Last Stop on Market Street
Bibliography:
De La Pena, M., & Robinson, C. (Illustrator). (2015). LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET. NY: Penguin.
ISBN: 9780399257742
Plot Summary:
Last stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Pena, is a book about a young boy named C.J., and his grandmother, Nana. C.J. and Nana board a bus after church. On their way to their destination, C.J. complains and asks his grandmother questions as to why things are the way they are. In her answers, Nana teaches C.J. that he needs to find the beauty and goodness in even the most unpleasant things. After hearing Nana’s explanations, C.J. has a change of heart and learns to appreciate his own situation.
Critical Analysis:
Last Stop on Market Street is an excellent book that teaches appreciation and humility. The author uses C.J.’s grandmother, Nana, to show him to find the good in everything, no matter how hard it is for him to accept. The author intentionally uses an older, adult figure to show him that not everything that seems bad has to be bad because it teaches children to respect and listen to their elders as well as find value in their wisdom.
Author Matt de la Pena uses simple, basic shapes and colors for his illustrations which makes it seem like a child illustrated the book. These illustrations add much to the story because they show Nana actually demonstrating respect to the different people they encounter. This helps the reader not just read about respect and value, but also know what it looks like. The story is excellent for readers as young as second grade because of its simple vocabulary rich in high-frequency words along with some challenging vocabulary.
Review Excerpt(s):
“CJ, a young black boy, has a flurry of questions for his grandmother one rainy day. "How come we always gotta go here after church?" "Here" is a soup kitchen, where they work every Sunday. Nana has bottomless look-on-the-sunny-side answers, but she isn't dispensing bromides; the exquisitely composed collage illustrations showing a glamour-free urban setting forbid a glib reading. A quietly remarkable book.” -Horn Book
“CJ and his nana depart church and make it to the bus stop just in time to avoid an oncoming rain shower. They board the bus, and while CJ is full of questions and complaints (why don't they have a car? why must they make this trip every week? and so forth), Nana's resolute responses articulate the glories of their rich, vibrant life in the city, as presented by the bus' passengers and passages. A tattooed man checks his cell phone. An older woman keeps butterflies in a jar. A musician tunes and plays his guitar. At last the pair arrive at the titular destination and proceed to the soup kitchen where, upon recognizing friendly faces, CJ is glad they came to help. Robinson's bright, simple, multicultural figures, with their rounded heads, boxy bodies, and friendly expressions, contrast nicely with de la Peña's lyrical language, establishing a unique tone that reflects both CJ's wonder and his nana's wisdom. The celebratory warmth is irresistible, offering a picture of community that resonates with harmony and diversity.”-ALA Booklist
Connection:
*This book can be used in a social studies lesson to teach good citizenship. Students can make a list that shows all the instances in which Nana demonstrated good citizenship and give a reason for each of their choices.
*Students can also write about what makes them good citizens.
*Some books that are similar are
de la Peña, M., & Robinson, C. (2018). CARMELA FULL OF WISHES. New York, New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons.
ISBN:9780399549045
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