On Our Way with Mr. Jay (School Heroes #1)

Sporting a purple Hawaiian shirt and gray ponytail, and sipping from a thermal mug whose sticker reads “Be nice to the bus driver/ it’s a long walk home,” Mr. Jay commands School Bus 3—and the 18 kids on the route adore him. Lavishly energetic slice-of-life marker, pencil, and ink artwork by Heder shows Mr. Jay bringing unshakable cool to bear on an obstacle course of switchbacks, cobblestone roads, and an interstate, but his true appeal lies in his attentiveness—from pulling over for a carsick kid to rescuing a treed diorama and wrangling enthusiastic animals. Digital clock numbers count down the minutes until the 8:05 start of school, but though time is tight, there’s never any doubt that Mr. Jay will hit his mark. Wallace’s rhyming text, which scans cleverly across running lines and dialogue balloons, returns to an anchoring refrain: “That’s okay./ We’re on our way!” And after the chorus of charges disembarks, Mr. Jay sends them off with a warm farewell, tidies the bus, and boards a ride of his own—one that grandly reveals how he comes by his own skills. Starring a beloved adult who brings everyone together, this jubilant picture book hails its school-commute VIP accordingly: “When problems happen on the road,/ when little things make heavy loads,/ there’s nothing like a trusted guide/ to keep you safe inside the ride.” Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. (July)