A Bus Called Heaven is a very cute story about a girl named Stella who brings the people of her town together in an effort to restore an old, rickety bus known as Heaven. The bus, Heaven, seems to be useless and blocks part of the street. Stella looks past all the empty bottles and cans inside, and automatically falls in love with it. She sees the sparrows nesting inside the engine, and becomes determined to save it. Stella brings her neighbors together and it becomes a gathering place for them. They clean it up and start decorating it. Each person brings something to the bus to contribute and share with the others. Neighbors bring stuffed animals, a pet fish, a foosball table with one goalie, and other personal belongings. The bus becomes a very special gathering place to them where they have the best of times and create many memories.
One day the bus gets towed away for blocking traffic. Stella is sad at the thought of the neighborhood hangout being gone. Stella and the neighbors follow the bus to the junkyard to save it. Stella places a bet with the man working at the junkyard that if she wins at a game of foosball they get to keep the bus. Stella wins using the side with the missing goalie!
The neighbors push the bus into an open area behind Stella's yard. The place becomes live with music and games again. The neighbors dance and celebrate around the bus.
I think this would be a great book to use with your students because it teaches them about collaboration and teamwork. It shows the importance of diversity as the neighbors come and share a bit of their own lives with the community.