prairie unit study or simply want to enrich your homeschooling with timeless skills and memorable experiences, this book is one you will return to again and again.

  For more activities please do visit my MEGA Little House on the Prairie Unit Study page. This contains all ten weeks of our summer building our own Little House on the Prairie!