What do you think?
Rate this book
On Market Street
Have you ever seen a man dressed entirely in playing cards? Or a girl wearing a lollipop dress? Then take a stroll through a most unusual market in this Caldecott Honor Book created by Anita Lobel and Arnold Lobel.
Here is a world of wonders, from A to Z. Inspired by seventeenth-century French trade engravings, Anita Lobel's brilliant paintings of the shopkeepers on Market Street—each composed of his or her wares—will provide blissful hours for all who join the Lobels on an unforgettable shopping spree. "In a delightful and unusual book, a boy trots down Market Street buying presents for a friend, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet. Every letter is illustrated by a figure ingeniously composed of, for instance, apples or wigs or quilts. The notion is original, and the sum total enjoyable and unique."—The Horn Book
A Caldecott Honor Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book for Illustration
Supports the Common Core State Standards
Here is a world of wonders, from A to Z. Inspired by seventeenth-century French trade engravings, Anita Lobel's brilliant paintings of the shopkeepers on Market Street—each composed of his or her wares—will provide blissful hours for all who join the Lobels on an unforgettable shopping spree. "In a delightful and unusual book, a boy trots down Market Street buying presents for a friend, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet. Every letter is illustrated by a figure ingeniously composed of, for instance, apples or wigs or quilts. The notion is original, and the sum total enjoyable and unique."—The Horn Book
A Caldecott Honor Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book for Illustration
Supports the Common Core State Standards
40 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1981
17 people are currently reading
1431 people want to read
About the author
Arnold Lobel
204 books577 followersArnold Stark Lobel was a popular American author of children's books. Among his most popular books are those of the Frog and Toad series, and Mouse Soup, which won the Garden State Children's Book Award from the New Jersey Library Association.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
May 16, 2019
This is mostly a creative alphabet book for beginners and above. There is a poem of text at the beginning to set up the story and at the end to complete the story. A child is going to market planning to buy a ton of stuff.
The market is a person who is wearing a lot of the things they are selling. Umbrellas make up a person with a head standing up. The artwork is amazing and creative! Anita Lobel is the artist and she is very creative in her design. I was impressed by this. It really did deserve the Caldecott.
This made the children laugh. They loved looking at the picture to see what funny stuff made up a person. I thought the instrument person was really inspired. The nephew thought the oranges were funny and the niece thought the vegetables were funny. Both of the kids laughed merrily at this. They loved it. The nephew gave this 4 stars and the niece gave it 4 stars. Look at that.
July 1, 2025
My daughter’s current favorite for her letters.
A book to help your child learn/recognize the alphabet. Each page has a person who sells a ware that begins with a letter. Creatively themed. I’m just slightly annoyed with letters P and X - you couldn’t think of something better than “playing cards” and “Xmas tree”? Haha!
Watch my kiddo’s ABC time and other recommended books.
Ages: 2 - 5
Content Considerations: has cards and Christmas tree.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
A book to help your child learn/recognize the alphabet. Each page has a person who sells a ware that begins with a letter. Creatively themed. I’m just slightly annoyed with letters P and X - you couldn’t think of something better than “playing cards” and “Xmas tree”? Haha!
Watch my kiddo’s ABC time and other recommended books.
Ages: 2 - 5
Content Considerations: has cards and Christmas tree.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
April 13, 2010
This is so awesome!!! I love the illustrations and am pretty sure this is one that infatuated me as a kid. Since my letter is "K" I know I'd totally want that kite outfit ;-p It's a really nifty alphabet book and has a nice message about sharing and friendship in the end.
April 22, 2009
Oh, I just loved this alphabet book. One thing I really liked was the illustrator got first billing: Pictures by Anita Lobel – Words by Arnold Lobel, which is fitting for any picture book, but especially deserved by the illustrator of this one.
The pictures are wonderfully intricate and colorful, and there’s so much to see on every page. Children (and adults) can pour over these pages for long periods and not get at all bored. The pictures made me ooh and ah and the last few pictures made me smile too. Except for the X item, the most challenging letter in any alphabet book, which I really did not like, I loved all the things chosen to represent each letter. They were a bit more imaginative than in many alphabet books and the slight story is special too.
The pictures are wonderfully intricate and colorful, and there’s so much to see on every page. Children (and adults) can pour over these pages for long periods and not get at all bored. The pictures made me ooh and ah and the last few pictures made me smile too. Except for the X item, the most challenging letter in any alphabet book, which I really did not like, I loved all the things chosen to represent each letter. They were a bit more imaginative than in many alphabet books and the slight story is special too.
