Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

The Last Stop on Market Street By Matt de la Peña
The Last Stop on Market Street By Matt de la Peña

today’s children storybook summary is

The Last Stop on Market Street

By Matt de la Peña

Illustration by Christian Robinson

Storyline: This is a book about a journey through a diverse and sophisticated city and the way to see it and understand it.

CJ and his grandma, here called Nana, have a Sunday routine: they go to the church first, then they take the bus along the Market Street. This Sunday, as CJ pushed through the church doors, skipped down the steps” towards the “freedom” he didn’t feel like going on the bus. He noticed that none of his friends were taking the bus, they all were riding in cars but Nana said that they don’t need a car, when the bus breath fire. Besides, it was raining, he argues to which Nana answer that the trees need to drink water too.

When the bus finally stopped at the station and they stepped in, and a whole new world opened up. The bus ride itself is a journey through a different kind of life, mostly hidden from CJ. As they ride along he meets people that are different or do things differently but his grandma helps him understand and find the bright spot. A man was singing a guitar, a woman carried butterflies in a jar, a boy was using an iPod and a blind man had a dog to help him. At the last stop, they get down and walk troughs streets that had graffiti sprayed walls till they arrived to the kitchen soup, their destination. See, that’s where Nana volunteer every Sunday after church. This is the way the grandmother teaches the little kid about diversity and the way to understand, love and/or help people that are different.

Characters: CJ, Nana

Illustration: Christian Robinson is the illustrator of this book. And he does a wonderful job creating the characters and the journey that CJ and his grandma take through the city. His colors are bright but solid, his objects are simple and blocky but alive. His technique, acrylic and collage, is a perfect match for the story. His pictures perfectly reflect the diversity of a sophisticated city.

Medal/Awards

Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal

A 2016 Caldecott Honor Book

A 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book

How many stars would you give this book? See the votes bellow.

PS. This is a very useful video that teachers can use when they speak about the book in the classroom.

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