Summers with Lauren is a heartwarming children’s story-within-a-story, written and illustrated by Lawrence V. Bolar. As Daddy tucks his son Christian into bed, he reads him the tale of Lauren, a little girl whose parents live in different states after their separation. Nervous but brave, Lauren takes her first big trip to spend the summer with her daddy — and along the way, father and son share a tender bedtime ritual of prayer, questions, and reassurance. Rooted in faith and the author’s own experience as a father of two, the story gently teaches children (and parents) that “Nothing Substitutes Time,” and that a child’s bond with both parents is worth protecting, even across distance.