FARMERS' MARKET DAY

A Saturday at the local farmers’ market is more fun for a little girl than a carnival.

Already dressed to go, with a little yellow purse on her arm, she wakes her parents up very early by shaking her piggy bank. Next thing you know, she's pulling her red wagon through aisles of fresh vegetables and fruits, parents trailing behind (and doing damage control). Sampling the produce is part of the adventure: "Juicy cherries in a bunch, Let's buy a basketful to munch." Next come the flowers, in myriad colors, then the Adopt-A-Pet stand. She'd like a kitten, but Dad starts to sneeze. There are bakery tables and fresh honey from a bee farm ("chewy, sticky, sweet, and runny"). Vendors sell a variety of craft items, from birdhouses to decorated watering cans. She picks one that's just her size, decorated with pink flowers. When she reaches the end of the market, her wagon is full of purchases, and she's very tired. Her parents have to carry her treasures so that she can ride. "Let's bring a friend next Saturday." Trent packs a lot of learning into her simple story, told in bouncy verse and attractively illustrated by Dippold in bright colors.

A pleasant adventure that young readers will want to emulate.