If you haven't read this one yet, you’ve likely seen it on every "Best of" list for the last decade. Written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson, it follows a young boy named CJ and his Nana on their weekly post-church bus trip across town.

CJ is in a mood. He’s questioning why they don't have a car like his friend Colby. He’s wondering why he has to stand in the rain. He’s eyeing the older boys on the bus with their "music players" (which, in today’s world, are definitely iPhones or Nintendo Switches).

Nana doesn't shut him down or lecture him about being "spoiled." Instead, she gently reframes his perspective. She shows him that the bus is a "magic trick," that the man with the guitar is a live concert, and that their destination—a soup kitchen—is where they find the most beautiful people.

We are currently raising kids in an era of unprecedented "digital envy." It’s not just the kid at school with the new sneakers anymore; it’s the 8-year-old on YouTube doing a $10,000 "haul" or the MrBeast video where someone wins a private island.

Our kids are constantly bombarded with the idea that "more" equals "better." If they aren't asking for V-Bucks in Fortnite, they’re asking for Robux to buy a digital pet in Adopt Me!. It’s exhausting for us as parents to constantly be the "no" person.

Last Stop on Market Street gives us a different script. It reminds us that "presence" is a form of wealth. When CJ sees the boys with the music player, Nana doesn't say "we're too poor for that." She points to the blind man on the bus and says, "You don't need a player when you’ve got the real thing right across from you."

Learn more about how unboxing videos affect kid brain chemistry

If you love the vibe of Last Stop on Market Street, here are a few other pieces of media that help kids (and us) step out of the consumerist cycle.

Bluey is the gold standard for a reason. While many kids' shows are basically 22-minute toy commercials, Bluey focuses on imaginative play using cardboard boxes, old rugs, and sticks. It reinforces that the most "fun" things aren't bought in a store. The episode "Money" is a great companion to this book, as it handles the "why can't we have that?" question with typical Heeler grace.

This is a classic for a reason. After a fire destroys their home, a family saves coins in a giant jar to buy one comfortable chair. It’s a beautiful look at collective effort, patience, and the value of things we work for. It’s a great "anti-Amazon-Prime" story where things don't just appear on the doorstep in 24 hours.

While Last Stop on Market Street focuses on economic gratitude, The Invisible Boy focuses on social gratitude and inclusion. It’s about seeing the kids who aren't the loudest or the most "popular" (the ones who don't have the "Ohio" rizz, in modern kid-speak).

I know, I know—it's an app. But Toca Life World is one of the few digital spaces that feels like a digital dollhouse rather than a casino. While there are in-app purchases, the core of the game is about storytelling and "finding beauty in the neighborhood" of the digital city. It’s a much healthier alternative to the high-pressure social hierarchy of Roblox.

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This book doesn't shy away from the reality of poverty or the existence of soup kitchens. It doesn't "Disney-fy" the neighborhood. That’s why it’s so powerful.

In our house, we use the "Nana Filter." When one of the kids is complaining about their "laggy" Minecraft session or the fact that we have to take the "boring" way home, we ask, "What would Nana say right now?" Usually, it helps them find one small thing that doesn't suck.

If your kid is obsessed with what influencers have, Last Stop on Market Street is a great way to talk about the "Music Player" vs. the "Real Thing."

Check out our guide on navigating YouTube consumerism

Here are a few non-preachy questions to ask after reading:

Last Stop on Market Street isn't just a book for kids; it’s a manual for parents trying to stay sane in a digital world designed to make us feel inadequate. It’s a reminder that we don't need to buy our kids the latest "Skibidi" whatever to give them a rich, vibrant childhood. We just need to help them look up from the screen and see the "magic trick" of the world right in front of them.

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