Just an okay book for me. Nothing that really stood out.

I read most of this and enjoyed it! Keep up the good work!

Once Upon a Tree by Dawn Jarocki, and Soren Kisiel is a encouraging tale about a leaf who struggles to accept and express himself. The leaf is happy being a leaf at the top of a tree until one day when he begins to question his purpose. A bird living in the tree learns to fly, and the leaf wonders if he should also fly. Soon a caterpillar arrives and cocoons itself, later turning into a beautiful butterfly. Again the leaf wonders if he should fly. The bird and butterfly encourage the leaf to look within for the answers, and to trust and follow his feelings. Eventually the leaf decides to fly in his own way by letting go of the tree branch and floating gracefully into the autumn wind.

The watercolor illustrations are soft and gently expressive, and convey a nurturing and encouraging warmth that flows beautifully with the story. The idea that everyone naturally has a unique purpose, and that this is revealed from within when we are ready, is a hopeful and deeply affirming message for children. 

I recommend this book for children and for parents/ teachers/ grandparents to read to children. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley via Parallax Press and Plum Blossom in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the story, including the insistence that you look inside yourself and not to others, and do what feels right to you.

I received this book for review and was a little sad when I got only the text and no images/ illustration - I hope that when you pick it up the pictures are amazing. 

The text of the book was beautiful. The story is about a leaf trying to find his purpose and learning about birds and caterpillars. The leaf gets so wrapped up in the animals around it, it forgets to appreciate the world around it. When it finally does it learns its purpose. The story is absolutely uplifting and relatable, even though it is from the point of view of a leaf. I think that with the illustrations this is going to an even more gorgeous book all around and I cannot wait to find it on the shelves.

This book came as a surprise to me and in a good way. Even though this is for children, I believe the message will be relevant for people of all ages.

Leaf feels lost and like he doesn't have a purpose. He keeps looking at others (a bird, a caterpillar) trying to find what will make him happy, but he doesn't feel the urge to do what they do. Written in a the charming and quaint ways fairy tales and fables are, Once Upon a Tree is a book someone of any age can read time and time again for wisdom or entertainment.

The little leaf sees what birds and caterpillars do, but he's left with the question... what do leaves do?

This is a cute book with a great concept. After all, we all wonder what it is we're meant to do in life (especially when we get older). The descriptions were beautiful, and Once Upon a Tree would be perfect to use in storytimes for fall or nature. I love the cover; however, the ebook did not include illustrations. If illustrations were included—and if they are like the book’s cover—I think I would have enjoyed this book more.

Absolutely loved this book. Very cute read. Will definitely keep an eye out for more from this author.

This is a fantastic book which I have enjoyed reading myself and know that children will also love it. Following the journey and feelings off a leaf tells the tale of seasons and the changes tree go through, which is a new, fun and exciting way for children to learn about the world around them. As a nursery practitioner myself I know how children would love to hear the story of the leaf over and over again.

A quirky story about a leaf and its purpose that gets solemn and beautifully quiet at the end. A nice book about nature, the seasons, and how every little creature has their place in it.

I'm having difficulty reviewing this book since the draft I received did not have any illustrations. The story looks very cute and uplifting, but without illustrations it fell a little flat.  I love the concept of a little leaf trying to find his purpose!  I would like to reread it once the version with illustrations is available.

This is an incredibly sweet book that is gorgeously illustrated and would be great for small children.

The colours are bright and inviting and the story is cute yet not alienating to more rough-and-tough children. 

The story doesn't have any hidden messages that I could decipher, which is nice, it was just a story for the sake of being a story, which I think is becoming rarer and rarer in children's books nowadays. 

A great book.

I loved the story but I wish that I was able to see the illustrations.

A beautiful story about a leaf discovering it's role in the whole. I loved the idea of this story. It was so beautifully written you could easily picture the ever-changing trees. I can't wait to see the illustrations that will accompany it. It was such a soothing, relaxing book. Great for bedtime reading with the little one.

Wow, this is a truly gorgeous story about being yourself and appreciating differences in others. It a delightful story to read. I really enjoyed sharing it with my girls and I loved the moral behind it. If thoroughly recommend it!

A leaf hanging from the very top of a tree does not know what it should be doing--until a baby bird tells the leaf about his purpose the leaf never considered what he should be doing. Is flying a good idea? What about transforming into something different. All the while the leaf questions what it should be doing and how it should know if I is doing it correctly it never realizes that the leaf is living out his purpose! 

Suddenly joy fills the leaf as it realizes that it already could feel what it should do and was doing it the entire time. 

I think that this is a sweet children's book that even "adults" could appreciate. Sometimes we question ourselves or those we love about what we should be doing versus what we are... sometimes I think we already are doing the things we ought even without realizing it.

The Adobe Digital Editions version we downloaded had no illustrations, therefore, we can't really rate the book fairly. Nevertheless, this story will keep young children engaged. A leaf at the very top of a tall tree seeks advice from a bird and a caterpillar about inner urges to be/do what it was designed to be/do (to no avail). The moral of the story appears to be "be what you are created to be and enjoy it." In the end, the leaf understands his connection to the tree to which it is attached--until it floats away, loosed from its branch when the season changes.

A very cute read in which a leaf ponders about what his true aim is in life. I think that the basis of this novel is relatable; everyone in life asks what their aim is and at times can get frustrated when others have found their potential whereas they are left clueless. I loved the details of the words creating the image of the leaf falling down, a very well thought out detail. All in all, if I ever had a child it would be a delight to read this story to them.

A fun story about a leaf finding it's purpose in life, and learning what it means to be yourself. The leaf worries that it's missing out, and ends up angry that everyone else seems to have things figured out. It's important for children to realize that they will discover themselves when the time is right, and while it may seem everyone else has it all figured out, we all go through seasons of changes and rediscovery.

Once Upon a Tree is full of lovely reflection from the point of view of a leaf whose aim in life is to fly and its conversation with a bird. It is written in prose style, and longs to be  a picture book. I was sent a copy with the  pictures. It is poetic and philosophical in thought. It is reflective with speaking abilities given not only to a bird, but to the main character a leaf as well. The leaf knows it needs to fly, but expresses its fears and misgivings, unable, unwilling to let go of a tree. This is a lovely picture book, which I would use for story times. 
This review reflects the draft galley I received from NetGalley, and a copy I received from the publicist. This book is great for school and public libraries, preschools, homeschools, nature and science centers, and for gift giving.