A lyrical journey through the days and weeks, the months, and the changing seasons in the life of one New Englander and his family. The oxcart man packs his goods - the wool from his sheep, the shawl his wife made, the mittens his daughter knitted, and the linen they wove. He packs the birch brooms his son carved, and even a bag of goose feathers from the barnyard geese.

He travels over hills, through valleys, by streams, past farms and villages. At Portsmouth Market he sells his goods, one by one - even his beloved ox. Then, with his pockets full of coins, he wanders through the market, buying provisions for his family, and returns to his home. And the cycle begins again.

Independent Reading Level: K-2
Awards: Caldecott Medal

A glimpse into a year of the life of a farmer and his family. What a lovely story. It shows the amount of work and care it takes to be a farmer. Of course there are advances with technology nowadays but many of the same things hold true for farmers today that they did in the past. Looking at agriculture and doing a compare and contrast with students would be beneficial.

A charming tale of rural self-sufficiency, and early American life in New England. ( )

Cooney won Caldecott award. ( )