January 2, 2021
An alphabet picture book with each page devoted to one letter and a person pictured clothed all in that item. We loved these illustrations! The grandkids marvelled over each one for a good amount of time, pointing out things that struck them as funny, and each page was quite unique.
September 15, 2011
A young girl's shopping spree On Market Street. Starts off with a poem about Market Street and continues through the alphabet with items that she buys. The pictures are remarkable and contain many details for curriculum development. Can be used to cover How many? What color? What shape? The story ends with another poem and a presentation of her gifts to a very special friend.
September 19, 2017
An absolutely bizarre book about a man buying vast quantities of human-shaped items to bring home to his cat.
January 1, 2018
So, it's my last review of the year. I am trying hard to stay awake just a little longer so that I can watch the fireworks. I pulled out this book (twas feeling nostalgic on my last library trip and recruited a librarian to help me find it) to pass a few minutes. I probably haven't read it in 30 years. We loved it as kids, but always had a hard time finding it at the public library because we could not remember the name. We would just describe it as an alphabet book.
My favorites were and still are J/jewels (of course), N/noodles, and R/ribbons. I am partial to the letter J, noodles were my favorite food, and ribbons were pretty. As an adult, I also find these illustrations to be less creepy. The characters look like real people just wearing costumes made of these items, unlike B/books, I/ice cream, etc., in which they are people made of the items the narrator is buying on Market Street.
However, as I an adult I can also appreciate the creativity more. M/musical instruments makes clever use of the shapes of saxophones, tubas, and a guitar to create a person. F/flowers uses specific varieties - hydrangeas, irises, etc. - to mimic human shapes. H/hats is a little bit naughty with the placement of two top hats. And I spy with my little eye Frog and Toad hanging out in T/toys.
Even with rose colored glasses, this was still a 3 star - till the end. I forgot about that one magical sentence that teaches readers young and old about generosity. The narrator is buying all of the items to give to his friend. Awww. Look at all of the pages to meet his friend. 4 stars (just turn the page if something creeps you out and don't think too hard about why he gives all of this stuff to a cat) .
My favorites were and still are J/jewels (of course), N/noodles, and R/ribbons. I am partial to the letter J, noodles were my favorite food, and ribbons were pretty. As an adult, I also find these illustrations to be less creepy. The characters look like real people just wearing costumes made of these items, unlike B/books, I/ice cream, etc., in which they are people made of the items the narrator is buying on Market Street.
However, as I an adult I can also appreciate the creativity more. M/musical instruments makes clever use of the shapes of saxophones, tubas, and a guitar to create a person. F/flowers uses specific varieties - hydrangeas, irises, etc. - to mimic human shapes. H/hats is a little bit naughty with the placement of two top hats. And I spy with my little eye Frog and Toad hanging out in T/toys.
Even with rose colored glasses, this was still a 3 star - till the end. I forgot about that one magical sentence that teaches readers young and old about generosity. The narrator is buying all of the items to give to his friend. Awww. Look at all of the pages to meet his friend. 4 stars (just turn the page if something creeps you out and don't think too hard about why he gives all of this stuff to a cat) .
August 13, 2018
Have you ever seen a man dressed entirely in playing cards? Or a girl wearing a lollipop dress? Then take a stroll through a most unusual market in this Caldecott Honor Book created by Anita Lobel and Arnold Lobel.
Here is a world of wonders, from A to Z. Inspired by seventeenth-century French trade engravings, Anita Lobel's brilliant paintings of the shopkeepers on Market Street—each composed of his or her wares—will provide blissful hours for all who join the Lobels on an unforgettable shopping spree.
The illustrations are very clever as the objects that represent the letter form a person covered in the objects. My favorite is the M for musical instruments and the figure has a cello body and tuba legs and saxophone arms, etc.
"In a delightful and unusual book, a boy trots down Market Street buying presents for a friend, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet. Every letter is illustrated by a figure ingeniously composed of, for instance, apples or wigs or quilts. The notion is original, and the sum total enjoyable and unique."—The Horn Book
A Caldecott Honor Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book for Illustration
Supports the Common Core State Standards
Here is a world of wonders, from A to Z. Inspired by seventeenth-century French trade engravings, Anita Lobel's brilliant paintings of the shopkeepers on Market Street—each composed of his or her wares—will provide blissful hours for all who join the Lobels on an unforgettable shopping spree.
The illustrations are very clever as the objects that represent the letter form a person covered in the objects. My favorite is the M for musical instruments and the figure has a cello body and tuba legs and saxophone arms, etc.
