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: My Love is Everywhere

Title: My Love is Everywhere
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Anh Sphabmixay
Illustrator: Anh Sphabmixay
Publish Date: January 29, 2025
Publisher: Independently Published
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Age: 2-7
Started Reading: February 25, 2025
Finished Reading: February 25, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

A heartwarming tale of love and family!

🌙 A Heartwarming Bedtime Story About a Mother’s Endless Love 🌙

"Can you guess how much I love you?"

From the soft glow of the morning sun to the twinkling stars at night, a mother’s love knows no bounds. My Love Is Everywhere is a beautifully illustrated, whimsical journey through nature, where a mother’s love can be found in the rustling leaves, the songs of birds, and the warmth of a gentle hug.

Through poetic rhymes and enchanting artwork, this story is a tender reminder that love is always present—whether near or far, seen or unseen. Perfect for bedtime snuggles, this book reassures children that a mother’s love never fades, never ends, and is always with them.

💛 A must-have for parents, grandparents, and caregivers looking to share a story of unconditional love.
😊For Little Hearts who need to know a Mother's Love Never Fades.
💤 Ideal for bedtime reading, early learning, and strengthening emotional bonds.
🎁 A perfect gift for birthdays, baby showers, and special moments.

For little hearts that need a gentle reminder—love is everywhere.

Snuggle up, turn the pages, and let your little one feel the warmth of endless love. Get your copy today and start a new bedtime tradition—because every child deserves to feel unconditionally loved.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

This book is so vibrant and sweet! My daughter (5) decided she wanted to read it to me, and very much enjoyed doing motions (like hugs and toe tickles) with the poem. She loved seeing all the animals and commented on how pretty the book was. This adorable book was perfect for bedtime and snuggles. The illustrations are beautiful works of art, and I'd honestly be happy with any of them as prints on the kids' walls. This is one I think my son (2) would also enjoy, just due to the illustrations alone! We read this e-book through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A beautiful book, perfect for bedtime snuggles. 

Review: Every Day is a Holiday

Title: Every Day is a Holiday
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Greg Kincaid
Illustrator: Alessia Girasole
Publish Date: February 3, 2025
Publisher: 4U2B Books & Media
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Age: 4-7
Started Reading: January 21, 2025
Finished Reading: January 21, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

A heartwarming tale of love and family!

When six-year-old Allie McCray finds an abandoned puppy in a box outside her local animal shelter, she struggles to give the adorable pup a name. But after bringing the little hound home and reflecting on the most important things in her life, Allie comes up with the perfect name for the new addition to their family!
 
Every Day Is a Holiday is a celebration of the bonds of love and joy we form with the furry friends we adopt into our families. And for longtime fans of Greg Kincaid’s Crossing Tails series, it brings full circle the story of belonging, love, and friendship.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

This book is really cute, with a special visit from the dog Christmas to tie in to the author's adult series. My daughter (5) loved hearing about how Allie took care of the animals at the shelter ("she feeds them like I feed the cats mommy!") and was fascinated by the puppy sling. She loved all of the different name ideas, but Jack was her favourite as Halloween is her favourite holiday. We talked about how some animals go to the shelter and that's how they find their families, and also about the questions at the end and how, with one of the cats we adopted before she was born, we should have verified a bunch of information to know he wouldn't get along with our other cats at home. This book is excellent if you're looking to adopt a new animal. It has an information page at the end with things to discuss and consider, and helps kids understand the process a bit more. The illustrations are adorable, and Allie is just cute as a button. We really enjoyed this book! We read this ebook through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A very cute book that helps teach about adopting pets. 

Review: The Lost House

Title: The Lost House
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Melissa Larsen
Illustrator: N/A
Publish Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Age: 16+
Started Reading: January 20, 2025
Finished Reading: January 24, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes 

Book Summary from Goodreads: 

In Melissa Larsen's The Lost House comes the mesmerizing story of a young woman with a haunting past who returns to her ancestral home in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family.

Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow, lying together as peacefully as though sleeping. Except the mother’s throat had been slashed and the infant drowned. The case was never solved. There were no arrests, no conviction. Just a suspicion turned into a the husband did it. When he took his son and fled halfway across the world to California, it was proof enough of his guilt.

Now, nearly half a century later and a year after his death, his granddaughter, Agnes, is ready to clear her grandfather’s name once and for all. Still recovering from his death and a devastating injury, Agnes wants nothing more than an excuse to escape the shambles of her once-stable life—which is why she so readily accepts true crime expert Nora Carver’s invitation to be interviewed for her popular podcast. Agnes packs a bag and hops on a last-minute flight to the remote town of Bifröst, Iceland, where Nora is staying, where Agnes’s father grew up, and where, supposedly, her grandfather slaughtered his wife and infant daughter.

Is it merely coincidence that a local girl goes missing the very same weekend Agnes arrives? Suddenly, Agnes and Nora’s investigation is turned upside down, and everyone in the small Icelandic town is once again a suspect. Seeking to unearth old and new truths alike, Agnes finds herself drawn into a web of secrets that threaten the redemption she is hell-bent on delivering, and even her life—discovering how far a person will go to protect their family, their safety, and their secrets.

Set against an unforgiving Icelandic winter landscape, The Lost House is a chilling and razor-sharp thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists that will leave you breathless. 

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 3 Stars 

This book was, ok. It felt like a not great movie that you enjoy watching with your friends while shouting at it and throwing popcorn. The decisions of the FL had me wanting to bash my head against the wall, and it seemed like everything happened too fast. It was crammed into 10 days of time, so things that would take time to build up, like trust and relationships, happened at lightning speed. I had a strong guess for who the murderer was about half-way through the book, but that didn't ruin the climax. I will say that the last quarter of the book is the strongest part, once the ball really got rolling for the final confrontation things got fun and I enjoyed the ride. There were a lot of different conflicts going on: the cold case mystery, the podcast, the FL physical and mental health issues, substance abuse, a missing girl, and then half-way through a messy relationship gets added to the mix. It just felt like too much all at once.

I listened to the audiobook and have to say that the reader was really good with the voices. There were times I was almost convinced they'd changed narrators for the mens' voices. I can't say whether or not her Icelandic accent was any good, but it did differentiate the locals from the tourists. I listened to this audiobook through NetGalley. 

To Sum Up: A decent mystery that feels rushed due to a too short timeline.