The Bus for Us

Starred review from June 1, 2001
PreS-Gr 1-Though the bright watercolors spread against crisp white backgrounds are eye-catching, what really draws children into this book is the repetitive chorus, "Is this the bus for us, Gus?" as the front part of a different vehicle is introduced on every other full-page spread. An older child, growing ever exasperated, kindly explains, "No, Tess. This is a-" (taxi, tow truck, backhoe, etc.). There are other treats for the book's viewers, too. Another child joins the line with every turn of the page and some youngsters will notice that the words "bus stop" occasionally become jumbled. Many readers will enjoy the unspoken story as the newly arrived children and their possessions begin to intermingle. Though the story is deceptively simple, teachers will be able to think of dozens of ways to share this book with preschool and beginning-reader audiences.-Thomas Pitchford, Rosenthal Elementary, Alexandria, LA

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2001
Ages 3-5. An everyday occurrence is transformed into a special, silly event in a story that is both clever and sweet. It's the first day of school and a brother and his little sister wait at the bus stop. "Is that bus for us, Gus?" Sharp readers will see the truth nosing in the corner of the page. As Gus tells his sister in the next spread, "No, Tess. That's a taxi." Whether it's an ice cream truck or a backhoe, Tess always asks the same question as a vehicle pulls into sight. Meanwhile, there's plenty of other action going on elsewhere. Other children come to the bus stop, but they don't join in Gus' and Tess' conversation. Not when there's a dog about to chase a cat, a trouble-causing turtle, and mixed-up lunchbags. The short repetitive text works well as a read-aloud or a beginning reader. Kids will get a kick out of knowing more than Tess (though she does seem to be asking the questions more for fun than information), but what they'll really enjoy is the watercolor art, alive with hijinks and humor. Many books these days feature a multicultural cast, but this book goes further than most. There's a Muslim girl, identifiable by her headscarf, a truck driver in a turban, and kids of various hues and ethnicities. Everyone is having a good time, including the young listeners.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)