The Nightgarden: A Tale of Love and Longing

The Nightgarden is the second book in the enchanting series about Julius, a sensitive and imaginative boy navigating the turbulent emotions of his parents' separation.

What begins as a joyful day at the amusement park with his mother takes an unexpected turn when she reveals that she must move to the United States for half a year to pursue her dream as an actress. For Julius, the news brings silence-literally-as he suddenly loses his voice. Unable to speak, he finds himself caught between the longing for his mother and the quiet strength of his father and grandparents.

During fall vacation, Julius stays with his grandparents, where the ordinary garden becomes a gateway to the extraordinary. His grandmother shares the story of her mother Valentina, a celebrated ballerina whose private retreat was known as the mysterious "Night Garden." Soon, Julius begins to sense that he, too, has a hidden Night Garden-an inner landscape where feelings take shape and memories come alive. Guided by his grandmother's wisdom, the loyal stuffed parrot Pappus, and a constellation of magical figures-from snow children to the enigmatic Pearl Whisperer-Julius embarks on a journey that blends family history with dreamlike adventure.

Through encounters both wondrous and unsettling, Julius learns that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to meet it, and that even when words fail, stories and imagination can restore hope. With its blend of heartfelt realism and luminous fantasy, The Nightgarden is a story for both children and adults-about loss and belonging, the healing power of imagination, and the gardens we all carry inside us, waiting to be discovered.

🌟 Praise for The Nightgarden

✨ Magical! With The Nightgarden, author Cathrine and illustrator Petter have truly outdone themselves. If you haven't already guessed-I absolutely love The Nightgarden! It's just so beautiful. And magical.
✨ A wise children's book about love and longing. This is a beautiful book, filled with depth and wisdom. It has just as much to offer adults as it does children. A book like this invites both young and old to talk together about life's challenges and to put words to what feels painful or difficult. Wilhelmsen's books encourage empathetic communication-and that is something we can all learn from.

🌟 Who will enjoy and benefit from this book?

Children ages 6–12 who enjoy heartfelt, magical stories
Families experiencing change (such as divorce or separation) who want a gentle, imaginative way to talk about emotions.
Parents and grandparents looking for meaningful books to read aloud and discuss with children
Teachers and librarians seeking literature that encourages emotional literacy and classroom conversation
Fans of gentle fantasy and magical realism who appreciate stories blending everyday life with dreamlike adventures
Adults with an inner child who enjoy reflective, multi-layered tales about family, love, and resilience

🌟 Why You’ll Love The Nightgarden

The second book in the Julius series – The story continues where The Pearl Whisperer left off. We follow Julius as he navigates life after his parents’ divorce, when silence and longing open the door to a new, magical world.
A tale with emotional depth – The Nightgarden explores themes of family, loss, longing, and love in a tender and relatable way, offering just as much to adults as to children.
Captivating magical realism – Everyday life blends with dreamlike, enchanting adventures. An ordinary garden becomes a gateway to the extraordinary, where feelings and memories come alive.
An intergenerational story – Through his grandmother’s tales, family history is woven into Julius’ journey, introducing his great-grandmother Valentina, a ballerina with her own mysterious “Night Garden.”
A strong visual universe – Petter Winther’s atmospheric illustrations bring Julius’ journey vividly to life, making readers feel as if they’ve stepped into his world.
Universal appeal – A story that resonates with children experiencing longing and hope, and with adults who see the deeper symbolism and emotional layers.
Encourages meaningful conversations – The Nightgarden invites children and adults to talk about feelings and challenges, giving words to what is often difficult to express.
A hopeful message – The story reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to face it, and that imagination and storytelling can bring both comfort and healing.

Also available as ebook, and in Norwegian, print and ebook.

Written by Cathrine L Wilhelmsen, illustrations by Petter Winter.

The Julius Series: The Nightgarden is the second book in the Julius series. The journey began in The Pearl Whisperer, where Julius discovered the magical snow globe and the Colorsprites when his parents’ divorce turned his world upside down.