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Sarah, Plain and Tall: A Newbery Medal Winner (Sarah, Plain and Tall, 1) Paperback – March 3, 2015
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This beloved Newbery Medal–winning book is the first of five books in Patricia MacLachlan's chapter book series about the Witting family.
Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a wife and mother. Before Sarah arrives, Anna and her younger brother Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she sing? Will she stay?
This children's literature classic is perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie books, historical fiction, and timeless stories using rich and beautiful language. Sarah, Plain and Tall gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love.
This anniversary edition includes author Patricia MacLachlan's Newbery speech, a discussion guide, and a reading list. This modern classic is a strong choice for independent reading.
Read the rest of the Sarah books by Patricia MacLachlan: Skylark, Caleb’s Story, More Perfect than the Moon, and Grandfather’s Dance.
- Reading age7 - 10 years, from customers
- Print length112 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level1 - 5
- Lexile measure650L
- Dimensions0.6 x 4.9 x 7.4 inches
- PublisherHarperCollins
- Publication dateMarch 3, 2015
- ISBN-100062399527
- ISBN-13978-0062399526
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Skylark
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Caleb's Story
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Grandfather's Dance
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Customer Reviews |
4.7 out of 5 stars 742
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4.7 out of 5 stars 593
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4.8 out of 5 stars 385
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4.8 out of 5 stars 401
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Price | $5.59$5.59 | $5.59$5.59 | $6.39$6.39 | $6.99$6.99 |
Sarah, Plain and Tall Series | Book Two | Book Three | Book Four | Book Five |
In this stunning sequel to Newbery Medal winner Sarah, Plain and Tall, Anna and Caleb travel with their new mother, Sarah, to Maine to take refuge from the prairie drought. | Only the special love of Caleb, and the gift he offers his grandfather, can help to mend the pain of the past. | More Perfect than the Moon continues the classic tale of the Witting family’s life on the prairie, in the lyrical style that Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan has made her own. | But as Cassie begins to understand different kinds of love, be it between Anna and Justin or her brother Jack and Grandfather, she learns that sometimes the hardest part about loving someone is having to say goodbye. |
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Customer Reviews |
4.7 out of 5 stars 27
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4.7 out of 5 stars 369
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4.5 out of 5 stars 55
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4.4 out of 5 stars 48
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4.4 out of 5 stars 77
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Price | $7.89$7.89 | — no data | $5.59$5.59 | $6.39$6.39 | $9.95$9.95 |
More books from Patricia MacLachlan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
"Did Mama sing every day?"
Caleb asks his sister Anna.
"Every-single-day," she answers.
"Papa sang, too."
Their mother died the day after Caleb was born. Their house on the prairie is quiet now, and Papa doesn't sing anymore. Then Papa puts an ad in the paper, asking for a wife, and he receives a letter from one Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton, of Maine. Papa, Anna, and Caleb write back. Caleb asks if she sings.
Sarah decides to come for a month. She writes Papa: I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall, and Tell them I sing. Anna and Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she like them? Will she stay?
About the Author
Patricia MacLachlan (1938-2022) was the celebrated author of many timeless books for young readers, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal. She was also the author of many beloved picture books, a number of which she cowrote with her daughter, Emily.
Product details
- Publisher : HarperCollins
- Publication date : March 3, 2015
- Edition : Anniversary
- Language : English
- Print length : 112 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062399527
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062399526
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Reading age : 7 - 10 years, from customers
- Dimensions : 0.6 x 4.9 x 7.4 inches
- Book 1 of 5 : Sarah, Plain and Tall Saga
- Grade level : 1 - 5
- Lexile measure : 650L
- Best Sellers Rank: #4,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and to this day carries a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she goes to remind her of what she knew first. She is the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lives in western Massachusetts.
