Tess and Wee Boy observe the farm animals, wonder at the sword-swallower, hear playing of pipes, and experience all the excitement of a country fair in Ireland.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
It's almost impossible to read this winsome tale without lapsing into an Irish brogue. Seven-year-old Tess meets her friend, Wee Boy, at the market held monthly in their Irish village. A lively affair, with a cornucopia of colorful goods for sale, market day also serves as a setting for unusual performances by extravagant characters, such as Baba-Ali, the sword swallower, and Jehosophat, who walks on hot coals,. Of course, the streets are filled with plenty of noisy livestock, too. Bunting (Smoky Night; Train to Somewhere, reviewed below) succeeds in finding just the right sensory ingredients to captivate a child. On bite-size honeycombs: "The honey tastes of the flowers the bees drank from, and the wax is as thick in your mouth as chewing gum." Tess's friendship with Wee Boy, whose growth has been stunted, adds a tender underpinning to the story; Tess spends her last ha'penny on a reassuring fortune-teller, who predicts that Wee Boy will be "big and brave as [he'll] ever need to be." Berry (The Gift of Christmas) illustrates with stylized simplicity, tempering her brio with attention to patterns. Bright natural colors convey the gaiety of the market against a backdrop of fieldstone houses and cobbled streets. A Celtic charmer. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2?A gentle story, set in Ireland. Bunting recalls the bustle and excitement of each first Thursday of the month, as Tess, a girl of seven, dreams of just how to spend the Market Day penny her father gives her. The sights and smells where sheep are marked with different color blobs of paint to indicate their owners, and people are well advised to wear their "Wellies" around the horses, cows, goats, and pigs. The child and her friend Wee Boy take it all in: including the street musicians, sword swallower, and fortune teller. Berry's simple folk-art paintings crowded with animals and townspeople add just the right flavor to the book. Just when readers might think this title is merely painting a descriptive picture of a happily remembered time, they realize that Bunting, sly as a leprechaun, has slipped in a message of kindness, sweeter than any "gob stopper" Tess could have bought. Like the children in the story, readers will come away from Market Day completely satisfied and looking forward to a repeat performance.?Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tender and touching,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Market Day (Trophy Picture Books) (Library Binding)
I read this book to my 4 and 5 year old boys, and they loved it. It really gives the flavor of market day in an Irish village. What makes it so much better is the touching story of Tess' 7 year ol friend, Wee Boy, who has not grown since age 4. He looks into a rabbit hutch and sadly wonders if he will be able to live in such a tiny house himself when he is grown up. Tess feels sorry for him and takes him to a Fortune Teller, even though her mother told her people are only told what they want to hear. Wee Boy's spirits soar after he hears his fortune and he and Tess spend the rest of the magical day together. In fine Market Day fashion they make a deal to meet again next Market Day. A delightful read for young and old!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Market Day,
By Mary Cronin (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Market Day (Trophy Picture Books) (Hardcover)
Market Day is a lively, colorful picture book set in Ireland. The main character is a spunky girl who joins her best friend, Wee Boy, at the town's market place. They peruse the peddlers' wares and enjoy the animals and performances by local characters. Lots of local color and authentic cultural details in text and illustrations. My three year old daughter loves it, and so do I!
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