Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall

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Title: Ox-Cart Man
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Donald Hall
Illustrator: Barbara Cooney
Major Awards: Caldecott Award
Age group: 1st-4th

Summary
This story follows a farm families throughout the year.  Specifically the father of the family and how he journey's ten whole days with his ox into the harbor market.  He is carrying all the goodies that his family has collected over the past year using his ox and cart.  when he get to the market one by one he sells all the goodies and then the cart and then the ox and last the ox's yoke and harness.  The father then buys in the market a kettle for his wife, a needle for his daughter, a knife for his son, and a bag of peppermint candy for the whole family to share.  Now the father returns home on foot where he gives out the gifts to his family and then the story takes us through the year again in cyclic form until right before it is time for the father to head on back to the market.
Evaluation 
This story has a very nice rhythm to it.  I think that it can be used in order to teach children what routine is and the rewards that can be reaped from having a good routine that one sticks to.  Another thing young students may learn is that you do not need a lot (material items) to still have a meaningful life.  Personally I would not use this book in my high school classroom but I see the value it offers to younger students.

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