Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke and Angela Brooksbank

image source: Indiebound

Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke and Angela Brooksbank (2017) #ownvoices
by Mary K

While Mama shops at the market, Baby, riding on her back, is given treats to eat by vendors. He is given bananas, oranges, biscuits, coconut and corn in decreasing numbers and after eating one, puts the extras in the basket on Mama's head.  Only when they are ready to leave (Mama thinks Baby must be hungry!) does she notice the extra food. Atinuke's (of the Anna Hibiscus books) cumulative text will keep listeners entertained and anticipating what happens next. Brooksbank's vibrant mixed-media illustrations are filled with detail and eye-catching color that will invite multiple readings. We don't often see books that count down or introduce subtraction, making this a rare treat! Baby Goes to Market is perfect for counting or food themed storytimes for both toddlers and preschoolers. 

Themes/topics: counting, fruit, food, friends, markets, shopping, mothers, babies

Sample text from two spreads:

Market is very crowded. Baby is very hot. Baby is so hot that Mr. Femi, the orange seller, gives Baby five juicy oranges. 

Baby grins. Baby grins. Baby sucks one orange...

and puts four oranges in the basket. Mama does not notice. She is busy buying homemade palm oil. 

What’s a Banana? & What’s an Apple?

What’s a Banana? and What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli  (2016)

Who doesn’t love a good food themed storytime? These are  very silly rhyming odes to specific fruits—either apples or bananas per the title. Both titles are as much fun to read out loud Sayre’s “Rah Rah Radishes” but a little shorter (smaller trim size too). Both titles present real and imagined uses for each fruit, and will fit right into storytime.

Themes/topics: Fruit, food, eating, health, imagination, funny

Sample text from two spreads:

You can tote it. You can float it. Dress like one for Halloween.

You can grow it. Try to blow it—just pretend that it’s a flute.