Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: 2015
ISBN: 97/-0-399-25774-2
Last Stop On Market Street is
the story of a simple bus ride that inspires readers to see the world from an
atypical perspective. Young C.J. and his
Nana board the bus after church to ride across town to their destination, at
the last stop on Market Street. Along
the way, they meet a hodgepodge of colorful characters that pique the interest
of curious, inquisitive C.J. As he
questions and comments on the misfortunes of himself and others, Nana lovingly responds
in a way that alters his perceptions and teaches him to find beauty in the
simple things.
This is a touching story of appreciation and viewing life’s challenges
as opportunities. It is implied that
C.J. and Nana live in less than ideal conditions, as they travel by public
transportation and do not possess the kinds of things that much of the society
takes for granted. Imaginative, glass-half-full
Nana is quick to point out the immeasurable value of sights, sounds, and the
special people that make up their world.
Illustrated with bold colors and simple shapes, each page is childlike
and cheerful, set against a calming green backdrop of the bus’s interior. Young readers will love the quirky cast of
characters, such as the blind man with a smiling dog, a guitar player who
plucks at strings, and an elderly woman with mismatched stockings and a butterfly
jar, who can’t seem to stop staring at the tattooed man sitting next to her.
The text of this story is casual and light, but also rich with
metaphors. Little C.J. peppers Nana with
questions in his childish, innocent way, while Nana responds with imagination
and an ever-positive outlook. “How come
we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?” he asks as the rain comes
down. “Trees get thirsty, too….Don’t you
see that big one drinking through a straw?” she replies. Though simply written, the ideas conveyed are
insightful and lovely.
This book is an education in finding beauty in the everyday, imperfect
world that we live in. It would be ideal
for teaching children about diversity, differing perspectives, and attitudes of
thankfulness. In an educational setting,
it could be used as a mentor text for narrative writing, an example of
figurative language, or an analysis of character traits, motivations, and
feelings.
Awards and Recognition:
· Newbery
Medal, 2016· Caldecott Honor, 2016
· Coretta Scott King Award Honor, 2016
· Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor, 2016
· New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book, 2015
· Currently the #1 Bestseller in Children’s Homelessness and Poverty Books on Amazon (4.7/5 star rating)
· Goodreads rating 4.3/5
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