… go round and round! (Now you’ve got the song stuck in your head, right?)
Bright yellow school buses are a familiar sight: they’re big, they’re noisy, and they’re on the move. Young children look forward to the day when they get to stand at the bus stop with the bigger kids and take a ride. Older children often hang out in the back of the bus, filling the air with energy and laughter. And those bus drivers? That’s a job that takes skill and loads of patience! Hop on and let’s explore bus books for kids.
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The Little School Bus
written by Margery Cuyler
illustrated by Bob Kolar
Henry Holt, 2018
For the littlest ones, here’s a board book introducing a friendly little school bus and his smiley driver Bob, who both handle a busy day on the job. I’m a little school bus; moving fast and slow; bouncing, turning, thumping; always on the go. The simple rhyming text and bright digital images make this a welcoming choice for preschoolers who will soon be bus riders themselves.
The Magic School Bus
written by Joanna Cole
illustrated by Bruce Degen
Scholastic, a 13-book series, originated in 1989
A list of bus books for kids wouldn’t be complete without a mention of The Magic School Bus series and Ms. Frizzle. With the Friz, learning is never ordinary and always extraordinary. Climb aboard, and she’ll take you anywhere you need to go to learn the lesson of the day: inside the human body, into the solar system, down to the ocean floor, inside a hurricane — even back to the time of the dinosaurs. The combination of scientific information and humor is timeless. Today’s kids can even watch the Magic School Bus series on TV.
Puppy Bus
written and illustrated by Drew Brockington
Abrams, 2022
When a boy and his family move to a new neighborhood, he has to start all over at a new school — and ride a new school bus. So many worries! So much I’m not ready. On the first day of school, the boy nervously boards the bus … and lick! Oh no, he’s boarded the wrong one. This is a PUPPY BUS. “Aughhh!!!” cries the boy, thinking of his terrible mistake. Using humor and hijinks, Brockington eases those first-day jitters and helps readers get comfortable with fresh starts — thanks to some furry new friends.
Time for School, Little Blue Truck
written by Alice Schertle
illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Clarion Books, 2021
Who can resist the charms of Little Blue Truck and his tiny friend toad? In this bouncy, rhyming story from the familiar series, Little Blue Truck meets a school bus on the road and wants to do the same job — carrying all the animals to school. But Blue isn’t big enough, or long enough, for a job like that. Unless … ? Discover how jaunty Little Blue Truck finds a way to save the day.
Trusty Bus
written by Elizabeth Weiss Verdick
illustrated by Jeff Harter
Beach Lane Books, 2024
It’s time for school, and Trusty Bus and Driver Dee are gearing up. Trusty’s riders are coming, and his engine’s hum-humming. Friendly, safety-conscious Trusty always takes his time, and he never leaves friends behind. When the students are safely at school, it’s time for Trusty and Dee to complete their daily clean-ups, fill-ups, and checkups before they head back to school for the journey home. Readers will see that Dee and Trusty take their jobs seriously. As Kirkus sums it up: “After all, the lives of many little ones rest in their steady hands, er, wheels. … A simple story to allay children’s fears about riding the school bus.”
The Yellow Bus
written and illustrated by Loren Long
Roaring Brook Press, 2024
An instant classic, this beautifully illustrated picture book by author-illustrator Loren Long tells the story of a bright yellow school bus that loves driving her riders each day, their pitter-patter, giggle, giggle sounds carrying a sense of comfort and joy. But time brings about change, and what was once bright and bold gradually becomes dented and old. The Yellow Bus is a tender, sweet musing upon what happens as we grow old: Are we no longer useful? Are we still welcome? The poignant drawings — with their use of minimal color against black-and-white backgrounds — encourage young readers to see the beauty in growing, changing, aging, fading, and still finding joy within each stage of our lives.