Synopses & Reviews
Could a broken-down bus really bring a whole city neighborhood together? Could it all start with a small girl named Stella?One morning in front of Stellas house, an abandoned bus appears, looking sad as a whale on a beach. On its front, held up with packing tape, is a hand-painted sign that says Heaven. Right away, the bus brings change to Stellas street when people stop to talk about it instead of rushing by. And as Stella looks past all the empty bottles and cans inside, as she sees the sparrows nesting in the engine, she changes, too. "This bus could be ours," she declares. With a masters eye for finding the magic in the mundane, Bob Graham creates an encouraging story about community — a whimsical tale about neighbors of all ages and stripes coming together, and about one little girl who comes into her own.
About the Author
Bob Graham is the author-illustrator of many award-winning books for children, including
How to Heal a Broken Wing and
April and Esme, Tooth Fairies. He lives in Australia.
"I left those people on the last page of Heaven knowing that there is still rust under that new paint job, but if the developers stay away from the vacant lot, the bus has surely reached a happy destination. There is a kettle inside, a row of mugs on cup hooks, and quite often a cake from Mrs. Stavros. Hopefully for years to come it will be a happy refuge for people, baby birds, and snails." — Bob Graham