Anita and Arnold Lobel's On Market Street: a pediatric guide to capitalism

FOUND AT the Sick Child Clinic today: On Market Street by Anita and Arnold Lobel. It's a picture book that illustrates the alphabet in beautiful shapes, patterns, and designs. Truth is, it's also an introductory lesson on shopping hoarding.

The story begins this way:



A for apples. B for books. Ingenious.



C for clocks—who's the talking pendulum clock in The Beauty and the Beast? O for oranges; surely he's had a good dose of vitamin C.



F for flowers—the person looks like s/he's wearing a dress with floral designs. The U for umbrellas, which make him look like a knight in shining armor.



I for ice cream! L for lollipops!



And the parting words . . . .





So the story is about friendship after all, and capitalism, and why material gifts matter.