Last Stop on Market Street

About the Book

Meet one of the wisest grandmothers in picture-story books. Young CJ has a lot of questions for his nana and all her answers make him reflect or spark his imagination. As they leave church and wait at the bus stop in the rain, CJ wants to know, “Nana, how come we don’t got a car?” She says, “Boy, what do we need a car for? We got a bus that breathes fire.” When he sees a rainbow as they arrive to work at a soup kitchen, CJ wonders “how his nana always found beautiful where he never even thought to look.” Richly colored collage illustrations create a vivid urban setting and a heart-warming pair of protagonists.

Why this Book?

For good reason, this won the Newbery Award for writing and a Caldecott Honor Award for illustrations. What a treat to have such a remarkable team create a tribute to every grandmother who has helped a child understand life better. From the yellow-and-white endpapers to the final picture, the almost childlike retro pictures portray and extend the beautifully written text, both true to a child’s feelings and voice. This is a moving and joyful book about dignity and appreciation of life.