Author Guy Bass introduces SCRAP, about one robot who tried to protect the humans on his planet against an army of robots. Now the humans need his... Milo is on a long subway ride with h is older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There’s the whiskered man with the crossword puzzle; Milo imagines him playing solitaire in a cluttered apartment full of pets. There’s the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony. And then there’s the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo–walking the same path, going to the exact same place–Milo realizes that you can’t really know anyone just by looking at them. Families can talk about how Milo and his sister felt on the train every week in Milo Imagines the World. Why do you think he spent his time drawing? What kinds of things do you do when you're feeling the same way?

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña | Goodreads

Pictures brimming with activity, an endearing main character, and threads for thinking about art, families, and what we see in others make this a book that will hold up to many readings.” — School Library Journal This lesson activity will help readers to question their first assumptions of Milo after reading Milo Imagines the World. Step One I would like everyone I know, whether you've got little ones or not, to read this book. Matt de la Pena's writing is simply beautiful, Milo's voice is worldly wise and innocent, a smart boy who's grown up more than he should have to who sees such beauty in the world even while riding the dirty old subway. de la Pena's descriptions of that subway and its passengers so vividly conjure up images of NYC I was reminded almost too strongly of my long ago morning commute. Christian Robinson's illustrations are the perfect pairing to those words. He draws the subway and streets of New York teaming with life and color and soul. The distinction between the "real" world and Milo's drawings is also cleverly handled. He really grasps the child like sort of scrawl that you'd expect from a young child. Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the Transylvanian Express - and it's up to you to solve the case! Part of the Solve Your Own Mystery seri... A memorable, thought-provoking story poised to make a difference for many.”— Kirkus, starred reviewWow. I could tell from the beginning that I was going to love this, but that ending was really powerful. Sometimes picture books with a deep/heavy message come across too didactic and don't actually make and enjoyable story for the kids who are supposed to be the audience. But this was SOO well-done. Milo anxiously rides the subway and imagines the lives of the people around him. He likes to draw the stories he comes up with his head, and to do so he tends to make assumptions about people, as we all tend to do. When he arrives at his destination and sees that one of the other little boys from the train is there too (spoiler alert: they both have incarcerated parents), he recognizes that the stories of people around us may not always be what they seems. LOVE THIS BOOK and expect it to be very popular. (Also love the art style) When it comes to writing lesson plans and finding activities for Milo Imagines the World, we’ve already done all of the heavy lifting for you. T (electrician): (4 stars). I guess I liked it. Surprise ending--I was wondering where it was going. A text that flows like poetry . . . Glorious.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

Milo Imagines The World (Hardback) - Waterstones Milo Imagines The World (Hardback) - Waterstones

Sweet yet poignant . . . Manages to be sophisticated while also bringing in the joy and wonder associated with picture books.” — The San Diego Union-Tribune From the PublisherMilo, as an artist, observes everyone as he takes the subway in New York with his sister. These observations become imaginings and Robinson, with his incredible detail, depicts Milo’s imaginings of those he sees in crayon so it stands out separately from the acrylic paint and mixed media collage of Milo’s journey. There is so much to see on Milo’s journey and it isn’t until the end that the reader discovers he is visiting his mother with his older sister - a mother who is incarcerated. Two other passengers from the subway are there for the same reason, which causes Milo to reconsider his imaginings and own instinctive bias. Milo is riding the subway with his sister. We don't know where they are going, but it is a weekly trip that takes a long time. Along the way he imagines the lives of fellow passengers and draws pictures of them -- going home to their pets, living in a castle, getting married, etc. Perhaps first impressions do not always give us an accurate picture. . . Where are Milo and his sister going? I will leave that for you to discover via the words and picture of the 'Last Stop On Market Street' creators. If you loved that one, this one will also be a winner. Author Luke Palmer introduces his new book, Play (Firefly Press) about four boys growing up together, the challenges, the friendships, and what hap... I don’t want to give away the ending, but I will say that as Milo reaches his destination, he is surprised to find the young boy in the suit is going to the very same place as Milo and his sister. That’s how he learns that we can’t really know anyone just by looking at them, and is inspired to reimagine all of his drawings.

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña | Goodreads Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña | Goodreads

How much can you tell about someone by the way they look? As Milo and his sister take the subway together, Milo distracts himself from his worries about their errand by drawing pictures about the people he sees on the train. When they get off and get into line at the prison to visit their mother, Milo spies one of the boys he saw on the train and realizes that his drawing was completely wrong. Maybe he needs to reimagine the drawings in his sketchbook.

We all distract ourselves from life's anxieties by telling ourselves stories about the people we interact with, whether we know them well or are virtual strangers. We project our own motivations and values on them so their actions make sense to us, assigning them roles as heroes or villains, enablers or obstacles. Of course, the narratives we assign are swayed by our personal biases. Maybe the grumpy-looking man isn't alone in the world; he might have a family who loves him dearly, and he's just having a sour day. Perhaps the break dancers don't face discrimination because of their skin color and clothes. Maybe the boy who seems wealthy and without a care in the world is actually in the same situation you are, a shook-up soda nervous about what the coming hours will bring. This is Milo's epiphany moment in the book: "And a thought occurs to him: Maybe you can't really know anyone just by looking at their face." We tell ourselves stories about the people around us, there's no changing that. But instead of forcing the stories to confirm larger narratives we already believe, it's healthy to let some threads run counter to expectation; that's how we remain open to changing our minds. Grappling with story is challenging when it detours from our comfort zone, but it's the only way we learn from our mistakes and improve going forward. What do you think people see when they look at you? Do you think people are surprised by you sometimes? In this book, we follow a young boy named Milo as he and his older sister take their monthly Sunday subway ride to visit their mother. De la Peña and Robinson never disappoint me, but they’ve truly endeared themselves to me with this picture book. On one level, it’s about a little boy visiting his incarcerated mother. This theme resonates with me because I volunteer with a program that mentors kids like Milo. I’m always touched to hear their stories told with empathy and compassion. This team does just that. Matt de la Peña is the New York Times bestselling, Newbery Medal winning author of seven young adult novels (including Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here and Superman: Dawnbreaker) and five picture books (including Last Stop on Market Street and Love). Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific, where he attended school on a full athletic scholarship for basketball. In 2019 Matt was given an honorary doctorate from UOP. de la Peña currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with his family. He teaches creative writing and visits schools and colleges throughout the country. Read More…