Eva lives in an Inuit village in northern Canada. In the winter, people search along the bottom of the seabed beneath a thick shelf of ice for mussels to eat. Eva usually helps her mother, but for the first time, shes going to go by herself. She soon gathers a pan full of mussels. But then, her candle goes out, and the tide threatens to return When she is finally safe with her mother, Eva proclaims, That was my very last first time walking alone on the bottom of the sea. An ALA Notable Childrens Book, Very Last First Time comes from one of Canada's most distinguished storytellers and an award-winning illustrator. A unique experience for young listeners and an intriguing introduction to another culture. The Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books An extraordinary picture book experience. The New York Times Book Review

Jan Andrews is a well-known author and storyteller who has been nominated for the Governor General’s Award three times. She has written books that have become classics, including Very Last First Time (illustrated by Ian Wallace), The Auction (illustrated by Karen Reczuch) and Out of the Everywhere: Tales for a New World (illustrated by Simon Ng). She is the founding president of the Storytellers of Canada and has performed at festivals and in concert throughout Canada and the U.S., as well as in Australia and England.

Ian Wallace is one of Canada’s best-known children’s book creators. He has published many classics, including Boy of the Deeps and Chin Chiang and the Dragon’s Dance. His illustrations for Canadian Railroad Trilogy and Just So Stories have each received three starred reviews. His most recent book is The Curiosity Cabinet.

Ian has won the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award, among others. He has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Governor General’s Award and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award.

Ian lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with his wife, Deb.