SATURDAY MARKET ◇ Harper Collins, 1994
1994 (American Bookseller Pick of the Lists Citation)
1994 Américas Commendation from the Consortium of Latin American Studies Program (CLASP)
Recommended book, Teaching Tolerance magazine
"This
well-designed book successfully combines text and vibrant artwork to portray
the cultural richness of the Zapotec people and bring to life a Saturday market
in a town in Oaxaca, Mexico. The story is simply written in carefully crafted
words that effectively capture the spirit of the vendors. Grossman introduces
an array of characters who make preparations and have hopes, fears, anger, and
joy about their activities at the market. They bring articles they have made
(huaraches, rebozos); animals they have raised; and produce (chiles, flowers)
they have harvested. One boy hopes that he will NOT make a sale; "...in
his heart, Luis cannot bear to think that his fat and charming pig will become
a rich man's feast." Paco's rooster does not crow. "He plans to give
back the silent rooster and make the cheat give him two roosters that
crow." Diego brings his favorite parrot along, but when shoppers offer to
buy the bird, he replies "Would you sell your mejor amigo?" An
excellent introduction to one of the most important elements of Latin American
culture, suitable for independent reading or group sharing."
—School Library Journal
"Grossman ( The Night Ones ) here renders a composite portrait of the
sprawling market held each week in Oaxaca, Mexico. Each spread
introduces another vendor or marketgoer, explaining what he or she is
selling or buying and, in most cases, presenting the Spanish word for
the item. Carmen peddles rebozos , women's shawls; Pedro displays woven
rugs featuring Mayan designs; Ana fries up tortillas at her stand; and
Paco is returning the rooster he bought the previous Saturday, because
it didn't crow as promised. Hot chili peppers, voodoo dolls, lilies and
miniature clay figurines are some of the other goods for sale. Sanchez
(illustrator of Amelia's Road and Abuela's Weave ), who visited Oaxaca
to research this setting, contributes double-page, acrylic-on-canvas
paintings. Though sometimes static, the art is effectively textured and
imbued with the warm--and occasionally radiant--hues that mark
traditional Mexican clothing and products. Together, the smoothly
balanced text and pictures take the reader on an informative stroll
through a bustling marketplace."
—Publishers Weekly
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THE NIGHT ONES ◇ Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt, 1991
Bookseller Pick of the Lists Citations Parent’s Choice Award
Scholastic Big Book, Fall 1994
reprinted by Click Magazine, 2001; reprinted by Ladybug Magazine, 2007
“
Through barebones text and cartoon-like crayon pencil
illustrations, this book shows the nighttime occupations of a cleaner, a baker,
a porter, a dock worker, and an air traffic controller. Dark backgrounds are
brightened with streetlights and an abundance of subtle background details.
There is no plot as such, just a handful of well-chosen words per page to bring
to life these people and their typical night shifts. The spareness of the
language does not preclude depth of color; even names are apt. The baker
finishes her work thus: “Honey greets the avenue with a heavenly smell.”
Gender-free occupational titles are used, and the characters are of both sexes
and of various ages and ethnic origins. . . . For individual enjoyment or
reading aloud."
—School Library Journal
“Things that happen at night are naturally intriguing to
children, who get to see so little of it. Jobs that seem perfectly ordinary by
day can acquire a mysterious allure when done after dark. Grossman explores the
world of night workers, or ‘night ones,’ by following five characters as they
go about their task of keeping the city running overnight. Every evening
Clarence, Honey, Porter, Amelia, and Cap ride the night bus into town. There
Clarence cleans ‘important rooms’ in a tall building while Honey bakes pies and
muffins to be sold the next day in her bakery. Porter greets travelers and
holds the door at The Grand Hotel, Amelia directs air traffic, and Cap loads a
cargo ship heading east. In addition to being informative, the text conveys a real
feeling of respect for the unseen workers on whom a city depends. Dabcovich’s
spirited color pencil illustrations, heavily outlined with deep, dark lines,
are simply drawn but dense with details of city night life. Children will also
enjoy the book’s satisfying note of completion as the day workers arrive with
the dawn and the night ones board the bus for home." —Booklist
“Interesting and appealing, the book has a quiet charm that
makes it an effective choice for a different perspective on how a city works."
—The Boston Globe