Laura Ingalls Wilder ( ; February 7 , 1867 -- February 10 , 1957 ) was an American writer noted as the author of the Little House on the Prairie books of children 's novels ( 1932-1943 ) based on her childhood in a settler family .
Laura Ingalls Wilder ( February 7 , 1867 - February 10 , 1957 ) was an American writer . She is best known as the author of `` Little House on the Prairie '' series of books .