Last Stop on Market Street

 Title: Last Stop on Market Street

Author: Matt De La Pena

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Summary: A young boy named CJ was with his grandmother walking to the bus stop after church. While walking to the bus, CJ asks his grandma why they have to wait for the bus in the rain, and the grandma replies "Trees get thirsty too". After they get on the bus, CJ looks out the window and asks why they don't have a car, and the grandma replies, "Boy, why do we need a car? We got a bus that breathes fire, and an old Mr. Dennis who always has a trick for you." Through the rest of the story, CJ asks his grandmother questions on why he doesn't have this or that, and the grandma replies with an answer. At the last stop on market street, CJ and grandma get off to go to the soup kitchen. He realizes that he notices friendly faces waving at him that he met on the bus. He says to his grandma, "I'm glad we came."

This is one of my all-time favorite books and will want to read it to my students in the future. It's such a simple book, but with so much meaning behind it. The whole story is about CJ asking his grandma questions about why they don't have things like a car or why they have to go on the bus, and the grandma answers with a beautiful answer every time. I loved how she answers with pride and doesn't get mad at CJ for asking questions. This book can give young readers an open mind that they should be grateful for what they have and everything little detail in life can be a blessing in disguise. I give this book a 5/5.