Last Stop on Market Street
Peña, M.D. (2015). Last
stop on Market Street. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of
Penguin Group (USA).
Written with sensory details and descriptive language, this book takes the reader on a trip with CJ and his Nana as they travel through the busy city by bus. The sights and sounds make you feel as though you are right there with them as they meet a blind man and his seeing-eye-dos and as they listen to a man play a song on his guitar on the bus. CJ is transported through the man's music out of the busy city through the sky, flying with hawks and butterflies. The best part is at the end of the book when they arrive in a rough part of the city and CJ asks his grandmother why it's so dirty. His Nana replies, "Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful." The story ends when they arrive to serve people at a soup kitchen.
This is an endearing story for young readers that carries a deep message. I love how it takes the reader through normal, everyday inner-city life and brings magic to it. CJ's Nana has a positive way of seeing things that finds beauty everywhere.
Last Stop on Market Street book trailer (made by author Matt de la Peña and illustrator Christian Robinson):
Teacher's Guide for Last Stop on Market Street:
Matt de la Peña's website:
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