At the end of the nineteenth century, nine-year-old Almanzo lives with his family on a big farm in New York State where he raises his own two calves, helps cut ice and shear sheep, and longs for the day he can have his own colt.

School Days -- Winter Evening -- Winter Night -- Surprise -- Birthday -- Filling the Ice-House -- Saturday Night -- Sunday -- Breaking the Calves -- The Turn of the Year -- Springtime -- Tin-Peddler -- The Strange Dog -- Sheep-Shearing -- Cold Snap -- Independence Day -- Summer-Time -- Keeping House -- Early Harvest -- Late Harvest -- County Fair -- Fall of the Year -- Cobbler -- The Little Bobsled -- Threshing -- Christmas -- Wood-Hauling -- Mr. Thompson's Pocketbook -- Farmer Boy.