Ox-Cart Man

Ox-Cart Man follows a New England farmer through the seasons as he prepares his handcrafted goods for market. Each item—from shingles to candles to maple sugar—represents months of family labor. After selling everything at Portsmouth Market, he returns home with only a few necessities, ready to begin the cycle anew. This Caldecott Medal-winning picture book celebrates self-sufficiency, seasonal rhythms, and the quiet dignity of rural life. Beautifully illustrated, it captures a vanishing way of life with warmth and nostalgia, making it a timeless read for families and a window into early American history.