Ruth By Lake And Prairie

     True Stories of the American Settler
 
 

E-Book Version
Now Available

Buy Online

Buy Ruth in soft cover or hard cover, or the new Activity Book, here.

Companion Activity Book Now Released!

Finally! The companion book to the award-winning Ruth by Lake and Prairie is available!

Full of paper crafts to make, recipes, crossword puzzles and word searches, the Ruth by Lake and Prairie Activity Book is a fun way for children to explore the everyday life of the American settler.

Order yours today! Or ask your local bookshop to carry them if you want to pick up your copy locally and support your neighborhood merchant.

Inside you'll find:

  • Recipes for Johnny Cakes and Rock Candy
  • Word Searches on 1830's clothing
  • How to make a Wind Boat
  • Illustrations from Ruth by Lake and Prairie to color
  • Your Family Tree worksheet
  • And much more!

 

Have You Seen the Book Trailer?

Ruth by Lake and Prairie makes a wonderful addition to the classroom. Here's the Book Trailer  to show your teacher or librarian.

 

Our country's westward expansion is taught in every school, and new materials to augment lessons are eagerly sought after. Everyone knows the "Little House on the Prairie" stories, but much less has been written about the 1830's, several decades earlier.

Whether used as a read-aloud in class or as supplemental reading for older students, Ruth by Lake and Prairie accurately depicts the day-to-day life of children in the early nineteenth century and introduces the historical figures who populated the early northern Illinois landscape.

Order a copy for your classroom today! Or pick one up at one of these fine bookstores

School and Community Presentations

Have Kate visit your school or group.

Power Point presentations on local history and the writing process available.

See presentation synopses and watch a video clip on the Presentations page.

 

Subscribe to Kate's Brief History

Every other week Kate sends out a brief, two-article newsletter about history in northern Illinois. Brief History also highlights coming events in the area that would be of interest to history buffs. 

Subscribe by using the form below. Browse past issues at Kate's Brief History blog. 

Waves! Wind! Wagon Trains!

Yes, the founders of Naperville traveled by covered wagon, but first they endured weeks sailing a schooner across the Great Lakes!

Battered by savage storms, idled by windless days, and navigating dangerous waters, Naper's settlers finally anchored their over-crowded ship near Chicago.

Some of the passengers stayed to help build the swampy young town, but the others pointed their wagons west toward the DuPage River. Meet some of their descendants on the Settler's Virtual Reunion Page.

The Voyage To Naper's Settlement

In the most complete retelling of how this small settlement was founded, long-forgotten facts uncovered over months of research are woven into an historical narrative reminiscent of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books. Follow the trail of clues on the Research page.

Meet Ruth Eliza Murray

Twelve-year-old Ruth Eliza Murray, niece of Joseph Naper, is the engaging focus of the story. Join Ruth, her mischievous younger brother Amos, her tough older brother Ned, and thirteen courageous families on their journey to a new home on the Illinois prairie. Learn a little more about who Ruth was or read the first pages of her story.