When they arrive at the "last stop", CJ asks, "How come it's always so dirty over here?" Nana replies, "Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful." The bus ride includes a conversation with a blind man and an impromptu concert by a man with a guitar. It is so well regarded that it won the prestigious Newbery Medal, one of only two picture books ever to have won and the first by a Latino author.Īs the story begins, CJ is feeling sorry for himself, "How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?" Why don't they have a car? Why can't he play after church like his friends? Nana answers with child-like images to connect CJ to the wonders around him: a fire-breathing bus and trees drinking rain through straws. The tone is quite light and playful while the themes explored are profound. Along the way, the grandmother helps him appreciate the unexpected beauty in the city, especially in the people.
An African-American child and his look-on-the-bright-side grandmother take a bus, after church, to a soup kitchen (though we don't find out their destination until the end). This picture book is truly extraordinary and, while delightful for the preschool set, can also be used with older students right up through middle school.
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