Last Stop on Market Street

Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson produced one of the most acclaimed picture books in recent memory. CJ and his Nana ride the bus after church every Sunday to volunteer at a soup kitchen, and as CJ wonders why they lack what others have, his grandmother helps him find beauty in exactly what surrounds them. The faith-adjacent setting — the story begins at church — and the service ethic at its center make this one of the most naturally faith-friendly Newbery winners in years. Robinson's illustrations earned Caldecott recognition. Kirkus called it a tour de force. The themes of gratitude, community, and dignity in poverty are handled without a hint of sentimentality or preachiness. An easy, enthusiastic recommendation for any family.