In Her Own Words..."One thing I've learned with age and parenting is that life comes in circles. Recently, I was having a bad time writing. I felt disconnected. I had moved to a new home and didn't feel grounded. The house, the land was unfamiliar to me. There was no garden yet. Why had I sold my old comfortable 1793 home? The one with the snakes in the basement, mice everywhere, no closets. I would miss the cold winter air that came in through the electrical sockets."
"I had to go this day to talk to a fourth-grade class, and I banged around the house, complaining. Hard to believe, since I am so mild mannered and pleasant, isn't it? What did I have to say to them? I thought what I always think when I enter a room of children. What do I know?"
"I plunged down the hillside and into town, where a group of fourth-grade children waited for me in the library, freshly scrubbed, expectant. Should I be surprised that what usually happens did so? We began to talk about place, our living landscapes. And I showed them my little bag of prairie dirt from where I was born. Quite simply, we never got off the subject of place. Should I have been so surprised that these young children were so concerned with place, or with the lack of it, their displacement? Five children were foster children, disconnected from their homes. One little boy's house had burned down, everything gone. 'Photographs, too,' he said sadly. Another told me that he was moving the next day to place he'd never been. I turned and saw the librarian, tears coming down her face."
"'You know,' I said. 'Maybe I should take this bag of prairie dirt and toss it into my new yard. I'll never live on the prairie again. I live here now. The two places could mix together that way!' 'No!' cried a boy from the back. 'Maybe the prairie dirt will blow away!' And then a little girl raised her hand. 'I think you should put that prairie dirt in a glass bowl in your window so that when you write you can see it all the time. So you can always see what you knew first.'"
"When I left the library, I went home to write. What You Know First owes much to the children of the Jackson Street School: the ones who love place and will never leave it, the ones who lost everything and have to begin again. I hope for them life comes in circles, too."
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this book to be a classic with heartwarming storytelling, and one review notes how the unspoken emotions beneath the words are quite moving. The chapters are short, making it a nice easy read, and they appreciate its suitability as a teaching tool for families. Customers praise the character development, with one review highlighting the normal and kind children's personalities, while another mentions the gentle and patient adult role models.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers love the story quality of this book, describing it as an awesome and fulfilling read that they enjoyed as children.
"Great book - ordered for my 4th grader - I read it then passed along to all his classmates, they all loved it" Read more
"...The book was too short but it was a good story. Would have been better if it were much, much longer." Read more
"Good book." Read more
"...We never want to pause it in between chapters! It’s a sweet, soothing story and is so beautifully narrated that I’ll be looking for more books..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and appreciate its beautiful narration, with one customer noting its well-structured prose.
"...This is a simple, good English structure, well written and fun to read book. it is useful for all students beyond primary school age...." Read more
"Classic - perfect for 3rd grade reading level. We had great discussions about the book and now my daughter wants to ready more about this family." Read more
"Still ever so enjoyable to read as an adult. A lovely tale filled with lighthearted humor, hope and love...." Read more
"...Highly recommend for teachers to teach with and for kids to read." Read more
Customers find this book wonderful for all ages, particularly noting its effectiveness as a teaching tool for families and middle school students.
"This classic is an inspiring, heart-felt story. Great teaching tool for families who want to learn about geneaology and how their great-grandparents..." Read more
"Good book for kids and adults to read." Read more
"...Highly recommend for teachers to teach with and for kids to read." Read more
"The "Sarah, Plain and Tall Treasury" should be essential reading for all ages...." Read more
Customers find the story heartwarming and touching, with one customer noting how the unspoken emotions beneath the words are quite moving.
"This story is sweet and calming to read. A widower and his children hope the woman possibly joining their family will love them...." Read more
"Touching and tender, this story will bring a lump to your throat and a smile to your face...." Read more
"...A lovely tale filled with lighthearted humor, hope and love. It’s a quick read if you’re looking to meet your reading goals...." Read more
"...recommend this book to all the people who are interested in a heartwarming story. By Brooke..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's short chapters, with one customer noting the simple sentences and another mentioning the brief dialog.
