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Quick answer: If you loved Sarah, Plain and Tall, read Patricia MacLachlan's Skylark and Caleb's Story, then Little House on the Prairie, Caddie Woodlawn and Anne of Green Gables. All are gentle historical stories about families, hard work and finding a home.
Patricia MacLachlan's 1985 Newbery winner is a short novel about Anna and Caleb, whose widowed father advertises for a wife, and Sarah, a woman from Maine who answers. It is quiet, warm and beautifully spare. The books below share its prairie settings, close families and gentle courage.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skylark | Patricia MacLachlan | Ages 7-11 | the sequel |
| Caleb's Story | Patricia MacLachlan | Ages 7-11 | the third book |
| More Perfect Than the Moon | Patricia MacLachlan | Ages 7-11 | the fourth book |
| Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder | Ages 7-12 | pioneer classic |
| Caddie Woodlawn | Carol Ryrie Brink | Ages 8-12 | pioneer tomboy |
| Anne of Green Gables | L. M. Montgomery | All ages | spirited girl |
| Charlotte's Web | E. B. White | Ages 6-12 | classic friendship |
| Number the Stars | Lois Lowry | Ages 9-13 | courage in war |
| Missing May | Cynthia Rylant | Ages 10-14 | grief and love |
| Bridge to Terabithia | Katherine Paterson | Ages 9-13 | friendship and loss |
| Island of the Blue Dolphins | Scott O'Dell | Ages 9-13 | survival |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George | Ages 9-13 | living in the wild |
| All-of-a-Kind Family | Sydney Taylor | Ages 7-11 | city family |
| Out of the Dust | Karen Hesse | Ages 10-14 | Dust Bowl |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | Ages 8-12 | a dog and a town |
1. Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan
A drought threatens the farm, and Sarah's place in the family is tested. A short and moving follow-up.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Caleb's Story by Patricia MacLachlan
Caleb gets to know his grandfather. A gentle, thoughtful addition.
Best for: the third book.
3. More Perfect Than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan
Cassie Witting watches her mother's pregnancy. Sweet and honest.
Best for: the fourth book.
4. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Ingalls family settles on the Kansas prairie. A classic of pioneer life.
Best for: pioneer classic.
5. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
A spirited girl lives on the Wisconsin frontier. Lively and warm.
Best for: pioneer tomboy.
6. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
A talkative orphan changes a quiet farm. Warm, funny and timeless.
Best for: spirited girl.
7. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
A spider saves a pig by weaving words. A timeless story of loyalty.
Best for: classic friendship.
8. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
A girl in Denmark helps her Jewish friend escape the Nazis. Short and powerful.
Best for: courage in war.
9. Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
A girl and her uncle grieve for a woman they loved. Quiet and moving.
Best for: grief and love.
10. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Two children invent a magical kingdom in the woods. Beautiful and heartbreaking.
Best for: friendship and loss.
11. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
A girl survives alone on an island for years. Calm and powerful.
Best for: survival.
12. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
A boy runs away to live in the Catskills. Practical and absorbing.
Best for: living in the wild.
13. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Five sisters grow up in a Jewish neighbourhood in New York in 1912. Warm and funny.
Best for: city family.
14. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
A girl lives through drought and loss in Oklahoma. A Newbery winner told in free verse.
Best for: Dust Bowl.
15. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl and a stray dog bring people together. Gentle and funny.
Best for: a dog and a town.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Sarah, Plain and Tall: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more of the series read Skylark, Caleb's Story and More Perfect Than the Moon. For pioneer life pick Little House on the Prairie or Caddie Woodlawn. For classic heroines choose Anne of Green Gables. For quiet emotion try Missing May or Bridge to Terabithia. Sarah, Plain and Tall is short, so it works well for reading aloud or for readers moving to chapter books. Teachers often use Sarah, Plain and Tall to teach about prairie life, family and letter writing, and a short film adaptation starring Glenn Close is well known. Reading aloud is a lovely way to enjoy these books together. Sarah, Plain and Tall is short enough to finish in an evening or two, and its gentle ending leaves room for conversation. If your child enjoys the prairie setting, the Little House books offer much more to read. Most libraries stock the full MacLachlan series.
Related: Which Sarah J. Maas Book Should You Read First? · Sarah J Maas Books In Order Printable List
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sarah, Plain and Tall about?
A widowed farmer advertises for a wife, and Sarah comes from Maine to meet his children.
Who wrote it?
Patricia MacLachlan.
When was it published?
1985.
Did it win a prize?
Yes, the 1986 Newbery Medal.
How long is it?
About 60 pages, a quick read.
How many books are in the series?
Five.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 7 to 11.
What should I read next?
Try Skylark.
Is Sarah, Plain and Tall sad?
It has quiet sadness about loss, but it ends warmly.
Is it a good book for a class?
Yes. It is widely used in elementary classrooms.