- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–11
- Fairy Tales
The Lost Sunday
In a frantic, exhausted town ruled by six angry wolves, one for each day of the week, a girl named Nina goes looking for the seventh day, Sunday, stolen long ago by a witch. An Eisner-nominated folktale that turns burnout and the right to rest into a magical quest.
- Best for7–11
- FormatGraphic
- Length72 pp
- Read aloud~34 min
Affiliate links — buy through these retailers and we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Literary
- Lyrical
Tone
- Whimsical
- Warm
- Thought provoking
- Gentle
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Nina lives in a dusty, teetering town where nobody ever stops. Six wolves, one for every working day of the week, prowl the crooked streets and keep everyone hurrying, and the legend of a seventh day, a day made purely for rest, has faded into rumour. They say a Sunday once existed, until a wicked witch stole it away. When Nina finally decides she has had enough of the endless rush, she sets off across rope bridges and rickety ladders on a quest to find the witch and win back the lost day. Drawing on old European folklore and fairy tale, Ileana Surducan's Eisner-nominated all-ages graphic novel shines a warm, magical light on a very modern problem: the exhaustion of always doing, and the quiet importance of leisure. Inventive, funny and beautifully drawn, it makes the case for slowing down without ever preaching.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A short, richly imagined fairy-tale graphic novel for 7-11s that reads comfortably alone and shares well aloud with younger children. Its low peril and thoughtful theme give it broad appeal, and adults drawn to folklore and beautiful comics will happily read it too.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 7–11
- Read aloud · 6–9
- Independent · 7–11
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Fairy tale fans
- Thoughtful readers
- Graphic novel fans
- Gentle fantasy
Avoid if
- Wants fast action
- Dislikes quiet stories
Particularly good for children who are…
- Anxiety and worry
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
A town run by six growly wolves and a witch who hoarded an entire day is a brilliantly strange puzzle, and Nina is exactly the kind of stubborn hero who decides to do something about it. Following her across wobbling bridges and ladders to face the witch feels like stepping inside an old fairy tale.
- Going on a quest
- The underdog winning
- Secret world
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
Behind the folklore is a gentle, timely message about slowing down that resonates with grown-ups as much as children. Surducan's world-building and linework are gorgeous, the quest is inventive rather than formulaic, and it opens up an easy conversation about busyness and looking after yourself.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
- Indie gem discovery
About the author & illustrator
Ileana Surducan.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
