The Night Market
by Seina Wedlick (Author) Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (Illustrator)
Journey with a young girl as she explores the mesmerizing wonders of a Nigerian night market, where each stall is an adventure waiting to be discovered! Filled with vibrant illustrations, this captivating picture book invites young readers into a world of magic, mystery, and the joy of finding treasures in unexpected places.
The Night Market is here again, and all one girl needs is a bag of gold coins to enter. The market is alive with the sound of hawkers and traders. “A taste of tangy sweetness!” hollers a man behind a towering fountain of lemonade. “I’ll trade you a joke for a coin,” a little boy calls. “Home grown spices!” shouts a granny at a counter. What should the girl buy? But, wait! Do you hear that? It's the sound of an old African drum. Have a turn, then learn to make cards disappear when you shout Abracadabra! When the sun starts to rise and the night market winds down, the girl has one gold coin left—just enough to buy a return ticket to the night market.
With stunning illustrations by Nigerian artist Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, here is an enchanting read aloud about curiosity and the wonders that lie hidden in plain sight.
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This short picture book can serve as a glimpse into eclectic night markets and the wonders that can come with them.
Publishers Weekly
Wearing a cape and carrying a bag of golden coins offered by two adults, a brown-skinned child explores a night market’s marvels with the reader as companion. Guiding the protagonist through the market’s offerings ("Try a bite," "Take a whiff"), sensate prose from Wedlick (Naming Ceremony) details the smell of fresh primroses, the taste of roasted nuts, the song of a nightingale, the sight of parading peacocks, and more. In dreamlike paintings from Mukodiri Uchendu (We Could Fly), warm orange torches and glowing pink lanterns illuminate the child’s discoveries across an indigo night. Each scene bustles and brims with activity as readers take in masked dancers, stilt walkers, and glowing jellyfish, among other sights. Once dawn arrives, and the activity slows, the child has one coin left-enough for entrance to the next market. Bewitching and surreal, it’s a work invested in both autonomous childhood adventures and fresh perceptions. Creators’ notes about Nigerian night market traditions conclude. Ages 4-8. Author’s agent: Alice Fugate, Joy Harris Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Jessica Saint Jean, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Sept).
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
JUV023000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | City & Town Life
Night
Nigeria
Markets