"It was good and short the little details where good to have I loved the book so so much the end was amazing the worst part was when Sarah dies" Read more
"...She truly loved Sara, Plain and Tall and couldn't wait to ready the sequel, Skylark. She loved these books!!" Read more
"...Short but well written and continued on in the next one in the series." Read more
"...The rest is teacher stuff and and questions for students. The book was too short but it was a good story...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting that the children's personalities are normal and kind.
"...I liked this book becasue it had a great setting, great characters, and great lines for characters to say...." Read more
"...The characters' strengths and weaknesses are shown; but young people are not polluted by evil as they witness human frailty...." Read more
"...Happy ending, too. The children's personalities are normal and kind...." Read more
"...The story premise is attractive in itself. The characters make the story, though. The movies are also wonderful and family friendly...." Read more
Customers appreciate the classic nature of the book, with one customer noting it is set in the 1800s.
"Classic - perfect for 3rd grade reading level. We had great discussions about the book and now my daughter wants to ready more about this family." Read more
"...This is an all time classic!" Read more
"such a touching story, not overly sweet but very gentle and real. set in 1800s but very relevant for today's blended families...." Read more
"...It does. It is part of a series too, so get all of them. A classic for a reason!" Read more
Customers appreciate the family relationships in the book, with one customer highlighting the gentle and patient adult role models, while another notes how the children needed a mother.
"...I also liked this book because the children needed a mother and they got one...." Read more
"...Warm, pure, growing relationships between grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and children are demonstrated in a viable way...." Read more
"...beauty -- the sea versus the prairie -- and it has gentle and patient adult role models. Happy ending, too...." Read more
"...The author has made the family seem very real...." Read more
Reviews with images

Beautiful Book! A treasure!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2025Format: KindleVerified PurchaseStill ever so enjoyable to read as an adult. A lovely tale filled with lighthearted humor, hope and love. It’s a quick read if you’re looking to meet your reading goals. Cheerful and heartwarming. 🥰
- Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2025Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseBeautiful book! Great condition. Just had an inscription on it but no big deal.
5.0 out of 5 starsBeautiful book! Great condition. Just had an inscription on it but no big deal.Beautiful Book! A treasure!
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2025
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseWe are reading this book in class and I have the book for home and when I finished reading it I was amazed. I recommend this book for 3-5 graders because of some rare words and you really have to pay attention to the details because it makes you think you don’t just get the story.Highly recommend for teachers to teach with and for kids to read.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2013My third grade class wrote reviews of this book in class. The class voted and these were the top three:
This book was about two children who lived with their father-two children who beeded a mother! The book was set in the 1900's on the plains. The father seperately needed a wife, so he put an ad in the newspaper. He got a replay! The lady's name was Sarah. She came from Maine and she was "Plain and Tall." Sarah wants to check the family out! Sarah was my favorite character, but I liked everyone. I liked Sarah because she loved animals and had her own mind-she was stubborn. I can relate to that. I liked this book because it was interesting; I had to know what would happen! I also liked this book because the children needed a mother and they got one. They had a bit to learn about the awesome ocean and Sarah had to learn about life on the plains. I would recommend this book to children in second through fifth grade and all the people who like old fashioned stuff. Finally, I would positively recommend this book to all the people who are interested in a heartwarming story.
By Brooke
This book is about a family with a father, a daughter, and a son living on the prairie in the early 1900's. The father put an ad in the paper for a new wife. A woman from Maine answred the ad and traveled by train to get to the prairie. My favorite character in the book was Caleb because he would always make you laugh. I liked this book becasue it had a great setting, great characters, and great lines for characters to say. I would recommend this book for 2nd grade kids.
By Zander
This book was about two children that lived with their father. They lived on the prairie in the early 1900's. The father tried to find a wife by putting an ad in the paper. There is a woman that responds. My favorite character in the book was Anna because she takes care of her father and her brother. She cooks, she cleans, and she helps Caleb to remember who his mom was. I liked this book because this story reminds me of when my Uncle Luey was always taking care of my three grandmas, just like Anna took good care of Caleb and her father. I would recommend this book to people who have had their mom or wife die because you can always have love again or a new mom.
