On the Last Day of School

by Maggie C. Rudd, Taia Morley (Illustrator)

For fans of All Are Welcome and Remarkably You, this is a joyful picture book that celebrates the triumphs of the school year and the wistful feeling of it ending – the perfect gift for graduates and classrooms.

Before the final bell rings, there's excitement in the air – but it's bittersweet, too. You'll laugh and cry, play and learn, and remember all the special moments with your friends and teachers. On the Last Day of School is a reminder to celebrate where you started and where you're going next.

Cheers to a school year you’ll never forget.

Don’t miss other books by Maggie C. Rudd:
- I’ll Hold Your Hand
- On the Fourth of July
- On the Days After Christmas

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, School Stories, Audiobook

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

Maggie C. Rudd is from rural North Carolina where she lives with her two boys. When she isn't writing, she is teaching high school, making forts, or outside getting muddy with her kids. She is the author of the picture book I'll Hold Your Hand.

Reviews

[Star Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing me to read and review On the Last Day of School on NetGalley.

Published: 03/25/25

Stars: 5

Fun.

I had the audiobook and loved the narrator. While she read immediately my mind went to my childhood and fond memories. I saw myself excited doing everything the author wrote.

Where is the movie?, the short? I was staring at the screen questioning if it was frozen.

Well done. I would gift this.

#shortyseptember
#TangibleReads

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

On The Last Day Of School, written by Maggie C. Rudd and read by Tara Novie, is a great book for young readers. This book talks about children as they experience their last day of school, how they look back at how they have grown through the year, and look forward to the summer and their future time in school. I loved the way this author focuses on the relationships with the students and their peers and teachers, as well as the growth that happens through the school year. I think this would be a great book to read to prepare students for their end of year celebrations!
Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cathlina Bergman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet!

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a high-quality audiobook production with a musical soundtrack, classroom, playground, and traffic noises with voice narration by Tara Novie. The music is light, engaging, and doesn't detract from the narration of the story. Tara's voice held a lot of emotion and excitement, which really appealed to my grade school-age grandkids.

This is about the last day of school and doesn't follow a main character. It's instead written to the reader themselves. It's reflective of the accomplishments they've made as students over the preceding school year. I've been done with school for decades, but this made me nostalgic for my own school days, especially grade and middle school.

Thank you to Maggie C. Rudd, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[Catarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrator did such a beautiful job, however the best part of this audiobook was the background noises and truly making you feel like you're immersed in the last day of school. Feels like it was written by a teacher because it has the perspective of the student, but a reminder of the teachers being their for the students. I truly enjoyed this and I imagine it would make an incredible companion to the actual book. I would highly recommend this, especially for children who will soon experience a "last day of school". It serves as a perfect example of what they may experience, especially if they are anxious for the end of the school year.

Thank you, Macmillian Audio, for this gifted advanced listening copy received via Netgalley.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun way to relive the last day of school. Starting from the time you get up out of bed, to getting to the bus stop and the sounds of the bus. This audiobook was so much fun to listen to and to discuss later with my granddaughter who is seven. She related to the last day of school with her own last day of school. The fun games, relays and getting to see your friends one last time before summer break. I recommend this book for parents, grandparents, teachers and children of all ages. They will love the walk through of the last day of school and how much fun it is.
Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook for us to enjoy. #netgalley, #onthelastdayofschool, #maggiecrudd, #friends,
#summerbreak

[Jeanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Macmillian, for this gifted advanced listening copy received via Netgalley.

This audio is perfect for little kids and parents alike. I loved the rhyming prose. The message was upbeat, and the words were uplifting. It was a great reminder of all the growth that happened over the school year. I particularly enjoyed the sound effects, from the sounds of a bus to the rustling of a brown bag lunch! I know my five and two year old will enjoy listening to this in the car!

[Sarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so, so cute! Tara Novie did an excellent job of narrating in a friendly, excited way! I can definitely see this audio being played during book or wind-down time in classrooms and homes. As an adult, the writing seemed poetic, especially towards the end! Maggie C. Rudd wrote an excellent children's book that shines a positive spotlight on school! Very wholesome, very positive, very cute! 5/5 stars from me!

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Students reflect on their progress from the beginning to the end of the school year before heading home for the summer.

Comments: This could be shared as a read-aloud towards the end of the school year. It can prompt a discussion where students compare what they could do at the beginning of the school year with all the things they have learned or can now do by the end of the year.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

[Ellie Schaben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to LibroFM, Maggie C. Rudd, Macmillan Audio, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the ALC!

This book was cute! There is no plotline/central characters, and it instead is a celebration of accomplishments throughout the year. It would definitely help young students understand what would be happening and help transitioning to summer and a new grade next year. The audio was great - I enjoyed the background music!

[Kaitlyn Bieszk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a perfect read for a teacher in grades PK-1st grade to read on the last day of school. The book goes through everything a young student would experience throughout a school year and keeps it positive and lighthearted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced reader copy.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect read for the end of the year. Rhyming text shows a group of kids doing all kinds of fun activities on the last day of school. Circle time, field day, lunch in the cafeteria and packing up their things. A nice note about the teacher missing them and wishing them well will tug teacher's heart strings who want to read this out loud the the class.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

What a sweet ode to the last day of school and all the hope, sadness, joy, giddiness and heartbreak it brings up. I loved the music that played with this audiobook too.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I read a digital advance copy courtesy of the publisher
This is a colorful celebration of the final day of an elementary school year

[Becky McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute poetry book about the last day of school.