Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall & Illus by Barbara Cooney

This is a book from my childhood. I was a weird little history obsessed child and I LOVED this book. 

This story is a year in the life of... wait for it... the Ox-Cart Man! 

And it is illustrated by Barbara Cooney. 

Barbara Cooney is my hero. 

Her illustrations always seem exactly right. That folk art vibe! 

In October, the cart is loaded up with all the surplus of the family. 

The Ox-Cart man takes his cart to market, which involves walking for ten days. 

I was always impressed that he didn't ride in the cart those ten days. Clearly he was a conscientious farmer who didn't want to overburden his ox. 

At Portsmouth Market, he sells everything he brought. 

Including his ox and the cart.

There is something so terribly neat and tidy about this scheme. I am still just as impressed as my nine-year-old self. 

With the money he earns, he goes to the general store to get things they can't make at home. 

And then the ten day walk home. 

I bet that cozy little house looked ever so much more appealing after a month of walking, selling, buying, and walking. 

At home, our industrious family starts right in--using their new purchases to make things to sell for next year. 

As I sit here in a welter of to-do lists that always seem to be put of until tomorrow, I really, really wish I had even half of their got-it-togetherness. 

Sigh. 

I sometimes wonder if I would have been industrious back in the day, or would I have been one of those day dreaming types that gets nothing done except acquire the disapproval of all the village ladies. But then I stop wondering because, frankly, I am pretty sure everyone would disapprove of me. 

A new cart, new yoke, and more shingles are started in the barn, while the new calf grows into a nice ox. 

Meanwhile, spinning and embroidery takes place inside. 

Oh these clearly defined gender roles. 

Sugaring!!

I adore sugaring pictures. 

And after a year of industry, the Ox-Cart man and his family is ready to send their surplus to the market again. 

So neat. So tidy. So...never-ending. 

Even if they wouldn't approve of me, I am glad I am a modern woman who has the leisure to spend a few hours Cyber Monday/Tuesday shopping if she feels like it. 

Because lets face it, those 50% off deals aren't going to buy themselves. Probably Mrs. Ox-Cart would heartily approve of my thrifty nature. 

Strega Nona's Harvest by Tomie dePaola

For some reason, I have never really read the Strega Nona books. 

And, interestingly, I thought this was posted on Thanksgiving, but it wasn't. So here it is now. 

(Side note, see the Imagination Library logo on the bottom right? That is a terribly terrific program by Dolly Parton. Because her father was illiterate, she sends any child under five a free book every month. EVERY MONTH. And they are good books. You should really look into it if you have an under-five in your life.)

Strega Nona is getting ready for spring planting.

She teaches her two helpers, Bambolona and Big Anthony all her tips and tricks for making a garden grow well. 

Big Anthony decides to see if he plant a garden too. 

He does exactly what Strega Nona did. 

....Except for the straight row thing. Big Anthony thought that was overrated. 

In no time, his garden looked like a jungle.

You can see Strega Nona's terribly straight and orderly garden and Big Anthony's helter skelter one. 

Harvest begins.

Big Anthony doesn't know what to do with his bounty, so he just piles them up in front of Strega Nona's door. 

All this surplus food starts overtaking her house. 

So she goes to the nuns to see if they would like some extra food. 

Strega Nona learns that the rest of the village didn't have a good harvest. 

She goes to the mayor and offers to cook food for the entire village. 

Preparations ensue. 

A lovely feast is had by all!

And each guest is allowed to take an armful home to their larders. 

Ahh! Strega Nona feels much better with her kitchen empty of all those vegetables.

But... where did they come from?! 

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving! 

Pigs Love Potatoes by Anika Denise & Illus by Christopher Denise

I am at my sister's for Thanksgiving. As I was nosing through her books, I discovered this one. Since we are pealing about 15 pounds of potatoes for tomorrow's dinner, it seemed apropos. 

My kids are little piggies when it comes to potatoes. SO MANY POTATOES IN OUR LIFE. But honestly, I am okay with that. Peeling potatoes, throwing them in a pot, adding a little butter, cream, and salt to create something fluffy and yummy that my kids devour? It is kind of like magic. 

Anika and Christopher Denise are a husband and wife team. I like husband and wife teams.  

I went way overboard on pictures for this book, but I really enjoy fat little piggies. 

SO ADORABLE. 

This is basically a counting book.

One little pig is helping

Another comes to peak.

TWO little get a scolding. 

Helping in the kitchen, playing in water, bright colors, and a pig in a tutu. 

My heart. 

In case you did not see exactly how cute that dancing pig is, here is a closeup! 

Joyful peeling! 

Then, DADDY'S HOME!

Oh the excitement!

Bright red front porch swing... Happy sigh! 

A neighbor drops by. I love the red and striped piggy's excitement! 

And I like the subtext of Mommy and Daddy pig here. Clearly Mommy was not keen on having company tonight. 

But then a few more friends drop by.

Happy piggies with tummies full of potatoes! 

Fire by Shirley Hughes

Fire

Fire is a dragon

  (Better beware),  

             Dangerous and beautiful

  (Better take care),

   Puffing out smoke

  As soon as it's lit, 

   Licking up leaves, 

  Crackle and spit!  

  Sending up sparks 

Into the sky         

       That hover a moment 

 And suddenly die.

Fire is a dragon,   

Alive in the night;

Fiery dragon,       

Glittering bright.   

                                                                     --Shirley Hughes

                                                                                             --From Out and About

The Wolf, the Duck & the Mouse by Mac Barnett & Illus by Jon Klassen

This book is SO AWESOME. I love it, my kids love it, my school kids love it. You WILL love it too. (That's a command.)

One day, a mouse met a wolf and the inevitable happened--he was swallowed up.

In the wolf's tummy, the mouse sets up a ruckus "Oh woe is me!" only to be told to be quiet. 

Apparently there was a duck living in the wolf's stomach as well. 

"I may have been swallowed, but I have no intention of being eaten." 

They have a lovely breakfast. 

Mouse questions duck about where she got jam and a tablecloth. 

"You'd be surprised what you find inside of a wolf."

 They take their soup seriously. 

Duck has such indomitable spirit, you can't help but love her. (or him. It never really says.)

After duck explains how and why she lives in the wolf's stomach--

"Out there I was always worried about being gobbled up by wolves. In here, I don't have to worry about it." 

--mouse decides he would like to stay. So they have a celebration. 

Which makes the wolf feel wozzily, The goose tells him a good hunk of cheese, wine, and beeswax candles would cure him. 

That night they feast--involving wine and beeswax candles. 

All is delightful in their little home! 

Until that home is threatened. 

"Tonight, we ride to defend our home!"

Not surprisingly, the hunter is a little nonplussed to have this apparition come charging out of a wolf's mouth. He takes off. 

The wolf tells them he will honor whatever wish they have.

SERIOUSLY though, the saucepan and sieve hats--the tablecloth cape--the hockey stick.... I really, really love these characters. 

And I will leave it for you to figure out what they asked for. 

GO READ THIS BOOK.