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{"id":7528284389435,"title":"The Last Last","handle":"the-last-last","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMum and Grannie rush about and pack our things … but I don’t want to leave our island home!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by Wendy J. Whittingham’s childhood in Jamaica, and boldly brought to life by Caribbean artist Brianna McCarthy, \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e explores the idea that it’s possible to make new memories while still carrying beautiful memories of your first home in your heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Text Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIllustrations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRetell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDescribe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2026-01-23T09:54:31-05:00","created_at":"2026-01-23T09:50:05-05:00","vendor":"Groundwood Books Ltd","type":"","tags":["age range 3 - 6","By (author) Whittingham Wendy J.","CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2","CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3","CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7","CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1","CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3","CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6","CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7","Groundwood Books","Illustrated by McCarthy Brianna","Immigrants and Refugees","Lexile measure AD510L","Picture Books","pub date: 2025-09-02","Stories from Around the World"],"price":1699,"price_min":1699,"price_max":2199,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43162041516091,"title":"hardcover","option1":"hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781773068657","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"The Last Last - hardcover","public_title":"hardcover","options":["hardcover"],"price":2199,"weight":354,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781773068657","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}},{"id":43162043187259,"title":"EPUB, fixed","option1":"EPUB, fixed","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781773068664","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Last Last - EPUB, fixed","public_title":"EPUB, fixed","options":["EPUB, fixed"],"price":1699,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":null,"barcode":"9781773068664","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_32174bd1-44ad-488a-9f7d-2e21f28000d3.jpg?v=1769179859","\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_b848f517-bb4d-459e-b459-1b1088addde3.jpg?v=1769179859","\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_b256dd7a-f2a9-4e86-8c54-263ba8b1ad75.jpg?v=1769179860","\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_0f01a4df-704a-4368-a29a-6783d031c829.jpg?v=1769179860"],"featured_image":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_32174bd1-44ad-488a-9f7d-2e21f28000d3.jpg?v=1769179859","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"Cover: The Last Last. Written by Wendy J. Whittingham and illustrated by Brianna McCarthy. A young girl floats in bright blue water, smiling with her arms spread wide. Four small, brightly colored fish swim around her. She has dark skin tone with black tight-curly hair parted into twisted pigtails on either side of her head and secured by pink bobbled hair ties. Her eyes are closed as she floats, and her cheeks are a deep rosy color. She wears a pink one-piece swimsuit that has light purple polka-dots.","id":26315442421819,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"width":1600,"src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_32174bd1-44ad-488a-9f7d-2e21f28000d3.jpg?v=1769179859"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_32174bd1-44ad-488a-9f7d-2e21f28000d3.jpg?v=1769179859","width":1600},{"alt":"On the right page, a girl is in a pink and blue striped shirt and looks up at her mom. Mum is smiling and holding her cheek while in her other arm she holds some laundry. The girl’s curly hair is in braided pigtails with pink bobbled hair ties. Mum has dreadlocks clipped back and wears a green shirt. Grannie is behind them packing a wooden crate with various household items. The left page is orange with text: Mum and Grannie rush about, packing our things. But I just stare. “Let’s go lazybones,” Mum says.","id":26315442454587,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":2.0,"height":400,"width":800,"src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_b848f517-bb4d-459e-b459-1b1088addde3.jpg?v=1769179859"},"aspect_ratio":2.0,"height":400,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_b848f517-bb4d-459e-b459-1b1088addde3.jpg?v=1769179859","width":800},{"alt":"The girl sits on the sand with her feet resting in the water. Her bag is beside her, and she wears her pink-and-purple polka-dotted bathing suit. She is looking up at the sky with a slight