Some readers may be stunned to learn that a “digital lady” is writing today about an inspiring book for children, The Invisibles (“Invizibilii”), by Romanian author Ioana Pârvulescu. If you know me well as a friend or as a therapist, this won’t be a surprise. Still, I feel to give you a bit of context.
Why reading Matters to me
A Library Called Home
I grew up in a home surrounded by thousands of books — history, Romanian and foreign literature, languages, old encyclopedias, art albums, you name it. You could easily say I had my own personal library. And honestly, what a blessing that was! I often had the privilege of watching my father debate, sometimes until sunrise, with Romanian intellectuals during a time when the communist regime was anything but friendly toward culture. Ironically, the harder the communists tried to destroy culture, the more Romanians resisted. And they found the most incredible way to do so: by giving life to some of the most humorous and ironic jokes that reflected the harsh reality of the communist regime.
And, yet, some days were amazing and tell you why. I was just a kid, amazed to see priests, musicians, painters, doctors, and professors passionately discussing big ideas, quoting authors in their original languages — Hebrew, French, Italian, Spanish, or German. Back then, people would photocopy entire books because the good ones were so hard to find. Books were treasures — often hidden carefully at home — and they became a way to escape the grey, heavy days. So, I guess it’s no surprise that reading has always been a major theme in my life, at times unfolding some truly special chapters.
Given my personal experience with reading, you can understand why treasure the gift of reading. Most of us know well that reading is crucial for a child’s development, as it fuels intelligence, empathy, compassion and creativity.
Yes, I am one of those people who are 100% convinced that a child’s natural curiosity, nurtured by both parents and educators, will continue to grow throughout their life. And I’m convinced not only that book reading is one of the best way of fueling curiosity. Just as well, it is the adults’ role and responsibility to get children in love with reading. Otherwise, they will end up believing that scrolling few titles or smart summaries means knowledge.
When an award-winning author finds children incredible
Ioana Pârvulescu
So, here I am today telling you about The Invisibles. It is the first children’s book written by Ioana Pârvulescu, a Romanian author famous for her novels, which have been translated into 15 European languages. She is also known for her essays on everyday life and her books on literature. Students know her well for the lectures she gives on modern Romanian literature at the Faculty of Letters of the University of Bucharest.
Pârvulescu has had a multifaceted career, yet always in close connection with nurturing universe of books. For 18 years she wrote a weekly column for the literary journal “România literară”, and she initiated and coordinated the “Bedside Book” series (“Cartea de pe noptieră”) at Humanitas Publishing House. She is also a translator from French and German, having worked on authors such as Maurice Nadeau, Angelus Silesius and Rainer Maria Rilke. She has written more than 20 books, including bestselling essays and novels about past eras, about Bucharest, and Brașov:
- 2009 – Life Begins on Friday (Viața începe vineri)
- 2012 – The Future Begins on Monday (“Viitorul începe luni”)
- 2016 – The Innocents (“Inocenții”)
- 2020 – The biblical novel Jonah and His Daughter (“Prevestirea”)
- 2024 – The fantasy novel The Cat’s Gold (“Aurul pisicii”)
In 2013, Pârvulescu’s contribution to literature was acknowledged by receiving the prestigious European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL). With The Invisibles (2022) Pârvulescu turned her hand to younger readers for the first time, crafting a story that reflects her deep love of literature, reading and the worlds that books unlock.
The Invisibles - A Book "for Readers Aged 8 to 108"
Not just any journey, but one of many meanings and self-discoveries
Ioana Pârvulescu’s children’s book, The Invisibles, is a lively, imaginative adventure that entertains and educates. It tells the story of Laura — an intelligent, curious, and courageous girl who nonetheless believes she is simply “unusually ordinary.” At nearly eight years old, she harbours a secret: she doesn’t yet know how to read. Why? Because her imagination is so rich and free it seems to float beyond the letters on the page.
One day, in an apparently ordinary visit to the library, something extraordinary happens: Laura’s classmates enter the library and vanish — they become literally invisible. Where did they go? To rescue them, Laura must embark on an enchanted journey: she will traverse six worlds, pass six trials, and partner with a wizard, all in a quest to discover the “magic formula of reading.”
While Laura navigates these magical realms, she begins to realise that reading isn’t just decoding letters, but entering other worlds, forging connections, discovering hidden truths — and, most importantly, discovering herself. Along the way the story gently nudges us to understand that stories, books and reading are not just for “children” or “adults” but for anyone ready to open the doors of knowledge. One memorable line from the book says:
Laura’s adventures become a celebration of imagination, of learning to read, and of the power of books to reveal worlds previously unseen.
