The Girl Who Couldn't Sleep
A story about the courage to face what scares you, and what you find when you finally turn around.
Get the Book →Every night, the same nightmare. Every night, Maya runs.
Seven-year-old Maya loves painting, sunshine, and helping her grandmother bake. But when the lights go out, a towering shadow-monster chases her through her dreams — and she wakes up tangled in her sheets, heart pounding, too tired to paint.
Her parents try everything. Nightlights. Dream catchers. Extra bedtime stories. Nothing works. Bedtime becomes the scariest part of Maya's day.
"The things that frighten you most in dreams are not enemies. They are gifts in disguise, waiting to be opened."
Then Nana Rose arrives — a grandmother who grew up in a faraway place where people paid close attention to their dreams. Drawing on a wisdom shared by indigenous cultures across the world, she teaches Maya something that changes everything: you have power in your own dreams. The secret is not to run. The secret is to turn around.
Face it. Ask what it wants.
That night, with her heart hammering and her legs shaking, Maya does the bravest thing she has ever done.
She stops. She turns around. She faces the shadow and whispers: "Who are you? What do you want?" With every step forward, the monster begins to shrink — until she can see what it really is: a tiny, trembling creature, alone and afraid, who just wanted someone to see it.
What this book opens up
Maya discovers that the monster chasing her had something to say. Children learn that scary feelings — in dreams and in life — are worth listening to.
The story's core act of courage is simple enough for any child to hold onto: when something frightens you, stop, breathe, and face it.
"Who are you? What do you want?" — two questions that shrink monsters. Children learn that curiosity is a form of bravery.
The creature gives Maya a gift that changes how she sees color and creates. The book shows children that difficult experiences can leave something beautiful behind.
Maya's fear turns to compassion when she sees the creature's loneliness. The book gently teaches that sometimes the "monster" just needs a friend.
Nana Rose's final words to Maya: "You taught yourself, little one. You were brave enough to turn around. That's where all the magic starts."
Inside the book
"Where there is fear, there is also a gift. You just have to be brave enough to turn around."
Inspired by dream traditions of indigenous cultures around the world — including the Senoi of Malaysia — this story brings an ancient wisdom into a child's hands.
A book for every child who has ever run from the dark.
A luminous picture book for ages 4–8. Perfect for children who experience nightmares, families building emotional resilience, and classrooms exploring courage and empathy.
Get the Book →