Nina and the Missing Night
Written by Natalia Paruzel-Gibson
Illustrated by Andie Lafrentz
Published by Pownal Street Press (Traditional Program)
Ages 4-8
“A gentle reminder of the importance of the dark.” — Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
When Night doesn’t arrive, the world forgets how to rest.
As endless daylight stretches on, streets grow weary, and flowers bow their heads. Missing her beloved starlight rituals, Nina sets out on a brave and tender journey to find Night and bring her home.
Nina and the Missing Night is a poetic, atmospheric picture book about slowing down, listening, and remembering the quiet magic of rest. With luminous illustrations and a soothing read-aloud rhythm, this story invites young readers to honor nighttime as a place of comfort, connection, and calm. Perfect for bedtime—and for anyone who has ever missed the stars.
Reviews
“A gentle reminder of the importance of the dark.” — Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
“When nighttime never arrives, a young girl sets out to find out why in Paruzel-Gibson’s picture book.
Each evening, young Nina takes a book to bed, while Night, personified as a human with pale blue skin, sits nearby to listen to the girl read aloud. (Nina is shown with pale skin; other characters have an array of skin tones.) But one day, Night doesn’t show up: The sun shines on, while the townspeople use the extra daylight to run errands and play outside. “Nina missed starlight, dancing fireflies, and sweet dreams,” so she packs a bag and sets out to find Night. She finds her in a cave in the woods, feeling sad and believing that no one would miss darkness, but Nina reminds her, “The world needs rest.” Nina coaxes Night from the cave and, at last, the sun sets, sending everyone—including Nina—to sleep. For young readers afraid of nighttime, this will be an ideal book: There’s no moralizing or admonishment, just a calming story showing that everyone—kids, adults, plants, and animals—all need to rest, and that darkness is kind, not scary. This message is skillfully bolstered by Lafrentz’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations, which deftly use color to show the oppressive ocher of endless sun and the calming blue of night.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“In Nina and the Missing Night by Natalia Paruzel-Gibson, we follow a resourceful young girl named Nina during a day that simply refuses to end. The night completely vanishes, leaving the neighborhood trapped under a stubborn sun that won’t quit. While people are happy to tick off items on their chores list at first, the mood quickly shifts to total irritation. The kids get too tired to bounce on their beds, and the whole town starts drooping along with the local plants. Nina deeply misses the calm feeling of starlight and sweet dreams, so she takes matters into her own hands. She stuffs her bag with supplies and marches right past yawning forest animals to track down the world’s missing night. What hidden place must Nina explore, and what will it take for her to convince the darkness to return to a weary town?
Nina and the Missing Night by Natalia Paruzel-Gibson is a children’s picture book that feels like a gentle, warm blanket for a child’s mind at the end of a hectic afternoon. The prose is simple and evocative, moving along at a steady, calming pace that mirrors a long walk through the forest. Nina’s an adorable protagonist, and her empathy for the night makes her a great role model for kids. Andie Lafrentz’s artwork really makes the book special. The images bring everything to life with a dreamy, cozy feel. I loved watching the sky slowly change across the pages, moving from an endless, exhausting daytime glare into deep blues and twinkling stars. Seeing the little bats and owls winding down for sleep is the perfect way to show kids why bedtime matters. At its heart, it’s a gentle tale about the joy of sharing stories and the comfort of settling into a dark, peaceful bedroom. If you need something to help your family relax and wind down before bed, you definitely want to add this one to your shelf.”
(Five Star Rating)
—Readers' Favorite
A Picture Day to Remember
Written by Natalia Paruzel-Gibson
Illustrated by Nynke Boelens
Ages 4-8
Lola wears a big red hat to school because she’s insecure about her appearance. When her teacher announces that it’s picture day, all Lola wants to do is hide. But her classmate Nassim has a clever solution to help Lola with her picture day jitters.
A thoughtful book about insecurities and self-confidence but especially about the power of friendship. For children with and without freckles ages 4 years and up.
Also available in Dutch, Danish and Simplified Chinese.
Reviews
“I loved this story about being okay with who you are and not only embracing it yourself, but everyone around you embracing it too. It brought tears to my eyes. THAT is how it should be. THAT is the kind of thing we should be teaching our kids. Our differences make us who we are and we should be celebrating and embracing them and when we feel we can't, those around us should rally behind us and remind us that we can and we will someday."
—Megan M, Librarian
"This is a cute, funny children’s story about the value of accepting yourself. The problem and the solution are both humorous and heart-warming. The book would be a good buy for either a school library or a children’s section in a public library. It celebrates individuality with humor and without being cloying or mawkish."
—Suzan B, Librarian
"What makes A Picture Day to Remember to stand out is the simple solution to help with Lola’s insecurities (if you want to know what the solution is, read the book!). It shows the value kindness and friendship can have when feeling insecure."
—Antyna G, Librarian
Something Lost Something Found
Written by Natalia Paruzel-Gibson
Illustrated by Laura Catrinella
Ages 4-8
Ella feels like she is stuck in a pile of gloomy mud. She misses her mom so much. So, Ella embarks on a quest to find happiness again; wishing upon a star, trying to cook it up in a magic potion, and searching for it in all the places her grieving young heart leads her. And bit by bit...Ella begins to find solace in memories of her Mom. Something Lost Something Found is a story for young readers about the profound bonds we share with our loved ones, the importance of childhood memories, and the innate yearning to endure even the most indescribable grief.
Loss is real, especially in the face of the cancer epidemic. The youngest members of our society frequently experience feelings of confusion, misplaced anger, anxiety and feelings of general uncertainty about life after losing a loved one. Our children often require long-term coping strategies to help them move forward, not past grief, but to move forward with it. Something Lost Something Found aims to help families with children affected by loss, navigate through the long-term complexities of grief, by bringing childhood memories into focus.
Reviews
"A touching exploration of long-term grief with charming illustrations."
— Kirkus Reviews
“The author’s message is subtle but well written and touching. Young and old readers alike will benefit from sharing this touching book, and the discussion it will start.”
— A. L. Peevey, Readers' Favorite
“Something Lost Something Found is a lovely tale that narrates a young girl’s search for happiness after the death of her mother. This tale of grief is told with subtlety and silliness allowing the reader to enjoy a story about grieving without the heavy weight most often attached to such topics. I especially loved the different seasons that Ella experiences in the story, beautifully illustrating the concept of time in the grieving process. This book nicely conveys the notion that grief is not about a beginning and an end but rather about the journey that is totally unique to any kid experiencing loss. This story is a wonderful way to open the awkward dialogue of grief with kids of all ages.”
— Dr. Rahul Saxena, Roundhouse Pediatrics