Dr. Toughlove put a spotlight on a wonderful new picture book by Loren Long for her May 2025 column. Enjoy!
Yellow school buses are the backbone of school transportation systems in suburban, rural and in some cases urban settings. Friendships emerge, and sometimes spats/arguments/bullying occurs. School bus ridership provides an opportunity for children to learn to navigate relationships in a less structured environment than a typical classroom, for better or worse.
Loren Long, a New York Times bestselling illustrator and author has used his indisputable talent to write and illustrate the enchanting book “The Yellow Bus.”
Published in 2024, this charming book follows the journey of a school bus and the variety of ways it is used. For example, as previously noted, it is a vehicle that transports students from one important place (home) to another (school). It can also transport senior citizens, and can serve as a refuge for the homeless. The Yellow Bus is versatile and its existence takes many twists and turns. Dr. Toughlove strongly suggests that you read the book to find out its final destination.
In the rear of the book, Loren Long explains that “The Yellow Bus” was inspired by an abandoned bus he sees when he goes on his habitual run along a bike trail near his home. He wondered how the bus got there and where it had been. With that question planted in his mind, the picture book “The Yellow Bus” was born.
Dr. Toughlove would be remiss if she didn’t acknowledge and applaud Loren Long’s beautiful illustrations. A mixture of black and white drawings with splashes of color (most notably yellow) provides contrast and visual interest. The words and the pictures are in perfect harmony and the reading experience feels magical.
“The Yellow Bus” is perfect for children, aged 4-7 years, but Dr. Toughlove believes that adults will enjoy this story as much as the youngsters do. It is available at your local library.