Ox-Cart Man 40th Anniversary

A Caldecott winner and contemporary classic celebrates a 40th anniversary

In 1979, Donald Hall and Barbara Cooney's OX-CART MAN was published to universal acclaim, going on to win the coveted Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book of that year. Hall's gentle, lyrical text is a journey through the days, weeks, and months of a year on a New England farm as a farmer prepares to take his goods to market and buy provisions for the coming year. Barbara Cooney's illustrations, done in a style that resembles the early American technique of painting on wood, glow with color and a sense of peace.

In OX-CART MAN both Hall and Cooney celebrate American values of simplicity and hard work. Their message is more important than ever today, and a 40th anniversary is a perfect moment to celebrate this important and beautiful book.

A foreword by distinguished children's book critic Anita Silvey analyses OX-CART MAN's enduring relevance.