Farm-to-plate stories and stories set in markets are becoming quite the trend in picture books. Off to the Market is Alice Oehr’s delightful addition to this growing movement. A mother and child are going to the farmers market for their weekly produce shopping. The child’s excitement at being involved in the shopping is clear: ‘the market is full of surprises,’ they say, and they eagerly count out coins and push the trolley.

Off to the Market creates an approachable environment for children to learn just what to do at a market. This is also an excellent resource for learning about different types of fruits and vegetables without an overly moral approach to eating ‘good’ or ‘healthy’ food. Instead, the book favours information about flavours, colours, textures and growing conditions: ‘sage has a strong flavour that goes well with rich ingredients like pumpkin and butter’. With Oehr’s bright illustrations of wholefoods and her depiction of a multicultural community, Off to the Market is one of my favourite children’s picture books of the year. For ages 4+.

Clare Miller is from Readings online