Što pričaju dan i noć

What Day and Night Say is a cherished and timeless collection of short stories and sketches for children by the renowned Croatian writer and educator Josip Pavičić, originally published as part of highly popular children's literature series (such as the Vjeverica / "Squirrel" collection). The book is distinguished by a special warmth and lyricism through which the author introduces the youngest readers to the world around them. Using the interplay of light and shadow—the day bringing work, play, liveliness, and bustle, and the night bringing calm, dreams, and mysterious rustling sounds—Pavičić weaves a series of simple yet deeply moving tales. The characters typically include children from both rural and urban settings, animals, and personified elements of nature. The stories capture small childhood joys, early discoveries about the world, and relationships with parents, friends, and animals, as well as minor schoolboy mischief and moral dilemmas. Pavičić’s writing style is marked by exceptional simplicity, vivid imagery, and rhythm, all tailored to a child's perspective. What Day and Night Say not only stimulates children's imaginations and fosters a love for nature but also conveys—in an unobtrusive manner—fundamental humanistic messages about kindness, empathy, respect for elders, and honesty, remaining a cherished part of growing up for generations of young readers.