Description
What happens when you do the wrong thing for the right reason?
In this relatable story of the restorative power of friendship, two girls—Nina, who has everything, and Tabitha, who has almost nothing—find the strength they need to heal from a very sad day with the help of nuns both little and life-sized.
Little Lost Nun:
- Has two protagonists.
- Features diverse characters.
- Includes classic, evocative illustrations.
- Includes a glossary of Orthodox terms used in the book.
- Has a discussion guide and tips on visiting monasteries.
- Is a perfect choice for church book clubs for kids.
About the Author
Melinda Johnson is an Orthodox Christian, wife, mother, and the author of books for children and adults. She loves gardens, books, and her corgi Ferdinand, and she especially treasures the great beauty of small things.
About the Illustrator
David Moses runs Past-Itch Comics and is a cartoonist + designer + illustrator + muralist. He is the creator of GALACTIC JUNK SQUAD (Well, More Like Family), and has collaborated on projects such as Creatures from the Chaos Realm, Vacuum Decay, Final Frontiersman, and Tales from the Holy Mountain with Holy Mountain Printing.
Book Details
Grades 3-5
JUVENILE FICTION/Religious/Christian/Friendship
This book will also be distributed worldwide through Ingram. Customers outside of the United States should order from their local bookstores in order to avoid exorbitant shipping fees. If you are a merchant in the United States but do not have an Ingram account, please contact us at editor@parkendbooks.com for a wholesale discount code.
Ships within the United States only! Orders outside the United States will be refunded and canceled. We are unable to mail outside of the United States at this time due to high shipping costs which match or exceed the cost of our products. Thank you for your understanding. Our books are available to purchase from your local booksellers worldwide.
Irene O –
We recently read Little Lost Nun by Melinda Johnson. This is a sweet story where one small peg doll creates a string of events that open the eyes and hearts of those involved. Two little girls from very different family dynamics find love, faith, and friendship through their personal struggles and actions. This heartwarming story gives us a peek into an Orthodox monastery, where the nuns are warm and welcoming and children are free to explore the beauty of God’s creation in their garden. It is a safe place where the girls ultimately find that God truly has a hand in all things.
This story is a beautiful tale to share and discuss with our children. From it we can learn about empathy and compassion, patience and forgiveness. The “think and talk” section and “you can visit a monastery” section at the end of the book provide a guide for discussion and some valuable tips on how to prepare for a monastery visit.
I highly recommend adding a copy to your children’s book shelf or church school library!
Pauline –
When I originally posted my review on that mega store website that sells everything from A to Z, the book was perched on our handmade hardwood dining room table, next to my glass of wine. And ordinarily, children’s books aren’t photographed with a glass of wine. I get it.
But this is worthy of a read not only by children, but their parents, too, as all truly good children’s books are.
My daughters, ages 9 and 10, were delighted to receive an advance review copy of The Little Lost Nun by Melinda Johnson. When it arrived, I was so excited about my friend’s new children’s book that I wanted to sit down and read it myself.
When my 9 year old daughter Sarah encountered me reading with tears streaming down my cheeks, she remarked, “I don’t think that’s an ordinary children’s book, Mama!”
I, on the other hand, messaged the author that I hadn’t anticipated ugly crying when I read it.
This is a beautiful story about friendship and heartbreak; a kind of dying and resurrection. As a parent raising my children within Orthodox Christianity, I love how this isn’t exactly a story “about” nuns or “about” church. It’s about little girls and mamas and nuns at different places on their journeys of life in Christ, all learning how to love one another as Christ has loved us.
Melinda has knocked it out of the park with this book. Her characters feel so real. I want to pray for Tabitha’s wounded mama, drink coffee with Nina’s wise parents, and connect with Theodore’s joyful family. (And in this era of covidtide, I so hope the nearby monasteries might be open again before long when it’s safe for the nuns…I need the love and wise prayers of Gerontissa in my life right about now!)
As the mother of tween daughters, I especially love the encouragement that Nina’s parents give her to pray fervently for Tabitha. In wisdom that clearly comes from living the practices of faith deeply, they nudge their daughter toward the reality of adult faith that is forged when we don’t know what to do for our loved ones but offer them back to God so in His mercy and love he might heal them in the ways that only He knows how.
No, Sarah, this is no ordinary children’s book.
It’s So. Much. More.
I look forward to pondering this with my girls for years to come.
Julie Chien –
This is a beautifully written, deeply meaningful and poignant book. I was surprised at how well it captured hard topics in a form accessable to children. Highly recommend this book for children and adults alike!