Summary Of Last Stop On Market Street

Introduction
Last Stop on Market Street is a picture book published in 2015 by Penguin Books. The book follows a young boy named CJ as he learns from his grandmother to appreciate the beauty in everyday things during a bus ride.
Age Level and Themes
This book is for ages 5-10 (Pre-K to second grade). It introduces themes to children that usually aren’t seen in books of this reading level. By the end of the book, CJ learns about selflessness, humility, and empathy from his grandmother. After CJ has learned these lessons, we see CJ mature and appreciate the world around him.
Significance
I chose this book not only for its representation of African-American characters, but also for portraying a family of an economic status that one usually does

not see in children’s books. Many times in the book, CJ asks his grandmother why they don’t have certain things that others have. His grandmother always responds by introducing an optimistic perspective. Nana is always pointing out the beautiful things to CJ, despite their economic status.

“Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness for what is beautiful.”
Minority portrayal
The book features an African-American boy and his grandmother as main characters, and other minority groups represented as minor characters. The bus and the soup kitchen scenes feature many illustrations of people of color and people who are disabled. We also learn how to empathize and understand other minority groups, as CJ meets a blind man on the bus, and closes his eyes to imagine living like he does.
Plot Summary
A young boy named CJ exits a church, accompanied by his Nana, during a rainstorm. As they walk to a bus stop, CJ asks Nana why they have to walk in the rain, and Nana replies that trees, too, need water. When they arrive as the bus stop, CJ witnesses his friend riding home in a car with his father and asks his Nana why they do not have a car. Nana explains why they do not need a car, and highlights the magic of the bus. After encountering a blind man and witnessing two boys with iPods, a man plays a song on his guitar, causing CJ to finally feel true beauty. The book ends with a more mature CJ, and we find out that their destination all along was to volunteer at a soup kitchen.