The Market Wedding - Hardcover

Gr 2-5-Minnie, who sells hats from a cart, and Morris, who owns a fish stall across the street, fall in love. He convinces her that they should spend all of their savings on a fancy wedding, hoping this will encourage their guests to buy them the finest of gifts. Their friends, however, afraid that their clothes and gifts might not be fine enough, decide not to attend the event. All ends well when, returning from the nearly empty reception hall, bride and groom invite their intended guests to join them in their empty flat, and the friends provide an impromptu party and hand-me-down furnishings. "Nothing was new or fancy or fit for a movie star, but all of it was precious to them." Fagan's tale, set in Toronto's Kensington Market, is based on a turn-of-the-century story for adults by noted Jewish author Abraham Cahan. Ricci's paintings feature muted tones of orange and brown, and include abundant details of market, synagogue, street, and house. Caricaturized faces, patterned carpets and wallpaper, and richly textured clothing add depth to both the illustrations and the story. The tale's ironic humor socks home one of life's basic lessons.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

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