Black and white drawings and a spare text express some of the harsh elements of prairie life in a sod house: "Dirt fell on our bed,/snakes sometimes, too,/and the buffalo hide door/could not keep out the wind/or the empty cries in the long grass." (Age 7 and older)

"A tall, vigorous woman describes her experiences as a young bride living in a sod house on the Dakota prairie . . . The spare text . . . is perfectly attuned to the splendid black-and-white drawings. A rich experience for a young audience . . . A superb complement to the social studies curriculum in the early grades".--The Horn Book. ALA Notable Children's Book.