This rhyming picture book about a daisy that learns the importance of honesty shares and important message with readers. The rhyming text is pleasing and would be enjoyable to read aloud. I appreciated that the reader sees the snowballing effect of Dilly Daisy telling multiple lies and that it took her a while to realize that she'd made a mistake. In addition, I liked that the fix was simply being honest about what she had done and she was forgiven quickly. The story ends on a hopeful note that will leave readers feeling positively.

The Last Petal: The Tale of Dilly Daisy is an enchanting picture book that blends whimsy and valuable life lessons in a way that will captivate young readers. The story centers on Dilly Daisy, a magical flower living in a vibrant, fantastical land. Dilly, beloved by all, possesses the power of magic – that is, until she begins to indulge in fibs and gossip. Slowly, her magic fades, and her petals begin to fall, setting the stage for a heartwarming journey about the importance of honesty.

The storyline, while simple, is charming and effective in teaching children aged 3 to 7 about the consequences of dishonesty. Dilly’s struggle to regain her magic is a compelling metaphor for how telling the truth can restore trust and strengthen relationships, making it a valuable lesson for young minds.

The illustrations are bold and childlike, perfectly matching the tone of the story and appealing to young children. The vibrant colors and whimsical style will keep kids engaged, adding a layer of fun to the overall experience.

That said, while the book’s themes are wonderful, the text might feel a bit wordy for the youngest audiences. The narrative occasionally lingers longer than necessary, which could challenge the attention spans of children under 5, especially when reading aloud. For children on the older end of the target age range (around 6 or 7), this wouldn’t be much of an issue, but for younger readers, the pacing might slow the flow of the story.

In all, The Last Petal is a sweet and educational read that promotes an important moral. It’s ideal for parents, caregivers, and educators looking for a magical, thoughtful story to share with young children, but a little editing down of the text might make it even more accessible for the younger end of the intended age group.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

Every time Dilly Daisy tells a lie, she loses a petal. After telling too many tales, she’s left with none, just before the Daisy Day Festival.

This book relays just how important it is to be truthful and honest, and how slippery the slope of telling lies can be. The illustrations are adorable, they caught my daughter’s attention immediately because Dilly was shining. The writing style makes it very easy for children to stay engaged and focused on the story.

Children’s books that have core lessons like these sprinkled into them are the best kind of children’s books to have. I will definitely be adding this one to my daughter’s little library!

I read this book with my two children, ages 6 and 8. Silly Daisy is a really sweet story about the power of honesty and that we all make mistakes and can rebound from them. My daughter (8) thought it was a really cute story, my son (6) was entertained and we were able to use the book as a lesson in the importance of telling the truth. As a parent, I think this is great for young toddlers as an introduction to lying, but also a great quick read aloud for older kids as a reminder. The rhyming is good and it’s very catchy. The illustrations are also very well done. On this copy through the NetGalley reader, the words were too close together and I feel like the font needs to be bolder.

This is a cute story but one with a good tale to tell, don't tell lies! I love the illustrations in this, the colours are bright and eye-catching.

I liked the ending, showing things can change for the better!

This book was cute and had such a good message! I would recommend it for older toddlers as it is a little more on the wordy side. My one year-old sat for a few pages and was done, but it definitely held my three year year-old’s attention. Such a cute book!

This was so cute. Loved the Rhymes and the illustrations were so beautiful. Also, a great moral to the story.

Read this hoping to find new books for my preschool students. The art is cute and the moral of the story is good for young kids. I would add this to the classroom shelf so kids know that the truth is important.