Last Stop on Market Street

Week 6 Picture Book 4:
Last Stop on Market Street
Written By: Matt De La Peña
Illustrated By: Christian Robinson
Published: 2015

It is very rare that I come across a Newberry Award winning book that I am disappointed in. Unfortunately, Last Stop on Market Street was one of them. I can't quite put my finger on why it just didn't "do it" for me, which is frustrating because it is a quality book. It tells the story of a young boy named CJ and his Nana as they make their way across town one Sunday after church. CJ, like many young children, does not understand why he can't live a material rich life like many of the people around him. He is constantly mentioning his observations and asking questions to Nana about what he sees and wants. He wants to know why they don't have a car and wishes he could have an MP3 player. His Nana encourages him to have a positive outlook on life and to always remember "sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt... you're a better witness for what's beautiful". 

The illustrations are interesting. They fall on the more abstract side of the art spectrum when they are zoomed out views, but when they are close ups on a character, the details are quite a bit sharper. The colors used are warm and engaging, which makes the visual experience pretty pleasing. De La Peña and Robinson do a great job of creating a vivid personality for each color using brief descriptions and a detailed images. For example, the reader can tell that Nana is a caring and generous woman. However, this is expanded on in the illustrations. You can tell through her meaningful touches and careful body language that she is very considerate of the individuals around her and their needs. 

I feel obligated to have Last Stop on Market Street in my classroom library. While it may not have been a personal favorite, it is still a quality book that will have a lot of use. I would definitely use this book during a lesson on points of view. We would be able to discuss the difference between CJ and Nana's perspectives throughout the story. This  book could also be used to inspire a writing activity. The students could write a backstory for one of the characters on the bus or at the last stop on Market Street. I give this book three stars.