To Market, to Market

by Nikki McClure

Known for art that celebrates the virtues of community, hard work, and living gently on the planet, Nikki McClure here explores a topic close to her the farmers market. Alternating between story and fact, this lovingly crafted picture book follows a mother and son to the weekly market. As they check off items on their shopping list, the reader learns how each particular food was grown or produced, from its earliest stages to how it ended up at the market. To Market, to Market is a timely book that shines awareness on the skill that goes into making good food.

Praise for To Market, to
STARRED REVIEW
"These soulful images never feel static—an amazing feat for such a deliberate, painstaking medium." — Kirkus Reviews , starred review


2012 Washington State Book Award, Children's Picture Books

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Food, Nonfiction, Nature, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Nikki McClure of Olympia, Washington is known for her painstakingly intricate and beautiful paper cuts. Armed with an X-acto knife, she cuts out her images from a single sheet of paper and creates a bold language that translates the complex poetry of motherhood, nature, and activism into a simple and endearing picture.

Nikki McClure is a self-taught artist who has been making paper-cuts since 1996. As one of the more prominent visual artists involved with Olympia-based record labels K and Kill Rock Stars, as well as the Riot Grrrl movement in the early nineties, her work still embodies the fiercely independent fire that fueled the passion and creativity of that time period. She lives in Olympia, Washington.

Reviews

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one may be my favorite Nikki McClure book since I have been to Olympia's Famers Market every time I am in Washington visiting my kids. What an outstanding group of famers, produce, baked good, hand crafted items, and artisans.

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first experience with a Nikki McClure book. I was impressed with the artwork used and think it was effective in drawing the eye toward what the author wants you to notice. It is a bit lengthy non-fictional read packed with plenty of information on different products you can buy at a farmer's market. I appreciate the explanations of how an item got to the market ready for purchase.

This book did make me want to get back out to the farmer's market when the weather permits around here! I live in Washington, so it was a special treat to read a book by a Washington author. McClure goes to a farmer's market in state capital, Olympia. It is about an hour from where I live. I may have to go one day just for the blueberry turnovers!

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, first of all, everything Nikki McClure does is so beautiful. I can't help but check out anything I see of hers. This books is very interesting for preschoolers (and older) who are curious about how things work and where food comes from. My 3 year old is often asking questions about such things, and this book explains it: when you see the guy selling eggs at the market, this is the kind of work he does to get them there. I personally like how this book also shows a modern view of farmers--they aren't all stereotypical overall-and-straw-hat-wearing, weathered-looking, old men!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this one. I was hoping for a simple, relatable tale about going to the farmer's market, but was bombarded with page after page of "wall o'text" preaching at me about eating expensive artisan foods. My kids like the illustrations, but I am taking this Michael Pollan Jr. book back to the library before they demand I read it out loud to them, as I am certain the text would bore them at least as much as it annoyed me.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Handsome, but neither fish nor fowl, so to speak. The art is handsome as are all of McClure books, but there is minimal child appeal. The long complicated explanations of how each item is made are crammed onto single pages of text, too long to read to preschoolers and with language more suited to older elementary school kids.

[Laura5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to use with Kindergarten when they are learning about where food comes from.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, a child goes to the market for food. At each stand, they meet a new person and get a new food - and each time, there is a fairly long and detailed explanation about how this food is made. It starts with apple - and explains how apple trees are planted and grafted, and then moves on to kale. After talking about how Kale is planted and harvested, it moves on to talking about smoked salmon, and how this is made (from catching the fish, to preparing it for salting in a smoker). Then it talks about honey and how honey is made and harvested. This book is great for kids who are curious about how foods are grown, prepared and made for consumption. Blueberry turnovers and cheese are also covered. Napkins and how they can be traditionally dyed using indigo are also covered.

[FM Family · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad because I love Nikki McClure as an artist and have calendars and other books of hers. But this doesn't work as a story. The illustrations are well done, but the narrative - every other page has a full page of text explaining how the items are brought to the farmers market in incredible detail, but presented in a way that I don't think would be effective for kid readers to engage with. Especially because it's attached to one static image, rather than perhaps a series of images that show the different steps. Nice idea, but lacking on the execution

[Hannahcarlson7875gmail.Com]

I was happy to find out that the author of this book is from my town of Olympia Washington. I connected with many of the illustrations within the book. This is a great book to teach students about how farmers make their living, and the importance of shopping locally.

[Alexa Tardieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Market,To Market was a very good book.well written with beautiful art work. I have a better understand of where local fruits and Vegetables came from. I believe it will give the readers a better understanding to know the work that goes into getting fresh healthy things !

