Early Family Home

A well-written and thoroughly enjoyable book about everyday family life from the late colonial period in American history through the late 19th century, covering all aspects of how a typical family of the period lived. It begins with finding a plot of land in which to build their cabin, to the growth of the family, and, thusly, adding more houses, and the eventual growth of a settlement. It covers clearing the land, building the cabin, adding "luxuries" such as a new cupboard, the harshness of the differing weather conditions and how they dealt with it, candle making and spinning, furniture (including rope beds), bathing, health, Sundays, courting, quilting, letter writing, and so much more. It doesn't get into great detail - more of an overview - but it gives the reader a sense of life lived during the time period covered. The sketches, which are on every page, are the icing on the cake. I have numerous other books by Bobbie Kalman - all of which are geared toward children, and this one is no exception. And yet, this is not really a children's book per se, for she writes in such a style that all who read these books - adult and youth - can learn something new. And if you are a novice to everyday life of 150 + years ago, this book is the perfect "beginner's guide."