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. Based on the childhood of Laura’s husband, Almanzo Wilder, Farmer Boy is the second book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers with its depiction of life on the American frontier. Course this book is used in: Reading and Literature 2: Homeschool Reading and Literature 2 continues to develop strong reading skills while deepening students’ engagement with good literature. Anchored in Catholic National Reader, Book Two and enriched by classic novels, fables, poetry, and saint stories, this course strengthens phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension through a carefully sequenced selection of texts. The course includes multiple reading tracks, allowing families to select an appropriate level while maintaining a coherent and unified curriculum. Students participate in guided and independent reading, with a strong emphasis on reading aloud, attentive listening, and mutual response. Alongside the primary reader, students encounter longer literary works and varied genres, developing the ability to follow plots, identify characters, recognize key details, and understand an author’s purpose. Poetry and language-rich texts help students internalize patterns of language, while writing assignments—such as narration and simple book reports—build skills in clear and effective expression. By uniting skill development with rich literary content and flexible pacing, the course fosters a love of reading and an appreciation for well-crafted language and stories.