By Audrey
- Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2012The "Sarah, Plain and Tall Treasury" should be essential reading for all ages. While written at a grade-school level, the vibrant writing of Patricia Maclachlan draws in readers to the world of Jacob Witting, widower with 2 young children; and Sarah Wheaton, an independent middle aged single woman from Maine. One can smell the sea, taste the dust of a hot, Kansas drought, and feel the cold of a long winter through this trilogy of stories. History (a drought which preceded the dust bowl, World War I, the influenza epidemic) is presented in a natural way, so that young people don't even know they are learning. Warm, pure, growing relationships between grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and children are demonstrated in a viable way. The characters' strengths and weaknesses are shown; but young people are not polluted by evil as they witness human frailty. Love is a pervasive theme; an honest love that chooses to help one another, despite pain and difficulty. In a world where so many children and teenagers are cut off from their working parents, grandparents are displaced, and friendships are based upon movies and fashions, the reality of true relationships provide a pattern of hope. Our church school received a copy of this book for its library -- children of all ages love the Sarah stories. A friend near 60, not much of a reader, fell in love with these stories...she'll share them with her grandchildren. We scatter the Sarah stories along the path of various friends of all ages; we enjoy them so much.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2024Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThis book is hilarious. My 8 year old was completely entertained. We can't wait to read the rest of the books together. The books in this series are wholesome. They do not contain inappropriate situations.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2010Usually I have to pre-read the Newbery award winners before I give them to my kids, because the Newbery people seem to give the award to books that are "edgy" -- broken families, abuse issues, violence, mistreatment of animals, sexual situations...
Seriously, if you try to explain to a librarian that you have reservations about the Newbery books, the librarian will roll his eyes at you, purse his lips, maybe even raise an eyebrow. Who am I, the parent, to impose my tastes on my children's reading selections?
It's to the point where a Newbery award on a book causes my alarm bells to go off.
"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a good book about a strong family that becomes stronger when the widowed father advertises for a mail-order wife. Seriously -- single women were scarce on the prairie. The book looks lovingly at natural beauty -- the sea versus the prairie -- and it has gentle and patient adult role models. Happy ending, too.
The children's personalities are normal and kind. The little brother is described as "pesky," but in a loving way.
The language is descriptive and the dialog is brief. The whole book is about anticipation and hope.
This book is about as far from recent-Newbery-winner "Despereaux" as any book can be. And that's a GOOD thing.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseMy 7 year old and I finished it in a day.. it was easy to follow along and quick moving. We are going to watch the movie now!
Top reviews from other countries
- Mary Anne PiagetReviewed in France on January 4, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Sarah Plain and Tall
It's one of my all time favourite children's books. It's also a book I've used in the EFL classroom. It can be read and then enjoyed in the Hallmark film version. Great acting, great story.
- Chiara H.Reviewed in Italy on January 1, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Short simple story about love and taking chances
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseWhat a sweet story about two children who hope and pray that Sarah will stay with them forever and become their new mother. Written in a very simple style, this book is a fast read. The emotions that the children feel are very clear and all of the characters are well-written. Highly recommend for ages 8+.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in India on February 24, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseExcellent book for adolescent girls.
- BonitaReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a lovely book on a Family struggling and getting through on a Farm on the Prairie
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseSaw the film of this book on youtube. Loved it! It's a lovely children's book on how hard it was on the prairie and how some children lost their Mum. Their Father who loved them found a new wife. His Wife had died in Child-birth. This new wife the Children and their Dad got to love very much. She helped them where they struggled with different tasks on the Farm. It really is a good book to read!
- geodemReviewed in Canada on May 9, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseMy 10 year old loved the book. Easy to read. It's part of his school's curriculum. Would strongly recommend it.