Last Stop on Market Street

I had written a previous post about Matt de la Peña's book titled Love; he is an author I have truly grown fond of and knew I had to share more of his writing on my blog. Last Stop on Market Street is a book all elementary teachers should have in their classroom libraries. This 2016 Caldecott Honor Book is about a little boy and his grandma’s bus trip that they take together every Sunday. CJ, the main character, wonders things like why they don’t own a car like his friends or why he doesn’t have an iPod like the other boys on the bus. Through Peña’s poetic writing, his grandma answers each of CJ’s questions encouragingly to help him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.

How Can I Use this Book in My Classroom?

The tone of Pena's writing is very playful and simple, but the themes he sends to his readers is quite profound. The tone of his writing makes it easy for younger students to understand, but the figurative language and themes Peña creates also makes this a perfect book for upper elementary readers as well. CJ's grandmother helps him appreciate the unexpected beauty in the city, especially in the people. For teachers, this message and book can be a wonderful starting point for discussions about values and empathy towards others. I recommend this book to any (and all) teachers trying to educate their students on the importance of appreciating people and the world around them.