To Market, to Market

Though the first pages of McClure's (All in a Day) latest inhabit familiar territory, exploring the world of a small child in simple language ("Today is Market Day. The farmers load their trucks with carrots and squashes, pears and mushrooms, fennel and chard"), intervening spreads offer more complex descriptions of the sources of the market's artisanal food. "To plant his orchard, Michael traveled to old orchards and collected scions, small cuttings of branches, from the trees laden with the best fruit." Michael appears on the left behind a dense network of leaves and apples, opposite a careful account of his work. "Thank you, Michael, for these crisp new apples," the description concludes. The effect of each closing benediction is that of a grateful prayer. McClure's papercuts of windblown hair, vegetable leaves, craftsmen at work, and beds of hay continue to delight. This is, in effect, two books in one: younger readers can stick to the gentle introductions to sections about kale, smoked salmon, honey, blueberry turnovers, cheese, and even napkins; older children will appreciate (and have the patience to sit through) each product's path to market. Ages 4–8. (May)