Set in Northern Canada, the story of a young Inuit girl’s journey into the magical world that exists under the sea ice, in winter, when the tide is out. The girl’s name is Eva Padlyat. She goes under the ice to collect mussels as her people have done always (for, yes, this really is something that happens in Ungava Bay). Eva has been under the ice before with her mother but this day is special. On this day, in a classic coming of age adventure, she goes alone. She marvels at what she sees but then she finds herself in darkness. She has dropped her candle. Using the courage and experience she has carried with her, she brings the light back. She even gets to dance in the radiance of the moon. Illustrations by Ian Wallace capture the story perfection. Very Last First Time has inspired and delighted young readers for over twenty years and looks as if it will do so for many, many more. 32 pages

Used by permission of Jan Andrews