Ox-Cart Man

This beautiful Caldecott winner offers a heartfelt but spare story about the necessity and love of family, teamwork and sustainability in nineteenth-century rural New England. The story begins as a father packs up an ox cart against the backdrop of a colorful October day. Every item loaded into the cart has been carefully made by a family of four. There is wool sheared from their own sheep, items woven on a loom from yarn spun from the wool, mittens knit from yarn spun at the spinning wheel. There are homemade candles, birch brooms, apples, maple sugar, goose feathers and so much more. Once packed, the ox-cart man walks for ten days at the ox’s head toward market. We soon see that the city folk need candles, mittens, and goose feathers. We see the ox-cart man’s efficiency. My grandchildren and I are amazed that every single thing is sold. The man buys an iron kettle for the fire and one embroidery needle for his daughter. (Eyebrows were raised from our grands, “She got ONE needle?” That drives home an important point.) Soon the ox-cart man is traveling home. Now readers see the rest of the cycle—all the work this small family must now do to prepare for the following year. They will work throughout the winter, spring and summer making shawls, embroidering linen. A new ox-cart will be constructed and a new yoke carved. What we see is the life cycle of a nineteenth-century rural New England farm. This short story by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney offers children simple clarity about the circle of life and how this family is not only connected to each other, they are also connected to the land, the orchard, the animals. We need each other. Sustainability is essential. The Ox-cart Man is moving and wonderful.

Children are fascinated by this book. Not sure why. It explains the world in a way. It has a family at its core. It’s set in the past when things perhaps made more sense. Everything contributes to the farm and family. It’s a happy book that includes duties and work as well as seasonal tasks needed to keep the farm running. I just gave it to a friend for him to read to his grandchild and the kid liked it so much he asked him to read it three times in a row. It’s not that short. It strikes a chord for adults as well as kids. Great illustrations! Lively writing. Very spare. Old world New England simplicity, in a tale for today.

I remember this book's illustrations from my childhood and recently purchased it for my daughter. What I didn't remember was how poetic the story is.... The value of hard work, changing of the seasons, and the simple things in life. Snag a hard copy, this one's a keeper.

This is a gem of a book! The book visualizes a wholesome family and teaches kids about how food, materials, and goods are made and sold. There are not many words on each page and the illustrations are fun too. My toddler likes to point out the things he recognizes and older children have fun learning about different things that go into homesteading. It is also just a peaceful and appropriate book to read during quiet time, before bed, or during a snack.

My daughter enjoyed this book in mid 1980s. Her children enjoyed it in 2010s. Yesterday I sent this book to a friend of mine who is a teacher of an elementary school. This story about one farm family of New Hampshire in 19th century tells us the importance of the value of things. What a wonderful story!

I want my life to look like a Barbara Cooney illustration. This book is truly beautiful. The artwork is simple and captivating. My year, 4, and 2 year old love this book. I purchased it for use in our colonial unit, but we must have read it twice a day the entire month of November until I packed it away for next time.

Great book to help teach Colonial Americal life in New England.

This is a classic, a poem by New England great Donald Hall, and illustrated by Barbara Cooney. The story line is unisex, a great book to give parents for bedtime stories and one they will find endearing. In our days of consumerism and cheaply made, throw-away trending, we see a family and the plants and animals they raise on their small farm endure and their respect for each other as integrated parts of a whole. I bought several copies - for new babies as well as ones not even a twinkle in their daddy's eyes! I met the author many years ago when he spoke to a group of my writing students; it took him over six months to get the words just right. As we'd say now, he nailed it!