Lesson 3:”Ox-Cart Man”

This book is a favorite around here.  We chave hecked it out of the library many, many times and since then have purchased our own copy.  The illustrator is one my favorites, her name is Barbara Cooney and she has illustrated/written other books, like Miss Rumphius, Roxenboxen and Chanticleer and the Fox, which are some of our other favorites.  The illustrations are just breathtaking, drawn with much attention to detail and with a folk art flair.  I am drawn to all her books because of the art, but especially the stories and their content.  She explains it well in this quote, “I believe that children in this country need a more robust literary diet than they are getting.  … It does not hurt them to read about good and evil, love and hate, life and death. Nor do I think they should read only about things that they understand.  ‘…a man’s reach should exceed his grasp.’ So should a child’s. For myself, I will never talk down to—or draw down to—children.” Barbara Cooney

During some research here, I found a unit study on Ox-cart Man.  I love the idea of learning from ”living” books and working with unit studies.  We acted out the story, since that is Ian’s most favorite thing to do when we read a book, even though I had this great complex unit study to use.  So, we ventured outside to collect all the things that needed to go in our “ox-cart” radio flyer wagon.  After gathering everything, the boys took turns being the Father and I was the Mother who waited at home with the children.  It is amazing how they are learning everyday and how their minds are like sponges.  Ian remembered more about the story than I did when we were recalling all the items that the family made.  Sigh!  I’m learning right along with them.