The Last Last

A story about comings and going, The Last Last by Wendy J. Whittingham and Brianna McCarthy will have readers thinking about what to pack on their last day.

A little girl is getting ready to leave her island home with her Mum and Grannie. They want her to pack but she just doesn’t know what to bring. As she takes one more walk around her island she says her goodbyes and realizes what she needs to bring with her.

Wendy J. Whittingham creates a gentle, simple story that has some really profound wisdom hidden in the words. Many children can relate to having to leave their homes for someplace new. Whether that journey is long or short, there are many lasts and firsts for a child and this story is a beautiful reminder that for every last there is a first.

Children make connections to objects. The number of special rocks or shells that have made their way through our washing machine is astonishing. I love how the little girl bring all the most important things, the seashells from home, to connect her back to the place where she is from anytime she needs it.

I love how the story is not over-explained or drawn out. The story is a simple reflection of a day saying goodbye and of collecting the important things that will bring comfort and reminders in a new place. In this case, the little girl finds some shells that will accompany her to her new home, far away from the island. I especially love how a blue jay is the first first of a new place. 

Brianna McCarthy’s illustrations are bold and colourful, reflecting the beauty of both places the little girl will live. She creates a calm reflection throughout the illustrations as a reminder to readers of the adventure in a new place and how they can always bring with them the beauty of their former home.  The illustrations are equally beautiful from close up or from afar, making this an ideal story for a read aloud.