Author of Fiction
The Story of Nova
“Nova—The Courageous Little Star" is a captivating picture book for children aged 3 to 10, blending a story about facing a challenge with the wonders of the cosmos.
The story is about Nova, a star in the Big Dipper constellation. When she meets Cosmo, a mysterious figure, she learns what it means to let go, accept changes in life, and celebrate the balance of light and dark in the universe.
The author's personal experience of loss at a young age and finding solace in the stars served as inspiration for the story.
The book encourages early readers to learn about stars in the sky and how to deal with their own feelings, especially in challenging situations. “Nova—The Courageous Little Star" offers a visually stunning, imaginative journey that helps young readers find comfort and deal with changes as they happen in their lives.
The Origin of the Story
After my mother passed away when I was six years old, my grand-aunt would comfort me when I woke up distraught with nightmares, missing my mom. On the bathroom window with the clearest view of the night sky, she would point to the Big Dipper constellation, telling me that my mother was still watching over me.
This nightly stargazing fueled an idea to tell a story so that others could similarly find comfort in the stars.
The story of Nova is that story.
Today, I live with my family in Germany and still often look up to the Big Dipper.
The Illustration of the Story
“Nova, the Courageous Little Star” was beautifully illustrated by Verena Abidin.
Equipped with her paint brushes and intensely passionate about everything colourful and glittery, Verena is trying her best to add more beauty and joy to life and to the world. Her favourite media are acrylic ink, gouache, Japanese water colour and colour pencils. She uses them to create whimsical, richly textured and vibrant art instilled with lots of love.
Verena is also a certified Montessori educator. She is currently based in Toronto, Canada with her family.
