On Our Way with Mr. Jay

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Co-Authors / Illustrators
Age Range
4+
Release Date
July 29, 2025
ISBN
978-0823457045
Buy This Book
     
Cheer for the district’s most intrepid school bus driver as he races to get everybody to school before the bell rings!

A school is an entire community of its own, but many of its members never get celebrated. This book, the hero is the school bus driver! The first staff member kids see in the morning and the last they say goodbye to, the bus driver has a crucial part to play—and Mr. Jay is up to the challenge.

With the clock ticking all the while, Mr. Jay picks up kids from all over town—out in the country, up a hill, in the busy city, always piloting his bus with jaunty rhymes and a can-do attitude. Along the route, he’s called upon to settle stomachs, clean up pony poo, and fix a diorama. He avoids a stampede, settles down an intruding dog, and even fights off hostile swans! But will he get the kids to school on time?

Chelsea Lin Wallace and Thyra Heder deliver a rollicking, high-energy ride with On Our Way with Mr. Jay, the first in a series of books about school heroes. Whether eager for the start of school, nervous about new experiences, or fond of their own beloved driver, kids will be giggling and cheering their way through this irrepressible, fun-filled read-aloud.

Editor review

1 review
Celebrating Community Heroes: School Bus Drivers
(Updated: June 03, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Mr. Jay, the school bus driver, has to get the students to school before the bell rings. He has to pick up kids all over town, and along this journey, he has to help fix a diorama, settle stomachs, and fight off hostile swans. Can Mr. Jay get everyone to school on time, given all these interruptions?

What I Liked: This book opens by introducing you to Mr. Jay, who lets you know that he has to get the kids to school by a certain time. As you go along this journey, this book has you on the edge of your seat as you wonder if Mr. Jay can get to school on time. There’s so much that happens along this journey that makes you more and more appreciative of school bus drivers and all they do for us.

This book has realistic illustrations that accompany silly yet realistic situations that a bus driver might encounter. There were situations such as children feeling sick, a dog getting onto the bus, and children losing their project in a tree because of the wind. There are also silly scenarios, such as the bus driver chasing the geese away so a child can get on the bus, or a group of siblings getting onto the bus, and the mom ensuring that they are all there.

Final Verdict: On Our Way with Mr. Jay is a delightful book that celebrates school bus drivers by showcasing everything they do each morning just to get children safely to school. Children ages 4 and up will enjoy this fun and silly book that they will relate to if they have ever taken a rowdy school bus. This book does a great job of highlighting the importance of school bus drivers and can help teach children to appreciate the work that these community members do.
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User reviews

1 review
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0(1)
Characters
 
5.0(1)
Writing Style
 
5.0(1)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0(1)
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Fun, fast-paced, and full of charm
(Updated: June 03, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
This joyful picture book shines a spotlight on an unsung hero of every school day the bus driver! Mr. Jay isn’t just steering the bus, he’s wrangling chaos with rhymes, humor, and heart. From pony poo to pesky swans, nothing keeps him from getting his crew safely to school.

Fun, fast-paced, and full of charm this one’s a lively tribute to everyday heroes kids see and rely on every morning!
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