On the Last Day of School

by Maggie C. Rudd, Taia Morley (Illustrator)

Overview

For fans of All Are Welcome and Remarkably You, this is a joyful picture book that celebrates the triumphs of the school year and the wistful feeling of it ending – the perfect gift for graduates and classrooms.

Before the final bell rings, there's excitement in the air – but it's bittersweet, too. You'll laugh and cry, play and learn, and remember all the special moments with your friends and teachers. On the Last Day of School is a reminder to celebrate where you started and where you're going next.

Cheers to a school year you’ll never forget.

Don’t miss other books by Maggie C. Rudd:

- I’ll Hold Your Hand

- On the Fourth of July

- On the Days After Christmas

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374391454
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	03/25/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Maggie C. Rudd is the author of I'll Hold Your Hand, On the Fourth of July, On the Days After Christmas, On the Last Day of School and the middle grade novel, How To Stay Invisible. When she isn't writing, she is teaching high school, making forts, or outside getting muddy with her kids. She lives in rural North Carolina with her family.

Taia Morley is an author, illustrator, and designer based in Minnesota. Her children’s publishing work includes On the Last Day of School, Wake Up Color Pup, Ho Ho Homework by Mylisa Larsen, and other delightful books. When not at the drawing board, Taia might be on her bike packed with sketchbook and snacks.

Editorial Reviews

2024-12-14
School’s (almost) out for summer!

There’s no shortage of books designed to help prepare youngsters for their first day of school, but far fewer celebrate the end of the year. Here we see the bustle and buzz of a day both ordinary and extraordinary as a classroom of children get ready for summer break. Though the youngsters follow familiar routines—awakening with the ringing of an alarm clock, eating breakfast, boarding the bus—they’re greeted by balloons and a banner at school. Readers are invited to reminisce about the past year: “You remember how nervous / and excited you felt. / Now you have a whole year of learning under your belt.” While the rhyme scheme is uneven, the images and words work well together to present a joyfully realistic representation of the cheerful chaos of early-elementary education. Particularly effective are the illustrations that juxtapose the normalcy of a school day with the transience of the end of the school year: “The bulletin boards are emptied. / The art’s taken down,” but the students still have work to do! Kids who haven’t yet experienced the last day of school will appreciate a glimpse at what they might expect, while more seasoned children will enjoy looking back on hugs and field days past. Morley’s soft-hued illustrations depict a loving, diverse community.

An upbeat tribute to the culmination of a busy school year.(Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews