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 and drummers drumming; tastes plump tomatoes and roasted nuts; smells fresh primroses and perfumed oils; and feels the texture of "sparkly" fabrics and colorful beads. 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, painted storytellers, paper kites, and more.
Seina Wedlick (Naming Ceremony) crafts a second-person point of view that pulls the reader into the story without drifting into repetition; the text flows with a gentle rhythm, making this an enticing read-aloud: "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 under the watchful eye of the full moon 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, beguiling lines, and she fills the market with traditionally clad Nigerians and Yoruba architecture. Full-bleed illustrations take up every bit of space: it is as if there's so much to see in the night market, it can't all fit. Amid all the visually rich and eye-catching details (like "the wall of strange-looking keys that open interesting locks"), Uchendu keeps the wide-eyed, eager child the central focus.
Best of all, the protagonist, after securing the bag of gold coins and receiving parental reminders that the market closes at dawn, wanders independently and freely, which many American children (often closely supervised) might find thrilling. In a closing note, the author, originally from Nigeria, writes about visiting Lagos and its night markets as a child. The illustrator also notes having visited a night market at a young age: "Entering the market," she writes, "was like stepping into another world." This deftly sophisticated and exquisitely illustrated book does the same: it invites readers into a world that demands close inspection. And it's well worth the trip. --Julie Danielson, reviewer
Shelf Talker: This visually rich story features a Nigerian night market and the child who explores its wonders.