Not my favorite book in the series thus far, but still very, very good. I liked learning what Almanzo was up to before he met Laura. A quick, easy ready with gorgeous illustrations. I would recommend this book. 4 out of 5 stars. ( )

apples and onions... ;) ( )

Farmer Boy is a must read for any young reader. It is an in-depth portait of family life in an older time. Almanzo's remembrances are at times hilarious, poignant, stoical and heartwarming.

Laura Ingalls provides an account of the childhood of her future husband in this book. Similar to the first installment, it is very charming and offers a children-friendly perspective on life on a 19th-century farm, specifically a prosperous one. The narrative is filled with numerous stories, and while the plot meanders a lot, the central focus is on the theme of Almanzo's love for farm life and his work with horses.

Despite the overall appeal, I'm deducting points because of to what I would term the "procedural aspect" of the book. The detailed descriptions of food preparation and farm chores became a bit overwhelming for me. Although interspersed with charming scenes of farm life, these intricate details, at times, overshadowed the narrative's flow. People who love reading details like this will enjoy the novel even more. ( )

While Laura Ingalls grows up in a little house on the western prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. Almanzo and his brother and sisters help with the summer planting and fall harvest. In winter there is wood to be chopped and great slabs of ice to be cut from the river and stored. Almanzo wishes for just one thing--his very own horse--but he must prove that he is ready for such a big responsibility.