"In a delightful and unusual book, a boy trots down Market Street buying presents for a friend, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet. Every letter is illustrated by a figure ingeniously composed of, for instance, apples or wigs or quilts. The notion is original, and the sum total enjoyable and unique."—The Horn Book
A Caldecott Honor Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book for Illustration
Supports the Common Core State Standards
October 23, 2017
This book is appropriate for Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade.
On Market Street by Arnold Lobel is about taking a stroll through a most unusual market. A boy trots down Market Street buying presents for a friend, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet. Every letter is illustrated by a figure ingeniously composed of, for instance, apples or wigs or quilts.
This book is very unique. Especially in its own way of designing the letter formats, making it different from most alphabet books. Seeing as though its in a market, you don't know whats going to pop up next. Every stop is a new surprise!
I would use this book for when I am teaching the alphabet and want to show what the letter looks like, how it sounds, and what kind of words would have that letter and why.
On Market Street by Arnold Lobel is about taking a stroll through a most unusual market. A boy trots down Market Street buying presents for a friend, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet. Every letter is illustrated by a figure ingeniously composed of, for instance, apples or wigs or quilts.
This book is very unique. Especially in its own way of designing the letter formats, making it different from most alphabet books. Seeing as though its in a market, you don't know whats going to pop up next. Every stop is a new surprise!
I would use this book for when I am teaching the alphabet and want to show what the letter looks like, how it sounds, and what kind of words would have that letter and why.
May 18, 2019
Typically ABC books are boring, as I guess they should be since they usually don't have any real story line. However, I enjoyed this beautifully illustrated read for small readers and listeners. I remember when I was younger playing a game with friends where each player would say "I am going to the store and I'm going to buy..." and then you would say something you that starts with the letter A. The next person would repeat the opening phrase, repeating the A item as well as adding a B item to the shopping list. This would go on and on, passing back and forth til you hit Z or someone gave up. I imagine if I were sharing this with a small child it would be fun to incorporate that game with the story.
January 28, 2019
5+ for illustrations.
This is a simple alphabet book children will likely enjoy because of the intricately detailed, wonderfully absurd illustrations. My only issue with the books is that the invisible narrator goes on a gargantuan shopping spree. Although he/she ends up giving all these "presents" to a friend, I don't love the focus on consumerism. I'm probably reading too deeply into a silly and memorable children's book, but when I read this to my daughter in the future, I may change it to "What I saw on Market Street," instead of "What I Bought on Market Street."
This is a simple alphabet book children will likely enjoy because of the intricately detailed, wonderfully absurd illustrations. My only issue with the books is that the invisible narrator goes on a gargantuan shopping spree. Although he/she ends up giving all these "presents" to a friend, I don't love the focus on consumerism. I'm probably reading too deeply into a silly and memorable children's book, but when I read this to my daughter in the future, I may change it to "What I saw on Market Street," instead of "What I Bought on Market Street."
March 19, 2017
Alphabet book. Each page lists a one or two word item. The illustration on that page spread shows a person dressed up in the alphabet item. For example, On L, the person has lollipops everywhere. Some pages are neat like the lollipops and some are a bit hard to discern like the kites. Overall, cute book for Kindergarten letters unit. Kids will like seeing how a person can be dressed up in each item.
June 14, 2018
This is a picture book about a merchant who travels down Market Street looking for all the things that would catch his eye to buy. He ends up buying something from each of the letters of the alpahabet. The illustrations make this shopping trip come to life. The details and colors in each picture are amazing as well as the variety of colors.
November 20, 2018
This book was wonderful and the illustrations are very detailed. It would be a great story for a reader who is just learning the alphabet and beginning letters in words.
Curricular Connections: I would use this put to read out loud before starting to work on the alphabet and later when reinforcing different words to reinforce how to alphabetize words based on their first letter.
Curricular Connections: I would use this put to read out loud before starting to work on the alphabet and later when reinforcing different words to reinforce how to alphabetize words based on their first letter.
February 6, 2018
I'm rereading some of Arnold Lobel's books. The illustrations, by Anita Lobel, are amazing. A shopping trip down Market Street, where each vendor is made out of the item that they are selling. I used to read this to my children, and it never got old. Market Street is a magical place.
Read
August 29, 2016ABC book, also shows way to group various items
January 17, 2017
Goes through entire alphabet!
September 29, 2017
Beautiful illustrations
February 4, 2018
My daughter's favourite book for a long time when she was 2.
