Smiling boy with backpack waves beside a school bus in front of a clock-tower school and leafy trees.

Waving by the School Bus

A cheerful backpacked boy waves from the sidewalk as a school bus waits by the clock-tower school and tall leafy trees.

🎨 How to color it

Color the school bus golden yellow, the boy’s backpack bright blue, the clock-tower school warm red brick, and the leafy trees spring green. Use chunky crayons or markers for the bus, sidewalk, and school walls, saving a sharper pencil for the small clock face, stop sign, and bus lettering. Try making the morning sky pale peach near the school roof and light blue above the treetops, like the first day is just waking up.

The story behind this coloring page

The Bell Under the Seat — At the curb, Arlo held one backpack strap and listened to the school morning. Read the full story →

At the curb, Arlo held one backpack strap and listened to the school morning. The bus hummed like a giant bee, the leaves clicked softly in the trees, and the clock tower showed almost nine. He waved to Ms. June, the driver, then stepped up slowly, counting each rubbery stair with his sneakers: one, two, three. Inside, the seats smelled like crayons, raincoats, and warm vinyl. Arlo chose the same seat by the window and waited for the bell to ring at school.

While he sat, a tiny jingle answered the bus’s rumble. Not the big bell in the tower. Not a lunchbox. Arlo bent down and found a silver handbell tucked under the seat, tied with a blue note: For the first listener. Ms. June smiled. “It was waiting for patient ears.” When the bus doors opened, Arlo rang it once, clear and bright, and the tower bell answered. Can you find the stop sign near the place where Arlo first heard that tiny jingle?