MARKET DAY

Market day is a day of discovery for three anthropomorphic kittens.

The cats from Spring Cakes (2021) help their mother sell her baked goods at market day for the first time. Calico kitty Cinnamon lays out the sweet and savory treats. Orange kitten Ginger trades some muffins for a scarf knitted by a cat who doesn’t have any cash. But the kittens are quickly tired out…so Mom gives them some money and baked goods and sends them out to explore. They decide to look for a gift for her. The soup they eat is yummy, but as Cinnamon points out, it would spill if they tried to bring back a bowl. Gray cat Nutmeg wonders if Mom would like a carrot, but Ginger notes that they have veggies at home. Each kitten buys something as they search, so when they find the perfect gift—a rainbow shell—they have to barter for it. Then they notice that they’re lost! Cooler heads prevail, and they retrace their steps to watch the sunset with Mom and enjoy a magical party in which the veggies come to life and dance. Harmon’s second early reader for lovers of comics and cats is as charming and uplifting as the first. Simple text in speech bubbles and narrative boxes, combined with bright, engaging panels and a relatable story, make for a fine tale for those new to graphic novels.

Let’s hope these three kittens have more adventures to come.