November 13, 2018
First off, I love the nod to Frog and Toad on the "T" page. Second, the illustrations are really amazing. My kids (3, 6, 8) each enjoyed selecting their own favorite items.
September 25, 2023
Yes, it’s a picture book alphabet but the imagines are super detailed and the end it’s very cute!
January 31, 2021
A reissue of the Caldecott Honor Book originally published in 1981.
Read
July 17, 2020"On Market Street" is an alphabet book perfect for kindergarten and first grade. The book is simple to read but the illustrations are really beautiful and add a lot to the story. The first page and last page of the book aren't a part of the alphabet sequence and rhyme to create a kind of rhythmic quality throughout the book. The illustrations are incredibly detailed and colorful making a simple book really engaging for kids to listen to and look at. I especially loved the ending where you can see all of the things that she bought because it is really colorful and detailed, drawing your eye to it.
October 2, 2017
• 1982 Caldecott Honor Book •
This is the first alphabet book I've read where there's a reason for the random a-z words: this is a list of items bought on Market Street! The drawings are really well done, but rather bizarre. I'm not clear why each item had to be made out of the item. For example, N is for noodles so there's a lady made out of noodles. A person made out of apples, books, clocks, doughnuts, etc. Kind of weird but fun, and it was written in the 80s so... ok. :) I enjoyed it!
Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted
This is the first alphabet book I've read where there's a reason for the random a-z words: this is a list of items bought on Market Street! The drawings are really well done, but rather bizarre. I'm not clear why each item had to be made out of the item. For example, N is for noodles so there's a lady made out of noodles. A person made out of apples, books, clocks, doughnuts, etc. Kind of weird but fun, and it was written in the 80s so... ok. :) I enjoyed it!
Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted
September 9, 2018
There was no children's poetry section in my library but the librarian pointed this book out to me. There are a couple of really great poems in this book. the illustrations to along with it are fantastic. This book is about someone who went down on Market Street in town to do some shopping. There is everything on Market Street from food vendors to clothing stores. From the illustrations it reminded me of a farmer's market I goto here in Wilmington, North Carolina. I really enjoyed this book and it would be a good read for readers who are just beginning.
December 2, 2018
Summary:
"On Market Street" is an A-Z book that uses examples of sights seen on Market Street. These examples range from a man dressed entirely in playing cards to a woman wearing a lollipop dress.
Evaluation:
This book is a lot of fun for young readers. The pictures catch the readers eye and are very detailed. I would recommend this book.
Teaching Point:
This would be a great book to teach the alphabet. The book not only has each letter, but also the examples of what was seen on Market Street that begins with that letter.
"On Market Street" is an A-Z book that uses examples of sights seen on Market Street. These examples range from a man dressed entirely in playing cards to a woman wearing a lollipop dress.
Evaluation:
This book is a lot of fun for young readers. The pictures catch the readers eye and are very detailed. I would recommend this book.
Teaching Point:
This would be a great book to teach the alphabet. The book not only has each letter, but also the examples of what was seen on Market Street that begins with that letter.
February 7, 2020
1981
Richly illustrated ABC book from French Trades etchings. Each page is a letter and has a person decorated with the type of items in the shop. It reminded me of a Harry Potter "Diagon-alley" experience. For example, I enjoyed L Lollipops: all kinds on the person and beautiful colors. Also, I especially liked the V-Vegetables. It seems you could read this book over and over and see new things each time. The nice sentiment of sharing at the end was good too .
Ages 2 to 8
Caldecott Honor
Richly illustrated ABC book from French Trades etchings. Each page is a letter and has a person decorated with the type of items in the shop. It reminded me of a Harry Potter "Diagon-alley" experience. For example, I enjoyed L Lollipops: all kinds on the person and beautiful colors. Also, I especially liked the V-Vegetables. It seems you could read this book over and over and see new things each time. The nice sentiment of sharing at the end was good too .
Ages 2 to 8
Caldecott Honor
July 8, 2020
This is an alphabet book that is pretty simple. The best part of the book is the intricate drawings for each letter. Each letter has an object that is sold at the Market and a person who is dressed (or made out of) the item being bought. This book was mentioned in my children's literature book as an example of a book that rewards and supports visual literacy. There is a lot to see on each picture and some hidden surprises.
July 19, 2017
This is a great early concept book that incorporates the alphabet. It tells about a little girl who goes on a shopping spree on Market Street to buy things for her friend. Each page provides very detailed illustrations and examples of things she bought in alphabetic order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews