“TO MARKET” by Todd Scheideman: A Whimsical Journey of Words, Sounds, and Animal Friends
by ReadersMagnet | December 9, 2025 | radio interview | 0 Comments
In the charming children’s picture book TO MARKET, writer Todd Scheideman treats its readers to a rhythmic, read-aloud ride that is packed with engaging repetition, fun word play, and most of all, an ever-more festive procession of animals. Much like a modern-day nursery rhyme, the book spins a variation of the classic “to market, to market, to buy a fat pig…” and transforms it into a joyful dance that builds up with each flip of a page.
Where Whimsy Meets Wordplay
TO MARKET all starts with a simple invitation from a child named Reed, who begins the story with: “Hi, I’m Reed. Come to the market with me.” What then follows is a journey that’s less about the destination and more about the delightful surprises throughout the journey. With every trip to the market, a new animal joins the lineup; from pigs to hogs to wallabies and aardvarks.
What makes TO MARKET shine is its clever use of language.
Every page includes a comedic and progressively creative spin on the words “Home again, home again, jiggety jig.” Readers are treated to whimsical options like “jiggety jallaby,” “jiggety jorilla,” and finally the side-splitting and surprising “jiggety jippopotamus.” Just when you think the story has reached its limit, Scheideman throws in a surprise ending that adds a comical final touch: “jiggety…SPLAT!”
The Perfect Read for both Parents and Teachers
This book is best for group reading experiences. Its musical rhythm and cumulative format teach kids to learn how to look ahead and recall the order of the animals, making it an excellent resource for children to develop literacy at an early age, along with memory. For sure, children will take delight in predicting what the next animal will be, while the adults will revel in the laughter that each silly turn of phrase that Todd’s written work brings.
Whether in school or in the coziness of home, TO MARKET is a type of read that is participatory. With this book, children can clap, chant, or even perform with or just like the animals that are added as the story progresses, bringing the lovely tale to life with each moment of it being read. Aside from all that, Teachers can definitely utilize this book to reinforce patterns, phonics, or even animal identification in a fun way!
An Ode to Imagination
Though the story is grounded in a traditional rhyme, Todd Scheideman gives it fresh legs by inviting animals rarely seen in typical children’s tales, such as aardvarks, wallabies, and gnats, into the spotlight. This not only expands young readers’ vocabulary but also celebrates curiosity. Why shouldn’t a gnat join a gorilla at the market? In Reed’s world, anything is possible.
The moment of comic interruption (“Did you say jallaby?”) is particularly effective. It breaks the rhythm in a way that surprises the reader and invites giggles, while Reed’s own comments later on (“All this jiggety is making me want to dance”) turn him into more than just a character – he becomes a witty co-narrator children can relate to.
A Visual and Sonic Experience
Although the manuscript doesn’t include illustrations, the narrative structure cries out for vibrant visuals. You can easily imagine a crowded market full of animals poking out of shopping carts, riding on shoulders, or squeezing onto wagons. If matched with expressive and vibrant illustrations, TO MARKET can be a picture-book staple on store shelves everywhere.
The repetitive sound pattern of the book also makes it well-suited for beginning readers, building phonemic awareness. Rhyming, alliteration, and rhythm are naturally embedded in the text, allowing children to associate sounds with words in a playful and memorable manner.
Closing Thoughts: A Market Worth Returning To Again and Again
TO MARKET is greater than a rhyming Shopping for animals book – it’s a comedy of language, humor, and the pleasure of reading out loud. Its goofy rhythm, eccentric animal cast, and Reed’s bright narration make it the best among children’s books intended for ages 3 through 7.
No matter where it is read, be it at home, in preschool, or during a library’s story hour, this book will be sure to amuse. With every reading, young listeners will chant, laugh, and chant once more—evidence that the most charming stories are also those simplest ones.
Pick up your own copy of TO MARKET by Todd Scheideman on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadersMagnet Bookstore. Bring home the book that makes every trip to the market a fun, furry adventure!
