The Last Day Julian Was My Best Friend

A touching story of true friendship and the power of forgiveness.

Best friends and neighbors Anthony and Julian are having the summer of their lives. Making pancakes, riding bikes to the beach, playing in the sand and surf…They have everything they need for an epic summer vacation. But Anthony is worried. He has a secret—a secret about Julian’s missing marble. And he knows that once Julian finds out about it, he’ll be mad. He may not even want to be Anthony’s best friend anymore. So Anthony is determined to have the best last day as Julian’s best friend…until he can’t hold in his secret any longer. But maybe Julian has a surprise of his own to share with Anthony…

About the Author

Jody Jensen Shaffer is an award-winning poet and the author of more than eighty books for children, including Prudence the Part-Time Cow, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis, a Missouri Show Me Award finalist; A Chip Off the Old Block, illustrated by Daniel Miyares, a nominee for the Iowa Goldfinch Award; and the Amazon bestseller It’s Your First Day of School, Busy Bus!, illustrated by Claire Messer. Jody lives in Liberty, Missouri, with her family. Learn more at jodyjensenshaffer.com and follow her on X @jodywrites4kids.

About the Illustrator

Joanne Lew-Vriethoff is the acclaimed illustrator of many children’s books, including the bestselling updated edition of The Invisible String and its companion titles, all written by Patrice Karst; Stacy McAnulty’s Beautiful and Brave; and Who Will I Be?, written by The View cohost Abby Huntsman. Born in Malaysia, Joanne grew up in Los Angeles, studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and now lives between Amsterdam and Malaysia. Learn more at joannelewvriethoff.com and follow her on Instagram @joannelewvriethoff.