SEL Read Aloud: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
Summary
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña is a vibrant, thoughtful story that follows a young boy named CJ and his Nana as they ride the city bus after church. Along the way, CJ asks questions about what they don’t have—why they don’t own a car, why they visit certain neighborhoods—and Nana gently opens his eyes to the beauty all around them.
With its rich illustrations and poetic language, the book encourages children to reflect on gratitude, perspective, empathy, and community—powerful themes that tie directly into SEL. It’s a perfect tool for helping students practice radical gratitude and discover the joy that comes from noticing, appreciating, and giving.
(Sources: imagineerz-learning.com + kidtimestorytime.com + teacherspayteachers.com)
Comprehension Questions
To guide students through the story’s meaning and encourage deeper thinking, consider these Bloom’s Taxonomy-inspired questions:
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Remembering: Where are CJ and his Nana going, and how do they get there?
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Understanding: Why does CJ ask questions about what they don’t have?
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Applying: Can you think of a time when you noticed something beautiful in a place you didn’t expect?
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Analyzing: What do Nana’s responses tell you about how she sees the world?
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Evaluating: Do you agree with Nana’s view of the world? Why or why not?
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Creating: Draw a scene or write a sentence about something ordinary that you’re now grateful for.
CASEL Discussion Questions
Use these prompts to connect the story to SEL competencies, especially Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, and Relationship Skills:
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Self-Awareness: How do you think CJ feels at the beginning of the story compared to the end?
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Social Awareness: Why does Nana remind CJ of the beauty around them?
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Empathy: Have you ever felt like CJ—wishing you had something someone else had? What helped you feel better?
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Relationship Skills: How does Nana show CJ love, wisdom, and care throughout the book?
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Responsible Decision-Making: How can you choose to notice the good things in your life, even when things feel unfair?
Hands-On Challenge
Design a “Gratitude Window” Project
Help students turn the story’s message into visual reflection with a creative activity:
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Understand — Read the story and talk about how Nana helps CJ see things in a new way. They will build “Gratitude Windows” and put things inside that they’re grateful for.
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Ideate — Ask: “What’s something in your life that you sometimes overlook—but that you’re now thankful for?”
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Prototype — Provide students with construction paper, scissor, and take to make “bus windows.” Inside each, students will draw or write about something they’re newly grateful for—like a walk with a sibling, their school, a neighbor, or a simple daily routine.
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Test & Present — Display the windows on a bulletin board titled “What We See Now.” Let students walk through and reflect on each other’s work.
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Reflect — Invite students to write or share: “How did it feel to look at your life through Nana’s eyes?”
In Conclusion
Last Stop on Market Street gently teaches students that beauty is everywhere—if we choose to look. It also reminds us that radical gratitude isn’t about ignoring what’s hard—it’s about noticing what’s good, even when things aren’t perfect.
When students begin to practice that mindset, they build not only perspective, but emotional resilience. This read-aloud is a powerful entry point into conversations about gratitude, empathy, and finding joy in everyday life.
Read Aloud
If you appreciated getting to read this book with your class, you might also want to share this book with them!
Additional Resources
Copyright Notice
The image on this page comes from the book Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
