The Dark Was Done

Teach little ones about overcoming fears and appreciating the beauty in all things—even the dark—with this poignant picture book about finding wonder in the nighttime.

Everyone was afraid of the Dark and pushed it away, wishing the Dark would leave. So one day, the Dark left and did not return. The Dark was done.

At first, nobody misses the Dark. But a young boy starts to miss creatures of the night: crickets singing and owls hooting and bats flying. He decides to go look for the Dark. One by one, others who miss the Dark and all its creatures and mysteries and magic join in. Can they find a way to bring back the Dark?

Lauren Stringer has illustrated many celebrated picture books, including Deer Dancer by Mary Lyn Ray; The Princess and Her Panther by Wendy Orr; Scarecrow and Snow, both written by Cynthia Rylant; as well as her own Winter Is the Warmest Season, When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky, and Dark Was Done. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit her at LaurenStringer.com.