Saturday, January 9, 2010

KidLit Comment Challenge

All Aboard!

I'm going to join in on the Kidlitosphere 3-week Comment Challenge hosted by Mother Reader. Won't you come along? From her blog, you can click on the "Kidlitosphere Central" Button, which will take you a site that lists many, many blogs devoted to children's literature.
Hmm, smells like a candy store to me!

In honor of this challenge, I thought I'd share my all-time favorite children's book here.
Ox-Cart Man, written by Donald Hall and illustrated by Barbara Cooney (author and illustrator of another favorite, Miss Rumphius) conveys in the simplest of language, including one giant run-on sentence, the stark beauty and simple pleasures of a year on a New England farm about a hundred years ago. The family, unnamed, lives so completely in tune with the changing seasons and so dependent on the things they make and grow, each member an essential part of that weaving, woven life. It was Caroline's favorite for a long time, which being interpreted means that I read it night after night and still managed not to tire of it, which is saying a LOT. Trust me.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I can't believe I've never heard of this book. I'm going to have to look for it the next time we're at the library. Thanks for sharing!

Kim

Megan Frances Abrahams said...

Ditto - I haven't read Oxcart Man either. Isn't the Comment Challenge great? Enjoyed your blog.

Caroline said...

Thanks for sharing this! I've never heard of it, but there are a whole bunch of new and classic children's books I'm discovering. Thanks for stopping by my blog - I'm loving the Comment Challenge!

Julie said...

yes, a great book. My favorite is Blueberries for Sal.