To Market, To Market [Hardcover]

Anne Miranda (Author), Janet Stevens (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig . . . What’s a poor shopper to do when her groceries have a mind of their own? The lively rhymes and innovative artwork make for a perfect lap-sized board book.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"In this clever riff on the old nursery rhyme, a plump matron makes a series of increasingly calamitous purchases of animals at the supermarket. This is one market trip children will wish to take again and again," PW said. Ages 5-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3?What begins with the traditional serene nursery rhyme turns into a slapstick excursion filled with mishap and mayhem. A "fat pig" is not enough for this ambitious shopper. The elderly woman makes return trips to the market for a hen, trout, lamb, cow, duck, and goat. While she is acquiring more, her earlier purchases are wreaking havoc. Patterned, staccato verses tell the zany tale, but it is Stevens's wonderfully wild illustrations that bring it to life. The conventional home's interior is pictured in flat gray charcoal tones. The woman and her animals are colorful, oversized figures that burst off the pages. The collage technique allows for the contrasting colors and styles that magnify the uncontained boisterous fun of this very imaginative book. Visual format, repetition, and rhyme make this title an ideal choice for sharing aloud. It could also be used as a springboard for writing projects as children start with a familiar rhyme and make it their own. All-in-all, a delightful, albeit raucous, romp.?Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152000356
• ISBN-13: 978-0152000356
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 11.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #786,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I was a little girl I loved rhymes, especially the ones my grandmother used to recite to me. Now that I am all grown up, I enjoy writing them. One rhyme my grandmother liked to say as she bounced me on her knee was "to market, to market to buy a fat pig, home again, home again jiggity jig!". But, she never told me what happened to the pig when it got home. I always wondered, so I wrote a funny book about a frazzled shopper who brings home one very naughty pig and a host of other uncooperative animals from the market. Of course, they make a big mess. What, oh what will she do? You'll have to read the book to find out! To Market To Market, illustrated by the amazing Janet Stevens, has been translated into Korean as has Monster Math illustrated by Polly Powell. Be sure to look for my other books, including Glad Monster, Sad Monster with Caldecott Award winning illustrator Ed Emberley. Glad Monster has recently been translated into French and Spanish and is available in France, Canada, Spain and much of the Spanish-speaking world. How cool is that?

I'm currently living in Spain with my two grown-up basketball-playing boys, my husband, and my trusty computer. I enjoy painting, gardening, blogging, facebooking, singing barbershop and of course watching my boys play basketball. I'm still writing away and may soon have a new book or two to add to my list of published works.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You will either love it or hate it!, January 14, 2002

By 

Meddie B. Finnegan (Denver) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Market, To Market (Hardcover)

I love this book, and would give it five stars. My husband hates it,and would give it one. He calls it "That Stupid Book" because it has a section devoted entirely to vegetables (the woman ends up sparing the animals and makes them all vegi soup) and the pictures are so unusual. The illustrations are a mix of black and white photographs and amazing, colorful illustrations. I love the illustrations, they are captivating. Even the vegetables.

The true judge is my daughter. It is on her "greatest hits" list. She loves it. So, whenever we read "That Stupid Book", Mommy reads it. We leave Goodnight Moon for Daddy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great vegetarian fun!, July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: To Market, To Market (Hardcover)

My two-year-old son loved this book! The realistic illustrations, combined with the black-and-white photography, worked well to convey the sense of chaos that grows throughout the book. The story's rhythm was good -- my son was finishing sentences for me within a few readings. The ending was amusing -- I don't think it was intended to be politically correct, but it turned out that way anyway, without preachiness. Good show!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful illustrations, wonderful story, August 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: To Market, To Market (Hardcover)

What a delight. Perfect for ages 2 through 1st grade. A familiar poem with an interesting twist. Adults will thoroughly enjoy it, but let the kids read the story too.