Last Stop on Market Street (Hardcover) - by Matt de la Peña, Christian Robinson

About the Book

A young boy, CJ, rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.

Book Synopsis

#1 New York Times Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller
Winner of the Newbery Medal
A Caldecott Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book

This award-winning modern classic--a must-have for every child's home library--is an inclusive ode to kindness, empathy, gratitude, and finding joy in unexpected places, and celebrates the special bond between a curious young boy and his loving grandmother.

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty--and fun--in their routine and the world around them.

This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Peña's vibrant text and Christian Robinson's radiant illustrations.

Review Quotes

Praise for Last Stop on Market Street

#1 New York Times Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
Winner of the Newbery Medal
A Caldecott Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
A New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year
A Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year
An NPR Best Book of the Year
The Huffington Post Best Overall Picture Book of the Year
A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Horn Book Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library 100 Books for Reading & Sharing Pick
A Miami Herald Best Children's Book of the Year
A Raleigh News & Observer Best Children's Book of the Year
An Atlanta Parent Best Book of the Year

"It's also the warmth of their intergenerational relationship that will make this book so satisfying, for both young readers and the adults sharing it with them." --The New York Times

"That material poverty need not mean spiritual or imaginative poverty becomes beautifully clear in the quietly moving pages of 'Last Stop on Market Street, ' a picture book by Matt de la Peña filled with Christian Robinson's vibrant naïf illustrations." --The Wall Street Journal

"Matt de la Peña's warmhearted story is musical in its cadences . . . Christian Robinson's angular, bright illustrations are energetic and vibrant . . . [A] celebration of the joys of service, the gifts of grandmothers and the tenderness that the city can contain." --The Washington Post

"The sharp illustrations--in bold, and cheerful primaries--get CJ's restless energy and curious postures exactly right. The voices of CJ and his grandmother carry the story along in subtle point and counterpoint so that at this book's quiet close you feel like you've been listening to a song." --The Boston Globe

★ "This celebration of cross-generational bonding is a textual and artistic tour de force." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Like still waters, de la Peña and Robinson's story runs deep. It finds beauty in unexpected places, explores the difference between what's fleeting and what lasts, acknowledges inequality, and testifies to the love shared by an African-American boy and his grandmother." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "De la Peña and Robinson here are carrying on for Ezra Jack Keats in spirit and visual style. This quietly remarkable book will likely inspire questions . . . It will also have some adult readers reaching for a tissue." --The Horn Book, starred review

★ "With the precision of a poet, Matt de la Peña chronicles a boy's heartwarming Sunday morning routine with his nana. Christian Robinson's uplifting palette and culturally diverse cast brightens the rainy-day backdrop." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

"The urban setting is truly reflective, showing people with different skin colors, body types, abilities, ages, and classes in a natural and authentic manner . . . A lovely title." --School Library Journal

"It's not often that you see class addressed in picture books in ways that are subtle and seamless, but Last Stop on Market Street, the affectionate story of a young boy and his grandmother, does just that . . . This ode to gratitude is 2015's first must-read picture book." --BookPage

"If Robinson doesn't win this year's Caldecott, then next year could be the one with his name on it. His remarkable Last Stop on Market Street (with Matt de la Peña), is an early favorite for the best picture book of 2015." --The Huffington Post

Bright colors and streamlined shapes keep the urban setting and its denizens cheerful, emphasizing the positive message." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This story is full of figurative language and the art provides a distinct contemporary feel to support this urban story." --School Library Connection

About The Author

Matt de la Peña is the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street. He is also the author of the award-winning picture books Carmela Full of Wishes, Love, and A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, and seven critically acclaimed young adult novels. Matt teaches creative writing and visits schools and colleges throughout the country. You can visit Matt at mattdelapena.com, or on Twitter and Instagram @mattdelapena.

Christian Robinson received a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in Last Stop on Market Street. He is the author and illustrator of the picture books Another and You Matter, and he has illustrated many more, including Carmela Full of Wishes, the Gaston and Friends series, School's First Day of School, and The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade. You can visit Christian at theartoffun.com, or follow him on Twitter @theartoffunnews and on Instagram @theartoffun.