Market Day - Hardcover

*Starred Review* From the talented duo who brought young readers The Milkman (2005) comes a tale as funny as it is well crafted. The Benson family oversleeps. That’s too bad, because it’s market day, and the apples won’t pick themselves. The truck needs to be loaded, and in all the hubbub everyone forgets to feed the cow. That’s also too bad—very bad, in fact—as children soon see. It’s not often that words and art mesh as well as they do here; Cordsen’s rhythmic text (which scans beautifully) gives a deadpan telling of the goings-on, while the full-page paintings capture all excitement of “trouble . . . coming closer, on the double.” Sharp-eyed kids will see the source of the difficulty in the glimpse of a tail as pies are knocked over, worms for bait come tumbling out of their cans, and handmade crafts fly through the air. Not all children will realize who the culprit is until the end, when the Bensons feed their cow—but while awaiting the disclosure, they’ll enjoy the retro-style artwork, which mixes striking compositions with tints of glowing peach, vegetable green, honey yellow, and other luscious colors. A delightful read-aloud for lapsitters or groups. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper