What a wonderful book! I absolutely loved the illustration style, and found the story to be fun and full of new facts about trees for my children. Lance is a leaf who is passing all of his lessons with flying colors, but becomes fearful when it is time for him to pass his last test - falling from his tree. Using this story, we learn the lesson that it is absolutely okay to be afraid to fail as long as that fear doesn't stop you from completing your goals.

Great story, great moral, beautiful artwork. All around a wonderful new book for the fall!

This book was adorable and had a great message, two things that are the key to a successful picture book. Wade definitely met her goals of providing a book for children to recognize fear and worry over being “the best.” The story was simple, fun, and something kids could relate too.

This book is really a hidden gem for science topics! With the book being about changing seasons and new experiences, I was pleasantly surprised to find concepts like wind resistance, photosynthesis, and pigments in leaves. So not only is this book great for every reason previously mentioned, it is also a great introduction into science topics about plants.

Why not five stars? I was trying to imagine using this book with a group of students or even a single child, and I knew it wasn’t a book you could simply read, explain the vocab, then walk away from. While the concept of the leaf taking classes and graduating is great, I think an adult reading the book would have to stop and explain these “school concepts.” And as the children get older, making them more aware of these concepts, you get further away from being able to use this book for those amazing science concepts. Having to give some back-story while reading a picture book is not deal breaker for me, but it is something to consider.

Overall, this picture book is amazing. I would definitely recommend for anyone with children who need some encouragement or for teachers/parents looking for a fun introduction to a lesson on plants.

The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade will be a good back-to-school book for kids. Lance Cottonwood is the brightest student in his class. He excels in everything, until it comes to exam time. You see, Lance is afraid to fall and he is afraid of failure. Luckily after speaking about his fears to his teacher, he feels much better and takes the leap! The Very Last Leaf will show kids it's okay to be scared, they don't always have to "get" things right away, and expressing their feelings can be really helpful.

Delightful and educational book that not only informs readers about the life stages of a leaf and but also empowers kids by encouraging them that it is never too late to face their fears.
It's not about being first or last, it just matters that you try!

The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade is a super cute, absolutely adorable children's read!

To start off this review, the cover alone is absolutely stunning. The soft oranges and reds to give a fall-like feeling - it's gorgeous. It screamed out to me and made me want to pick up this little book. The style felt very classic yet very modern all at the same time.

We follouw Lance Cottonwood, a little leaf, on his first day of school! He's doing great in school but he began to worry about his exams. His final exam, falling to the ground, was mortifying! Will he make it? Will he become brave? Will he be the last, little leaf? You'll have to read to find out!

This book was just the sweetest and it had a lovely, little message: Working hard, getting over fears and not giving up! Throw in the delightful pictures with soft colours, and you've got a real hit. I think kids and parents alike will adore this picture book and easily be able to find a book on it's shelf. I'd highly recommend it! I could also see educators and parents using this book for not only fears in general, but darker themes like death and losing someone. It can be seen as very dark though, if you take it the wrong way.

My favourite part of this book is the little progress report at the end for our leaf friend! It's so cute and quite amusing.

Four out of five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for giving me the opportunity to pick up this wonderful book!

The Very Last Leaf deals with fears that many people of all ages face and have to deal with, and author Stef Wade parts her wisdom in the form of a baby leaf from a Cottonwood tree. Wade smartly turns a leaf’s fear of falling into a lesson in perseverance, while also allowing young (and old) readers to know that it is okay to rely on your support system to help you through a difficult problem. I thought the illustrations were bright and colorful, however it was hard to differentiate between leaf characters because their facial features were too similar. I did like the added lesson in photosynthesis throughout the story as well, as I like for there to be easily understood facts for children to learn in a fun manner.

I received an ARC from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade
Thank you to Net Galley and Capstone Publishing for the opportunity to read this advance copy for a fair and honest review.
Lance Cottonwood was the brightest student who excelled in every subject in school, such as Budding, Wind Resistance, Photosynthesis 101 and Pigment Changing. When the time comes for his final exam though, Lance loses his confidence to finish and may not be able to graduate! He is fearful and rethinks being a cottonwood leaf.
This book is a very good introduction for children to basic tree biology and has a wonderful section at the end of the book explaining these characteristics in a manner that children would enjoy. The artwork is colorful and in certain areas, it helps to describe the concepts in the book. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and my son was fascinated by the story and vibrant pages.
#TheVeryLastLeaf #NetGalley

This is a very adorable book in story and illustrations. We recommend this book. It starts out great with an interested idea of a leaf learning to be a leaf and doing well as he learns. But, while he is a good student he starts to worry when it is exam time and he is not sure he can do it. He just might be the very last leaf to accomplish what needs done to reach the goal, if he can even do it. He feels anxiety and fear. That is a lesson in this story teaching about these feelings and perhaps ways to deal with them. We also learn a few science words, that might be a bit big for little ones. It helps to have definitions in the back of the book. Fun book for the family, great for children and interesting way to educate for teachers. Many lessons are in this wonderful story from science to overcoming anxiety. It is a nice way to help children build confidence and learn some science along the way too. It doesn’t go into to much depth, but helps jump start the conversation and might help get children thinking of how to handle things if they are struggling.

