From School Library Journal
Toddler-PreS—A joyful black baby and his mother go shopping in an open air market in West Africa, where unbeknownst to Mama, baby is busy collecting his own wares from a variety of vendors. The rhythmic text is perfectly suited for reading aloud, and young listeners will quickly pick up on the inside joke between author and listeners as the illustrations feature the mischievious baby on Mama's back, adding his own items to the wide brimmed basket balanced atop her head. "Market is very crowded. Baby is very curious. Baby is so curious that Mrs. Ade, the banana seller, gives Baby six bananas. Baby is so surprised. Baby eats one banana…and puts five bananas in the basket." The pattern of Mama shopping for her own goods and adding them to the basket, and Baby being given treats to snack on and store in Mama's basket, turns the story into a clever count along. Brooksbank's debut as illustrator is strong. The vibrant marketplace is filled with color, texture, and patterns created using a mixed-media palette. The opening and ending endpapers feature the same pattern that is on the wrap Mama uses to hold Baby on her back. VERDICT Young listeners will delight in getting to know Baby and his Mama as they shop throughout the market. Consider for first purchase in larger collections.—Lisa Kropp, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, NY
Review
The smiling, all-black cast sort through myriad wares, while the text keeps up its rhythm, introducing both typical items bought in a West African market and a gentle lesson in arithmetic as Baby alternately snacks and stashes his gifts. Indeed, no one will be able to resist this baby.
—Kirkus Reviews
The vibrant marketplace is filled with color, texture, and patterns created using a mixed-media palette. The opening and ending endpapers feature the same pattern that is on the wrap Mama uses to hold Baby on her back. Young listeners will delight in getting to know Baby and his Mama as they shop throughout the market. Consider for first purchase in larger collections.
—School Library Journal
Brooksbank's illustrations, based on her own childhood memories of going to market in Nigeria, are full of colours, patterns and prints, and varieties of local transport. Repetition and variation make the book especially good for the young, and its wealth visual detail promises many satisfying rereadings.
—Saturday Star
About the Author
Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She lives in Wales.
Angela Brooksbank worked as a designer and art director in children’s book publishing before turning her hand to her own illustration. Baby Goes to Market is her debut picture book. She lives in London.
