Review: The Last Petal: A Tale of Dilly Daisy

Title: The Last Petal: A Tale of Dilly Daisy
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Shae Peterson
Illustrator: Ila Taylor Bologni
Publish Date: Feb 15, 2025
Publisher: Journey Publishing
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Age: 2-7
Started Reading: February 9, 2025
Finished Reading: February 9, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

Teach Truthfulness to Children through a Magical Story!

Everyone loves Dilly Daisy. She's a beautiful flower in a magical land – her friends call her “Princess of the Daisies!” – but when Dilly’s fibs and gossip cause her sparkle to fade and her petals to fall, Dilly must discover the most magical power of honesty.Will Dilly learn her lesson – and get her magic back – on time for the big Daisy Day festival? Will she win the daisy crown?

Accompanied by bold illustrations, this moving picture book imparts a timeless lesson about the grief that comes from lies and the uplifting power of redemption that comes from telling the truth. This emotional journey will be a cherished bedtime read for kids aged 3 to 7 and up.

From The Last “A real princess shines from inside out,
as steady as can be –
because the secret of flower magic
the truth will set you free!”

Values-based Stories Teaching toddlers and preschoolers the value of “don’t lie” is hard. We can wave our finger and say “no lying” as much as we want but, until these values come to life for the child, it can be hard for truth-telling lessons to hit home. This emotional picture book uses story-telling to create an unforgettable experience that helps kids, through kindergarten and beyond, understand the power of honesty on a deeper level.

Dilly Daisy’s story teaches children that, no matter how dark things get, a happy ending is always possible when you admit your mistakes and tell the truth!

Comes with fun maze-game activity, at the end, to keep kids entertained!

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

A very good book to discuss lying and how they can cause issues. My daughter (5) had a lot of questions about what lying was and what was a simple story and what was a mean one that became a lie. She was very invested in what was going to happen, and we paused the story to discuss consequences (losing a petal vs losing play time), as well as how Dilly Daisy tried to use telling a lie to make someone like her, but it didn't work. The illustrations were very cute, and the book gave a starting point for some very good discussions, however I felt the end of the book wrapped up too quickly. A promise to be better, and the love of Mom got her petals to start growing back, but there was no comment on how it would take work and that a promise needed follow through. These were things that we discussed after the book, but I felt a couple more pages to show Dilly Daisy really trying would have benefitted the story. We read this digital book through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A cute story to teach truthfulness. 

Review: A Little Labradoodle Christmas

Title: A Little Labradoodle Christmas
Series: Stand Alone
Author: April M. Cox, Kairi Fullerton
Illustrator: Remesh Rem
Publish Date: Nov 5, 2024
Publisher: Little Labradoodle Publishing, LLC
Genre: Children's Fiction, Picture Book
Age: 4-8
Started Reading: December 10, 2024
Finished Reading: December 10, 2024
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

When a grumpy old cat grumbles his way through the holidays, two playful Labradoodles and a kind-hearted little girl set out on a mission to change his mind. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, determined to show the cat that Christmas is about more than just decorations and gifts—it's about love, kindness, and reaching out to those who need it most.

Perfect for children ages 4-8, this beautifully illustrated story promotes important messages about compassion, making a difference, and embracing the spirit of giving. Cozy up with your little ones and share this delightful holiday story that will warm hearts and inspire smiles.

Inspired by the imagination of 7-year-old Kairi and brought to life with the loving guidance of her Nana, April Cox, A Little Labradoodle Christmas combines the wonder of a child's perspective with the craftsmanship of a seasoned storyteller. As the fourth installment in The Little Labradoodle series, this charming tale will resonate with young readers and families alike.

Munchie and My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars (We both thought it was Amazing!)

Munchie (5) and I very much enjoyed this book. The story had her thinking and talking about those who don't have as much as we do. She loved the pictures, and was especially happy when the kitty got his bow. She stated it was a 5 star book, and I agree. Seeing that the main character was based on a real little girl and that she helped write the story was something that caught my daughter's attention. When I asked her if she would like to read the book again she said "not right now, but maybe Saturday" (Saturday being her favourite day when she does her favourite things, so that was a vote towards it going into the regular rotation). The gift at the end was nice and we will be reading the additional book. I read this book as a free digital version through Netgalley.

To Sum Up: This is a very cute Christmas story with a good message about including those around us.