• Age: 4 to 9
• Grade: p to 4

This Royal Dragonfly Award Winner is the first book in the Ella Says adventure series and tells the delightful tale of a brave girl named Ella, who puts aside her fear of the dark to help her best friend, Ollie, and find her way home.

The weather suddenly changes, and a bright sunny day turns DARK, windy, and rainy! Ella and her little dog Ollie, who were playing, become disoriented and LOST in the woods. Ella could no longer tell which direction was North, South, East, or West—none of the compass points. Ella and Ollie also become separated. Ella is AFRAID of the dark and wants to go home to their little blue house, but, first, she must find her best friend, Ollie! She BRAVELY makes her way through the dark woods and finds him! Once they are reunited, together with many woodland friends, they hatch their plan to find their way home. Their ADVENTURE teaches Ella and Ollie that they can smile and not be afraid of the dark!

• A picture storybook that delivers an ENTERTAINING tale with stunning illustrations on every page.
• FREEBIE surprises available on the author's website!
• Wonderful way to INSPIRE CHATS about not being afraid of the dark, the importance of managing change, and working together through team work to solve problems.
• Great for young readers and as a bedtime story for younger children.

Anu Misa's profile page

Anu D. Misa is an author and illustrator of children’s stories. Besides her love of writing, illustrating and reading, she enjoys cooking, crafting, and spending time with her family. Anu is also an avid traveller and has been to more countries than she can count on her fingers and toes! While she enjoys these adventures, she always appreciates coming back to her home in Toronto, Canada. Travelling gives her insights into family life around the world and provides the sparks that result in many of her stories! Interestingly, English was not Anu’s first language and as a child learning through picture storybooks was so important to her, it left a lifelong impression. Anu has come a long way from those early years learning to read, graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Economics and working in the field for many years, while always making time for her creative passions. Now she delights in the challenge of writing and illustrating stories that captivate children and adults alike. You can visit Anu online at www.booksbymisa.com

Ella Says - I'm Not Afraid of the Dark! by Anu D. Misa is a children's picture book story. Ella and her best friend, Ollie the dog, are playing in the woods in the sun when all of a sudden, the sky darkens, the rain pours and the wind starts to howl. Ella is separated from Ollie as they get lost in the sudden dark. Ella decides she won't be scared of the dark as she makes her way into the woods to find Ollie. With the help of a wise old owl and the other woodland creatures, Ollie and Ella can finally find their way back to their little blue house and safety.

Ella Says - I'm Not Afraid of the Dark! by Anu D. Misa is a wonderful children's story. It's a short story accompanied by some amazing illustrations, bright and colorful, telling the story along with the words. The story is written in nice simple language and is very easy to follow along with. As well as being a story, it also teaches children that they shouldn't be afraid, especially not of the dark, that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and that having the right friends with you makes all the difference. Picture books are not the easiest to write but this one strikes the perfect balance between narrative and pictures. It is perfectly aimed at its target audience of 6 to 9-year-olds and will delight kids everywhere as it moves seamlessly through the story.

????? by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite