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Last Stop on Market Street | January 13, 2016

by Matt De La Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House, January 2015)

A Coretta Scott King Honor, Caldecott Honor and a Newbery Medal? Oh my! Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson knock it out of the park with their picture book, Last Stop on Market Street.

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town, but this week, CJ decides to ask his Nana why they aren’t driving there in a car and why he doesn’t have an iPod like the other kids. Instead, his grandmother encourages him to acknowledge the smaller moments in life. The reader follows the duo onto the bus, meeting a diverse cast of characters and taking moments to acknowledge the little things, like closing your eyes to listen to the music in life and to engage with those around you. Finally, as they arrive at their local soup kitchen, CJ and the reader both come to the same conclusion. It’s not about money or possessions; it’s about helping others and being with the people you love.

With Christian Robinson’s distinctive art style, and the way in which Matt de la Peña blends literary phrases and ideas with more accessible language, this book truly draws in its reader. Ultimately, this is a story for all ages, because really, couldn’t we all learn to pause to see the beauty in every aspect of life and do just a little more for one another?

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