Author/Illustrator: Donald Hall/Barbara Cooney
Genre: Historical Fiction
Awards: Caldecott Honor Award
Age Level: 4-8 years old
Summary: In 1979, Ox-Cart Man began its journey through the monthly seasonal changes. The oxcart man packs all of his goods made by himself, his wife, and his daughter to the Portsmouth Market. Through valley and streams, nothing slowed him down. This rhythmical story encompasses this family's life in the old western days. The oxcart man sells his goods one by one, the yolk, the ox, and woven linen and mittens. He pockets the coins and brings them back home and the cycle begins again.
Illustrations were soft and the shading of colors was exquisite. The characters had real-life features (both human and animal).
I would use Ox-Cart Man in my classroom during rodeo season as a way to introduce the western culture to the students. Students will be able to attend the real rodeo (if parents permit) and share with the class exactly what parts of the story they found at the livestock show in Houston.
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