Ladybug Nominee Profile

The Yellow Bus by Loren Long (Roaring Brook Press, 2024)

There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another. Every morning they climb in . . . Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter. And they fill her with joy.

As time passes, things change. The Yellow Bus gets a new driver, a new route, and new passengers, young and old. Until one day the driving stops for good, and the Yellow Bus is left on her own. And yet, no matter where she is, the Yellow Bus still finds joy and discovery in the world around her.

A poignant reflection on change and the many new beginnings life has to offer, The Yellow Bus is the perfect present for the millions heading back to school, from first-time students and returning ones, to beloved teachers and the life-long learners in all of us.

About Loren Long

Loren Long is a lifelong Midwesterner who grew up loving to draw and paint. His instantly recognizable and nostalgic style is grounded in American Regionalism, an art movement from the 1930s. He lives in Cincinnati, where he and his wife have raised two sons and four dogs, including their current rescue dog, Charlie. His website is at: https://lorenlong.com/

Activities & Links

• Read along with the author/illustrator at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz_vzwR3xQMv=puol5z0W_t8
• Check out this video about the making of 'The Yellow Bus": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcyTiM_pYxs&t=3s
• E Train Talks: All About Books! has a great interview with Loren Long at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-VN-7TIJWE
• Check out this activity kit for the book at: https://www.mackidsschoolandlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Yellow-Bus-Activity-Kit.pdf
• Draw a map that features all of the places the bus visits in the book.

Suggestions for Further Reading

• Check out the other 2025 Ladybug Longlist titles featuring School at: https://nhbookcenter.blogspot.com/2025/02/ladybug-longlist-school.html
• If you want another book written by Loren Long, try Otis, a 2010 Ladybug nominee.  
• For more books illustrated by Loren Long, check out Someone Builds the Dream and Change Sings: A Children's Anthem, both 2022 Ladybug nominees.
• For another book about a bus, consider Puppy Bus by Drew Brockington, a 2023 Ladybug Longlist title. 

This is one of nine titles nominated for the 2025 Ladybug Picture Book Award.

We will be posting information about a different nominee each Friday throughout the summer and will issue a pdf voters guide featuring all the titles by Labor Day.