The Night Market is a beautifully wrought, atmospheric tale of a child who takes in the many wonders of a Nigerian market held under a full moon.
The child, holding a bag of golden coins, is amazed by the market, "wide awake" under a dark sky. The protagonist sees "marvelous objects and strange relics" as well as glow-in-the-dark jellyfish; hears traders hollering; tastes plump tomatoes; smells fresh primroses; and feels the texture of "sparkly" fabrics. The details delight and the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the market include "home-grown spices," African stone games, a "freshly baked mooncake," a parade of peacocks, and more.
Seina Wedlick (Naming Ceremony) crafts a second-person point of view that pulls readers into the story without drifting into repetition: "The night market shimmers and shakes to the sound of music and laughter." John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award winner Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (We Could Fly illustrator) digitally captures the adventure taking place through saturated purples, warm roses, and nearly every variation of blue. Sparkling golden lights punctuate the artist's spectacular nightly palette, which slowly brightens with each page turn as the sun starts rising in the sky. She captures music and movement with swirling lines and fills the market with traditionally clad Nigerians and Yoruba architecture. Best of all, the protagonist, after securing the bag of gold coins and receiving parental reminders, wanders independently and freely, which many American children (often closely supervised) might find thrilling. This deftly sophisticated and exquisitely illustrated book invites readers into a world that demands close inspection. And it's well worth the trip. --Julie Danielson, reviewer