Last Stop on Market Street, words by Matt de la Peña, pictures by Christian Robinson. This heartwarming, moving collaboration between two of the best creators of books for young people working today follows young CJ and his extremely optimistic Nana as they board a bus and head to their destination, the Last Stop on Market Street. Where are they going? What is the purpose of their post-church trip? The answer (which I wouldn't dare spoil) is very poignant. Although CJ whines a bit about the trek, his grandmother remains totally glass half full. For example, when he complains about not having a car, she replies, "Boy, what do we need a car for? We got a bus that breathes fire...". de la Peña's evocative, concise prose does a beautiful job capturing the little yet important moments of this urban bus ride that make it special. He bonds with a blind man, and listens to a guitar player performing a song that makes him feeling as if he can soar. Robinson's collages, created with acrylic paint, are dynamic and colorful, creating a vibrant city landscape that feels both stylized and realistic. This thoughtful book touches on societal issues in a manner children can understand, making young readers feel that they can make a difference in the world. A lovely, lovely piece of work.
2 comments:
Mr. Rick and I read this and loved it -- thank you so much for the recommendation, Brian! Ideal for anyoone whose work involves the directive, "raise up a child in the way he should go".
I'm so glad you loved it! It really is one of the first great picture books of 2015! Thanks for the comment, so great to hear from you!
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