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love going to the farmer’s market and this story is both the fun of the market and the story of how different foods and goods get there. The details in the illustrations are beautiful and I really like McClure’s paper-cutting technique.

[Pink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great kid's book that highlights certain foods and items commonly found in a marketplace and the journey they took to get there.

[Laralee Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book explaining how food products are made

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know why bees get lethargic after a smoker is used on the hive until I read this. Now I do.

[Claudia Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well written, it depicts the process in which products come to be part of local Olympia Farmer's Market vendors. Insight on vendors and importance of buying and consuming local. The story starts with a shopping list and it's fulfillment by the local vendors. Along the way, the stories of those that produce the items on the shopping list are the introduced. The cut out art is amazing with brilliant pops of color.

This book can be used in the classroom along with a lesson on farming.

[Rita Salfetnikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational / Picture Book
Copyright 2011
This book is about a family that goes to the market, and everything that they buy the book explains how that product came to be. This book is good for grades k-5. This book can teach kids about how different veggies grow etc. It would be fun to learn about different products of this book and then plant something from the book in your own class garden.

[Kellen Ashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations may steal the show and imagine most things Nikki McClure illustrates are fantastic. However, for me it is great to see the representation of the Olympia Farmers Market that I have been to with my family so many times. This will be one that is added to my forever collection. Love the representation of everyone that is involved with the Olympia Farmers market with the different people, vendors, and joy that it brings to so many people.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick! Where does food like fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, and cheese come from? Of course, silly, from the grocery store. Well, not always, and there’s more to it than just that. More and more people are turning to local farmers markets to find fresher and healthier foods. In this book, a young boy and his mother go on Market Day to shop for Michael’s crisp apples, Colin and Genine’s kale, Steve’s smoked salmon, Benjamin’s maple honey, Evan and Emma’s blueberry turnovers, Heather and Katelyn’s goat cheese, and even Yukie’s hand-dyed napkins. What will they do with all this good stuff?
Author Nikki McClure, whose cut-paper art nicely illustrates the story, visits the Olympia, WA, Farmers Market every week. All of the people pictured in the book are real vendors at her local market. In addition, McClure did extensive research on who makes the food she eats and how it gets to market. So as the boy and his mother shop, they tell the reader how each item is grown or made so that it can grace their table and fill their stomachs. Did you know that there are over 6,000 farmers markets in the United States alone? To Market, To Market will encourage people to buy locally, eat healthy, and discover new foods. It is a unique and fascinating way to introduce youngsters to how food is grown, prepared, and brought to market. Perhaps the “way it used to be” is the wave of the future.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most hipster books I've ever read. Let's go to the farmer's market, shop among the tattooed vendors, and buy some kale. It's an episode of Portlandia, in book form.

The smoker which burned a butcher shop down is depicted like some sort of magical serial killer device, like an inanimate object out for blood from a Stephen King novel.

"The butcher tried to turn the knob, but only seared his hand's delicate flesh in the process. The smoker seemed to growl, flaming briskets of coal spilling from its trays is it crept towards the prone butcher."
"Steve smokes his salmon in an old smoker from a butcher shop that burned to the ground. The only thing left standing was the cast-iron smoker that had started the fire."

One of those is a quote from the book. The other is the prequel I imagined.

For every stand, we thank the people involved with the creation of the food and any animals that took part. But at the bakery stand, we're greeted by Evan and Emma - then thank Jessie and James back at the bakery. Were Evan and Emma merely salespeople, unlike every other stand? That's not made clear.

I'd go to this farmer's market. I'd shop the hell out of it. I'm hungry now.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki McClure’s most recent cut-paper picturebook tells the story of a bustling farmer’s market. Her celebrated images catch the eye of children and adults alike as the story follows a young boy and his mother shopping for goods. To Market, To Market will resonate strongly with today’s children and families, particularly those who have experienced the vibrant environment of a farmer’s market before.

The story shares information about how each item is grown or made, introduces the farmers and artisans behind each product, and culminates in a fabulous feast. Almost every open contains a new heading to showcase a segment on a particular food item. The corresponding picture facilitates the sharing of memories, provides examples for recall, and catches the eye through the intense contrast of large, solid colors layered together. I recommend this book to those wishing to bond with their children over the common experience of a market day, or to those who want to teach about healthy specialty foods, or to those who just want to watch their child marvel over the illustrations.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at: http://apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com...

To Market, to Market by Nikki McClure (also the illustrator of the beautiful All in a Day) has created a beautiful and educational story with a nice story included as well.

Focusing on the wonders of a farmers market, the pages switch between a story about a family going to visit the market and facts about how different fruits and vegetables end up at the market. We learn about kale, apples, honey, cheese, and even napkins!

