In the picture book Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña (illustrated by Christian Robinson; published 2015), a young boy travels across town with his Nana and learns to find joy and beauty in the ordinary as he travels. CJ begins by not wanting to be traveling on the bus, but by the end he has come to feel gratitude for the chance to help at their ultimate destination.
Last Stop on Market Street earned the 2016 Newbery Medal, which is unique since this is a picture book and that award more commonly goes to a middle grade novel or other novel. That said, I can see the strong literary merit of the book. In a picture book, every word counts, and this book choose fantastic words to describe the setting: “The outside air smelled like freedom,” the second page begins. Later “He watched water pool on flower petals” and “patter.” The strong sense of place is complemented with the vivid verbs. The bus “creaked,” “sighed[,] and sagged.” Other pages likewise use strong verbs and descriptive words. CJ learns to appreciate the ordinary as he watches outside and listens to the “the magic of music” with his eyes closed. Further, the imagery creates a strong message of finding the beauty in the ordinary. Nana says, “Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful.”
All of the text and the metaphoric language is strengthen by the illustrations, which are essential to understanding de la Peña’s story. The illustrations are created using acrylic paint and collage. Geometric edges are created on strong lines, but some rounded corners and stamped shapes (like leaves on the tree) keep it from feeling too stark or cold. Bright colors give a light feeling to the pages and the story, even as the setting shifts into a less well-off neighborhood. The cheerful illustrations are not realistic or detailed, but they are consistent and clear in representing real items. The Caldecott Honor was also awarded to this book, honoring these illustrations.