frown. Her red can is beside her with feathers and a shell sticking out of the top. Three small yellow and black striped fish swim near the girl’s feet and three small boats are farther out. Two black birds fly above. Lush green hills surround the water. Text states she looks around as fish tell her its her last swim.","id":26315442487355,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":2.0,"height":400,"width":800,"src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_b256dd7a-f2a9-4e86-8c54-263ba8b1ad75.jpg?v=1769179860"},"aspect_ratio":2.0,"height":400,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_b256dd7a-f2a9-4e86-8c54-263ba8b1ad75.jpg?v=1769179860","width":800},{"alt":"On the right page, the girl sits on the stairs and leans her chin on her hand while she looks out. Beside her on either side are green and orange plants. A bird perches on a red chair behind her. On the left page, a red truck carries the wooden crate in the back. The license plate reads, “LASTLAST”. The road winds along the water and between green hills. A plane flies through the blue sky far in the distance. Text states she cannot imagine her new home and looks at a plane like the one taking them away.","id":26315442520123,"position":4,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":2.0,"height":400,"width":800,"src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_0f01a4df-704a-4368-a29a-6783d031c829.jpg?v=1769179860"},"aspect_ratio":2.0,"height":400,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_0f01a4df-704a-4368-a29a-6783d031c829.jpg?v=1769179860","width":800}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMum and Grannie rush about and pack our things … but I don’t want to leave our island home!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by Wendy J. Whittingham’s childhood in Jamaica, and boldly brought to life by Caribbean artist Brianna McCarthy, \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e explores the idea that it’s possible to make new memories while still carrying beautiful memories of your first home in your heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Text Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIllustrations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRetell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDescribe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.\u003c\/p\u003e"}
{"AlsoRecommendedISBN_0":"9781554987542","AlsoRecommendedISBN_1":"9781554987603","AlsoRecommendedISBN_2":"9781554989959","AudienceRangePrecision_1_0":"03","AudienceRangePrecision_1_1":"03","AudienceRangePrecision_1_2":"03","AudienceRangePrecision_2_0":"04","AudienceRangePrecision_2_1":"04","AudienceRangePrecision_2_2":"04","AudienceRangeQualifier_0":"26","AudienceRangeQualifier_1":"17","AudienceRangeQualifier_2":"11","AudienceRangeValue_1_0":"P","AudienceRangeValue_1_1":"3","AudienceRangeValue_1_2":"P","AudienceRangeValue_2_0":"1","AudienceRangeValue_2_1":"6","AudienceRangeValue_2_2":"1","BASICMainSubject":"JUV039250","BASICMainSubjectLiteral":"JUVENILE FICTION\/Social Themes\/Emigration, Immigration \u0026 Refugees","BiographicalNote":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWENDY J WHITTINGHAM\u003c\/strong\u003e is a writer and illustrator who lives in Burlington, Ontario. She illustrated the picture book \u003cem\u003eMiss Wondergem’s Dreadfully Dreadful Pie\u003c\/em\u003e by Valerie Sherrard. \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e is her authorial debut.\u003c\/p\u003e","BISACSubjectLiteral_0":"JUVENILE FICTION \/ Social Themes \/ Emigration \u0026amp; Immigration","BISACSubjectLiteral_1":"JUVENILE FICTION \/ Places \/ Caribbean \u0026amp; Latin America","BISACSubjectLiteral_2":"JUVENILE FICTION \/ Social Themes \/ New Experience","BISACSubject_0":"JUV039250","BISACSubject_1":"JUV030040","BISACSubject_2":"JUV039090","CommonCore":"CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7","CommonCore_1":"CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7","CommonCore_2":"CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3","CommonCore_3":"CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1","CommonCore_4":"CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6","CommonCore_5":"CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2","CommonCore_6":"CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3","ComplexityCode_0":"AD510L","ComplexitySchemeIdentifier_0":"06","ComplexitySchemeIdName_0":"Lexile measure","ContributorBio_0":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWENDY J WHITTINGHAM\u003c\/strong\u003e is a writer and illustrator who lives in Burlington, Ontario. She illustrated the picture book \u003cem\u003eMiss Wondergem’s Dreadfully Dreadful Pie\u003c\/em\u003e by Valerie Sherrard. \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e is her authorial debut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","ContributorBio_1":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBRIANNA McCARTHY\u003c\/strong\u003e is a mixed-media visual communicator and self-taught artist. She is the illustrator of \u003cem\u003eIf Dominican Were a Color\u003c\/em\u003e by Sili Recio and \u003cem\u003eWhen I See You\u003c\/em\u003e by Brynne Barnes. Brianna lives in Trinidad and Tobago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","ContributorRole_0":"By (author)","ContributorRole_1":"Illustrated by","Contributor_0":"Whittingham, Wendy J. (CA)","Contributor_1":"McCarthy, Brianna","Description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMum and Grannie rush about and pack our things … but I don’t want to leave our island home!