The text is paired with beautiful illustrations that are totally unique to this illustrator. I've never seen anything like them before and I've loved staring at all the books McClure has been a part of!

This one would make a really nice book for those wanting to introduce their kids to how great farmers markets are and how we really should be thanking the farmers for providing us with such wonderful produce and other products.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cut-paper illustrations with digitally added color are the stars here as a boy and his mother visit the community market and purchase apples, kale, salmon, honey, blueberry turnovers, cheese, and even napkins for a feast they'll have at home later. Detailed descriptions of the farmers and craftsmen and women and the work they must do before bringing anything to the market is provided, ending with a thank you to each one. The tidbits provided are intriguing and will educate readers who often take what they consume for granted; for instance, I had no idea that indigo relies on bacteria whose consumption of the dried indigo plant releases the blue color into water. Each one of these stories about the folks at the market is fascinating.

[Cindy Huskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered how goat cheese is made or how beekeepers extract honey? Readers follow a mother and son through the market as they stop at each vendor to pick up the items on their shopping list (from the title page). Intricate cut paper illustrations detail the wonders and the artisans of the farmer’s market capturing every feature, from scraggly beards and tattoos to a mother reminding her son to use good manners. The simplicity of the black and white color scheme paired with a single color serve to highlight the red apples, green kale, and deep indigo cloth, while illustrating the elaborate facets of the cut paper designs. Paying homage to the vendors’ skills and knowledge, McClure’s celebration of the farmer’s market is sure to nourish the minds of readers of all ages.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Nikki McClure's illustrations! This book is a love-letter to farmers' markets and the wonderful items they bring us.

The reading level is a little difficult to determine. The first few pages, and the intro to each "chapter" read like a traditional picture book. Each "chapter" (contained on one page) goes into detail about a certain vendor - the apple-seller, an indigo dyer, the bakers, etc. These are on a much more difficult level, probably about third grade. It would make a good book to read aloud to a second-grade class or in tandem with a child who is enthusiastic about visiting the market.

I do love the repeated refrain of "thank you (person, animal, etc) for (yummy food, useful item)". This book is a lovely reminder to be grateful for the local harvest we enjoy.

[Pink · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well written book. The illustrations are cut from black paper placed on white paper. If the illustrator/author makes a mistake she doesn't stop she keeps going and works the mistake into her art. The contrasting colors are perfect for baby eyes. The book is about the work the vendors from the farmers market do to bring their goods to the market. Well researched, well thought out, and thoroughly enjoyable. My then five month old, now six month old is completely fascinated each time I read this to him. My six month old also fell asleep as I read him this review while writing after we read the book.

[Vivian Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A celebration and gratitude of food as a mother and son shop at their local market day. They visit stalls selling apples, kale, smoked salmon, honey, blueberry turnovers, napkins and cheese. The story ends with a market feast around the home table with friends and family. The beauty of this book is two-fold. Firstly, Nikki McClure’s paper cut imagery is mesmerising. Each product on the list is showcased in one unmistakeable hue. Secondly, the provenance of each product is shared on a separate page: of how salmon is smoked and cloth napkins dyed. Each mini story ends with a gracious thank you. A special book on our shelf.

For more: www.theurbanimagined.wordpress.com

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like most Nikki McClure books it has beautiful artwork and a thoughtful approach to a story. In this case - McClure takes us on an adventure through a farmer's market and highlights the people that one may encounter. Then she highlights the process that those poeple take to make the product that that they sell in the market. My 3 year-old loved it, and I found it interesting enough to not get bored the first couple read-throughs. If you've never been to a farmer's market or are not into slow foods, then you and your kids may not enjoy this book.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully rich story of where each item on their grocery list comes from as they shop at a farmer's market. I do have to wonder if I am the only one who feels McClure's illustrations can be both pleasing (loved the illustration of the woman dying the napkins) and off-putting. Sometimes they strike me as so strange it jars me out the story. This book has renewed my interest in reading Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle"

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

With increased interest in buying locally grown food and using responsible growing practices, this book is timely. A boy and his mother visit the local farmers' market and select foods to eat. Includes detailed descriptions of how each food is grown and prepared for market. Rich with vocabulary words and food terminology. McClure's elaborate paper-cut illustrations appear in black, white, and one bold color representing each food.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty awesome!

This was the story of a mother and son (I think) who go to a farmer's market. Whenever they stop at a booth, they explain how the food or goods they're buying were made and how they got to the farmer's market.

The illustrations were beautiful and the writing was very good! I learned a lot and I liked it quite a bit. It's not a suitable read-aloud for my class but oh wells.

I love that it promotes sustainability and locally grown foods. :)