erns by showing a family that represents what many believe should be the ideal family living in an ideal community.
The characters in Little House on the Prairie had been introduced in an earlier book, Little House in the Big Woods, and in the second book they move to Kansas, pioneers seeking better land and a better life. The reason for the move from Wisconsin to Kansas is because Pa believes there are too many people in Wisconsin--the movement of the family represents the westward movement of much of the nation, with pioneers always seeking more room and a new challenge. This aspect of the book relates to the nature of the frontier and its role in America's history. The frontier played an important part in American history, both as a reality and as an idea, and it continues to do so today long after the frontier has disappeared. The fact that the frontier continues to pl
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