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by Wendy J. Whittingham’s childhood in Jamaica, and boldly brought to life by Caribbean artist Brianna McCarthy, \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e explores the idea that it’s possible to make new memories while still carrying beautiful memories of your first home in your heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Text Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIllustrations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRetell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDescribe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.\u003c\/p\u003e","EAN":"9781773068664","Height":"9","HeightCode":"in","Imprint":"Groundwood Books","KeyTextFeatures":"\u003cp\u003eillustrations\u003c\/p\u003e","MetaKeywords":"Caribbean;Jamaica;West Indies;seas and oceans;beaches;tropics;summer activities;Canada;Toronto;North American birds;adaptability;acceptance;resilience;nostalgia;homesickness","NumberOfPages":"32","OtherText_Accolades_0":"\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e lyrically captures the bittersweet goodbyes and hellos of a faraway move.” — \u003cstrong\u003eSylvia McNicoll, author of \u003cem\u003eBlue to the Sky\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_1":"\u003cp\u003e“So many people leave their country of origin to make a new life elsewhere. \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e, written by Wendy J. Whittingham, honors the sadness of leaving a place for good, as well as the excitement of starting over somewhere new. Brianna McCarthy’s vibrant illustrations delightfully depict the contrast between a quiet tropical island and a busy active city. This story will recall fond memories for anyone who has ever had to leave a home behind.” — \u003cstrong\u003eJennifer Maruno, award-winning author of \u003cem\u003eMomma’s Going to March\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Long_description_1":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS: \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e explores the mixed feelings that a child may experience when emigrating to another country. Identifying mixed emotions, like sadness and excitement, are key components of social-emotional learning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCARIBBEAN DIASPORA: Author Wendy J. Whittingham grew up in Jamaica and wrote \u003cem\u003eThe Last Last\u003c\/em\u003e based on her own experience of emigrating with her family to Canada in 1967. She identifies as a white Caribbean woman of mixed ancestry. Known for her previous work as an illustrator (\u003cem\u003eMiss Wondergem's Deadfully Dreadful Pie\u003c\/em\u003e; Breakwater Books; 2011), this is Wendy's debut picture book as an author.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVIBRANT ILLUSTRATIONS: Brianna McCarthy's bold and joyful hand-painted illustrations bring vibrancy to this story. There are location-specific details scattered throughout the story — from the dust of red sand on bare feet to the sergeant major fish swimming in the ocean — bringing the Jamaican landscape to life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","OtherText_Review_0":"\u003cp\u003e“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.” — \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_1":"\u003cp\u003e“This affecting picture book ... offers comforting assurance to anyone adjusting to a new home or missing their last one.” — \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBooklist\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_2":"\u003cp\u003e“Sure to ring true.” — \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSal’s Fiction Addiction Blog\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_ShortDescription_0":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA story of a girl’s last day before emigrating from Jamaica to Canada.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","PrizeCodeText_0":"Winner","PrizeCode_0":"01","PrizeName_0":"Toronto Public Library First and Best","PrizeYear_0":"2025","ProductFormDescription":"EPUB, fixed","PublicationDate":"2025-09-02","Publisher":"Groundwood Books Ltd","ShortDescription":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA story of a girl’s last day before emigrating from Jamaica to Canada.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","Width":"9","WidthCode":"in"}
ages 3
to 6
/ grades P
to 1