ISBN 10: 9780399257742
AD610L; Grades K - 3
Readers take on a delightful journey with Matt de la Pena’s engaging text and Christian Robinson’s vibrant illustrations. A weekly bus ride after church shows the special bond CJ has with his grandma. As they travel through the city, CJ wonders about many things to his grandma. He wonders why they do not have car or why he does not have an iPod like other boys on the bus. Grandma lovingly responds to CJ’s curiosity about what he sees. She points out the beauty in the world around them and helps CJ find joy in unexpected places.
The illustrations reflect urban scenes of city streets, views inside the bus, and the community center. Diverse people reflect different skin tones, ages, abilities and personal style. Robinsons uses color to create striking contrasts on his double-page spreads. Muted greens are featured on the bus, bright orange on the street, and bold blue in the community center scenes. The expressive images will engage the reader.
Author:
Matt De La Pena is a New York Times bestselling author of five picture books and seven young adult novels. He has won numerous awards including the Newbery Award, Caldecott Award, and Coretta Scott King award. His writings are full of heart and includes themes of family, friendship, loyalty, diversity, love and so much more.
Illustrator:
Christian Robinson loved to draw, paint, and sculpt as a child. His creativity and passion for art continued to develop and are on display in the 19+ books he has illustrated. He finds inspiration almost everywhere he looks. You can learn more about him at his website https://www.theartoffun.com/
Awards for this title:
#1 New York Times Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
Winner of the Newbery Medal
A Caldecott Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
Pathways connections: Friends and Family, Personal Feelings and Growth, and Social Issues and Culture
Reviewed by Cheryl The, PhD
Professor of Education
Southwestern Adventist University
By Deborah Hopkinson (DeborahHopkinson.com)
Illustrated by Kristy Caldwell (KristyCaldwell.com)
Authors: Nik Kinley and Shlomo Ben-Hur
