How Much?: Visiting Markets Around the World

From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 3–Lewin captures the excitement and unexpected beauty of marketplaces on four continents. He presents eight diverse outdoor venues, each one unique in its wares, from camels outside of Cairo and boats laden with fruit in Bangkok to a flea market in a New Jersey parking lot. Lewin accompanies each double-page watercolor scene with a poetic narrative that paints an equally rich picture. Art and text work together to bring all senses into play. In a flower market in Madras, India, for example, the author describes the scent of flower petals and freshly cut stalks, the visual delight of colorful petals heaped in baskets, voices bartering, and bodies crammed into the crowded, dimly lit bazaar. And while he accurately depicts the cultural and geographic differences of markets across the world, Lewin also shows that buying, selling, and bartering, as well as the language of trade, are universal. The author even presents the phrase How much? in a variety of languages, and includes a phonetic pronunciation guide. A fine choice for libraries looking for an accessible and captivating book about the world's marketplaces.