"Kids are inundated with so many advertisements of things that they 'should' have," de la Pea says. "And they develop this idea of like I want, I want, I want. ... I felt like the grandmother was such a great vehicle for: But you have, you have, you have."
Robinson identified with that sentiment, but says his grandmother was a little less "polite and gentle" in her efforts to help him recognize the blessings in front of him. "It was like a sandwich," he says. "The bread was sort of like the discipline, and the meat and the vegetables were kind of like the love, so it was balanced."
De le Pea grew up in a working class neighborhood, just outside of San Diego near the U.S.-Mexico border. "My big takeaway from my childhood was: I saw my dad get up every day 5:00 o'clock in the morning. ... I saw my mom hustle, do every different job she could to provide for us. We never had quite enough, but we made it work. And I think my goal with everything I write ... is to kind of show the grace and dignity on the 'wrong side of the tracks.' "
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Nana gave everyone a great big smile and a "good afternoon." She made sure CJ did the same. Christian Robinson/Courtesy of Penguin Random House Publishing hide caption
itoggle caption Christian Robinson/Courtesy of Penguin Random House Publishing
Nana gave everyone a great big smile and a "good afternoon." She made sure CJ did the same.
Christian Robinson/Courtesy of Penguin Random House Publishing
De le Pea says this book features characters from diverse backgrounds but it isn't a book about diversity. "That's very important to me," he says. "I don't think every book has to be about the Underground Railroad for it to be an African-American title."
Robinson says that, coming from the perspective of an illustrator, the essential element is fun. He's found that in books that focus explicitly on diversity, "there tends to be an element of heaviness — maybe because the history is heavy and serious."
Robinson hopes that playful, fun stories featuring a diverse cast of characters will reach wider audiences. He and de la Pea designed Last Stop on Market Street to be a book that would speak to all kids. "This is a book that features an African-American boy and his African-American grandmother," de la Pea says. "I think sometimes in the past those books were set aside for kids of color. I really, really hope that everybody reads this. I hope suburban white children are read this book as well."
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