The Last Last
Will be published approx. on 16. October 2025
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-1-77306-865-7 (ISBN)
Description
Mum and Grannie rush about and pack our things ... but I don't want to leave our island home!
The girl in this story is immigrating with her family from Jamaica to Canada. On this last day before they leave, she chews one last sugar cane stalk, and inhales the sweet smell of roast corn one last time. She takes one last walk to the beach and paddles in the ocean. Can this really be the last time she will see her home?
When their plane lands in Toronto, big buildings tower above their taxi. She, Mum and Grannie make their way through the busy streets to get to their new home. As the girl heads indoors, she hears an odd cry from a big, stripy blue bird. A blue jay, Grannie tells her. Could this be her very first first?
Inspired by Wendy J. Whittingham's childhood in Jamaica, and boldly brought to life by Caribbean artist Brianna McCarthy, The Last Last explores the idea that it's possible to make new memories while still carrying beautiful memories of your first home in your heart.
Key Text Features
Illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
The girl in this story is immigrating with her family from Jamaica to Canada. On this last day before they leave, she chews one last sugar cane stalk, and inhales the sweet smell of roast corn one last time. She takes one last walk to the beach and paddles in the ocean. Can this really be the last time she will see her home?
When their plane lands in Toronto, big buildings tower above their taxi. She, Mum and Grannie make their way through the busy streets to get to their new home. As the girl heads indoors, she hears an odd cry from a big, stripy blue bird. A blue jay, Grannie tells her. Could this be her very first first?
Inspired by Wendy J. Whittingham's childhood in Jamaica, and boldly brought to life by Caribbean artist Brianna McCarthy, The Last Last explores the idea that it's possible to make new memories while still carrying beautiful memories of your first home in your heart.
Key Text Features
Illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
Reviews / Votes
"Whittingham's ... depiction of a youngster independently making sense of the turmoil of relocating will speak to children confronting similar changes, big and small. Affecting and optimistic." - Kirkus Reviews "This affecting picture book ... offers comforting assurance to anyone adjusting to a new home or missing their last one." - BooklistMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Ontario
Canada
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 3 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
The illustrations were creating using acrylics.
Dimensions
Height: 237 mm
Width: 240 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
350 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77306-865-7 (9781773068657)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
WENDY J WHITTINGHAM is a writer and illustrator who lives in Burlington, Ontario. She illustrated the picture book Miss Wondergem's Dreadfully Dreadful Pie by Valerie Sherrard. The Last Last is her authorial debut.
BRIANNA McCARTHY is a mixed-media visual communicator and self-taught artist. She is the illustrator of If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio and When I See You by Brynne Barnes. Brianna lives in Trinidad and Tobago.
BRIANNA McCARTHY is a mixed-media visual communicator and self-taught artist. She is the illustrator of If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio and When I See You by Brynne Barnes. Brianna lives in Trinidad and Tobago.