A Bus Called Heaven

The book is an interesting view of the meaning of community and heaven. I was disappointed in that, although it's a new hardcover book, it arrived with one of the corners crushed.

wonderful story. great pictures.

Enchanting! My four year old granddaughter asks for this book to be read over and over.

Great for primary grades...I love the community feeling of this book. It is ideal for sharing with kids young and old.

Darling book for little ones!

"OURS!" little Stella cries in A Bus Called Heaven. That's the defining moment in Bob Graham's new book and the word stands alone in a big double-page spread, echoing through his urban landscape.There are thousands of children's books that celebrate creativity, compassion and fanciful good fun. In fact, as a Baby Boomer who loved reading books to my own kids, I often regret that we didn't have more of these colorful picture books back when I was a kid in the `50s and `60s. We've come a long way in throwing open the windows to childhood imagination. But, to this day--there aren't that many picture books for kids that specifically tackle the challenges of building a diverse community.Over the years, as a journalist covering cultural diversity, I have highlighted gems about hospitality and diversity for all ages. For example, I've been a strong supporter of the delightful mouse-and-bear books by Bonny Becker and Kady MacDonald Denton. I especially recommend  A Visitor for Bear (Bear and Mouse)  and  A Bedtime for Bear (Bear and Mouse) . And, as much as I like the tales from this creative team, even they haven't reached the kind of vivid, clear-eyed vision of diversity that Bob Graham summons in A Bus Called Heaven.In Graham's world, we see Muslim women in hijab, Orthodox Jews in broad-brimmed fedoras, street kids in hoodies, bikers with tattoos, Hindus in neatly folded caps and Catholic priests in the full regalia of black suit and collar. We meet grandparents, parents and kids.The main character is little Stella, who sees only the best possibilities in her neighborhood. One day, she spots a beat-up old bus that could be a dangerous eyesore for her neighbors. Instead, Stella sees a sacred space. Well, she doesn't call it "sacred," but it's obvious in Graham's tale that this derelict bus is a slice of heaven for everyone. Of course, only Stella can see this truth, at first. Only Stella calls it: "OURS!"Go on! Get a copy of A Bus Called Heaven now from Amazon, while it's still available. Such books may sell forever, or may vanish after a season. This will become a family classic and, if you're involved in education or volunteer in your community--there's not a better book to share with kids. (And, of course, adults of all ages, too!)

The neighborhood was abuzz with activity in front of the Big M, everything of course but that big old abandoned bus. Everyone seemed to stop and take notice of it, peering into its windows from the street and glancing over it at it as they drove by. People suddenly began to stop and talk to each other instead of simply passing by one another. Little Stella too suddenly came to life. She suddenly claimed, "Mommy, that old bus is as sad as a whale on a beach." Stella approached the bus, stood on her tiptoes, and pushed open the door. As the sun shown though the windows of the abandoned bus, Stella looked like "the color of moonlight" as she looked around at the trash inside.Lots of other children and grownups went inside the bus to look around and listened closely as she declared, "It could be ... ours." What? How? It was a bus called "Heaven," but not just yet. They moved the bus from the road and pushed it back into Stella's yard. The yard started to come alive with activity as people began to clean up the bus and come together to fix up that decrepit bus. Soon the bus burst with activity as all kinds of people gathered inside to join in the fellowship with the neighbors. All of a sudden a tow truck showed up. There were regulations you know and that bus crept over the sidewalk Would the tow truck take away their little bit of "heaven" or could Stella save it?This is an amazing story of how a neighborhood came together to create their own bit of heaven. This is a story with lots of charm as we watch everyone come together to make an abandoned bus into a place that everyone could share and enjoy. Little Stella, like many young children, sees beauty where others see something ugly. Her optimism is infectious and when young and old read this book they too will become enthused as the abandoned bus becomes a little bit of heaven for them as well. The artwork is delightfully detailed and captures the spirit of the neighborhood as they come together instead of passing by one another, never stopping to see the beauty in the next person. This would be an excellent read and discuss story for circle or story time.

Seriously - this is the kind of book that EASILY lends itself to student-led conversations of all sorts. This could be read aloud in kindergarten-first or read in small groups or with a partner in 2nd-4th. Critical thinking questions could easily be posed like, "What did the bus represent? In the beginning? The middle? The end?" or "Why was the bus important? What in the text and illustrations makes you think so?" and "What do we have in our community or our school that is similar to the bus? Why do you think so?" Soooo much potential.

...& enjoyed by parents and children.No seat belts worn though so were I awarding points for health & safety it wouldn't have got 5 stars. I overlooked this giving artistic licence.

Original and pertinent. Bought to share with Sunday school class

We like this story so much we have it out of the library almost permanently! Bought if or a friend's child. It's a thoughtful and intelligent story with enough action and interest in the pictures to keep interest in the slightly more stretching story.

Like the drawing and all the publish from the writer