Market Day

I thought this was a great follow up to yesterday's post.

We go through phases of favorite books. Right now, one of our favorites is Market Day by Lois Ehlert. Shannon & Patrick both like this book. Shannon points to various things and we tell her what they are. Patrick is obsessed with this book. I'd guess we read it 3-4 times each day. Lately he's been asking for a book 1st thing in the morning, and this is the one he chooses. I guess I better buy a copy since it is a library book!

This book is a story about people getting ready to sell goods at the town Farmer's Market. The pictures are collages made by various materials. We have so much fun reading this story, pointing to the pictures, talking about animals, colors, and where they are going. At the end of the book there are small pictures of all the different pieces Ehlert used in the book to create the pictures. We like to look at a picture, then go back and find it in the story. Ehlert also lists the materials and origin of each item in the book, which could be used to enhance the story as well.
The reason why I think this is such a good follow up to yesterday's post about background knowledge is because we took a trip to our farmer's market yesterday. We haven't been to our "Market Day" since we got this book, and Patrick was so excited to go to "Market Day." He asked if Froggy (his lovey) could go, he asked if his crocodile could go. Then, as I was getting the stroller together and putting Shannon in he appeared at the back door with his bright red cozy coupe car and said, "I'm ready for Market Day!" In the story, the people load up their car for market day, and he was connecting the story to his own world by wanting to take his car. Unfortunately I couldn't let him take the car, which ended in a complete meltdown, but I was fascinated by the connection he made to the book. On our walk to the farmer's market I asked him what he thought we might see - he listed all kinds of fruits and vegetables, and of course he was right! Last night when he went to bed we read "Market Day" he was able to point out fruits and vegetables and say we bought them. He also talked about the dogs we saw at the farmer's market, and tried to say the animals in the story were all dogs.  I share this story because it was exactly what I challenged you to do yesterday...read a book, make it "come to life," read the book again.

Your challenge - Get your hands on a Lois Ehlert book! Here are a few suggested titles - Lois Ehlert Books Enjoy the story, and creative artwork with your child