The pictures are very cute, but the text is disjointed. It seems like the author couldn't decide if the character was a leaf, a person, or an animal.

Lance Cottonwood is the brightest leaf in his tree class, sailing through classes like Photosynthesis 101 and Budding. But when it comes to his final exam, falling from his familiar tree to the unknown ground below - Lance struggles with taking the plunge. Will Lance let his fears keep him from graduating? Or will he be brave and take the leap? This story is perfect for children struggling with perfectionism, anxiety, or changes in routine. Jennifer Davison’s vibrant artwork takes readers through the life cycle of a leaf with appealing, colorful spreads. Lance’s final progress report offers readers more information on the science behind leaves, as well as encouraging notes for any child struggling to face their fears.

This is a great story of a student leaf that breezes through all his classes. He has classes in budding, wind resistance, photosynthesis, color-changing, and falling. Falling is hard for Lance Cottonwood, It is his last class and he is afraid. As a leaf on a deciduous tree he must fall in the winter as trees of this type lose their leaves in the fall. Other leaves are starting to call him names as they realize that he is scared,

This book has a good lesson for children. Even when most subjects are easy, there will be one that is difficult class or subject we need to master. Instead of complaining or crying we should just attempt what needs to be done. Not everyone will have the same assignments, but each of us has something we can do.

This was a fairly cute book about a leaf who was afraid to leave the tree. I wouldn't say that it was spectacular though. The idea was good, but more could have been done with the story line.

An excellent book that can used in classrooms to start the discussion on fear, and anxiety. The topic is covered very simply, and that makes it relatable to multiple audiences. The illustrations are soothing, and the colour palette that was used is well tuned to the story.

Adorable fall picture book! Perfect for back to school reading. Would be a great read for a group of kids.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and Capstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book; it is too cute. The illustrations and colours are beautiful.

Lance is a know-it-all and is the first and best at everything, until it is time to fall off the tree. Lance has a hard time letting go and for the first time he is the last in his class to complete his assignment. With the help of his teacher Lance identified and faced his fear, which enabled him to fall and graduate.

This book would be a great way to talk to kids about our fears and how we can overcome them. I can't wait to read A Place for Pluto and future books from Stef Wade.

#TheVeryLastLeaf #NetGalley

My son and I read this book before bed last night ad we loved discovering the life of a leaf in an easy and enjoyable way. The illustrations are great and easily made interactive as we read. This is a great book to introduce nature and the way that it works in a fun and captivating way.

This was adorable! This little story is a great way to help kids face their fears while also teaching them about nature in a cute and fun way! The art style was also very cute and visually appealing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Capstone Editions for providing me with a free copy of this book. The following is my honest opinion. This is a very good book. It is a book for young readers and one that takes them through the life cycle of a cottonwood leaf. Lance Cottonwood excels in all his leafly studies except the final one - falling to the ground at the end of the season. The book helps teach children how to overcome fear, bur the hidden message for me is to overcome the fear of death. Truly, what is falling to the ground for a leaf - it is its death and Lance Cottonwood is afraid of this. While it is never discussed, it still was a predominant theme for me in this book and certainly can be used by adults to teach a multitude of lessons (at the right time) about fear of life and death. I felt this was a marvelous book with the only drawback being the rather simplistic illustrations. Thank you for netgally and capstone publishing for letting me enjoying the Advance Readers Copy! My kids love love it!

Name: The Very Last Leaf
Author: Stef Wade
Illustrator: Jennifer Davison
Age: +5
Genre: Children's Fiction
Source: Netgalley
Review.:
A nice cute short story about the Lance, a leaf of Cottonwood tree. He was the top student of his class. But as Autumn came, he has worries of falling. It is a funny and encouraging book, which teaches us to overcome our fears and shine brightly in the sky.
My Opinion: It is a heart warming story about overcoming our fears and passing all the hurdles in our path. The illustrations are really amazing and just melts my heart.

What a great life lesson! This books teaches kids a little science while teaching them that is ok to be scared and not always be the best at everything. My five and seven year old loved it! We will definitely be reading this one again and again (especially in the fall!)