Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights

by Mindy Dwyer

Overview

Early one morning in a long ago northern land, a baby girl was born. Her mother named her Aurora, which means the “rosy light of dawn". . .

Winner, 2021 Northern Lights Book Award, "Time-Honored" category

"Not every child has seen the northern lights, of course, but even those who only have heard of them may be interested in this colorful book. The legend is pleasant, and Dwyer's brilliant watercolors bring it to life."
—Parade Magazine

"This fanciful exploration of the origins of the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights, is a scrumptious delight!"
—Publishers Weekly

In Aurora, storyteller and artist Mindy Dwyer shares a magical tale about a young girl whose dreams lead her to a great discovery, her own courage and the spectacular northern lights. Through her bright, luminous illustrations and text, this origin story about the glorious northern lights is magically portrayed to young readers and makes the perfect bedtime story.

Mindy Dwyer is author and/or illustrator of many books, including Treasure and Chia and the Fox Man.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780882405490
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	02/01/2001
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	417,934
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.38(h) x 0.12(d)
Lexile:	AD960L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mindy Dwyer has written and illustrated several children's books, including How Raven Got His Crooked Nose and It's Only the Wind. She is the recipient of the "Not Just For Kids Anymore Award" from the Children's Book Council, a National Parenting Publication Award, and a Young Readers Choice Award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she sees and admires crows and ravens from afar.

Table of Contents

In Aurora, Alaskan storyteller and artist Mindy Dwyer has created an entrancing story of a young girl whose seeking and dreams lead her to a great discovery. The child of a long-ago time and place, young Aurora is fascinated with caribou and the tundra treks of the graceful animals. One day she begins a journey that will reveal the mysteries of the distant land of darkness.

There are many stories of the origin of the Aurora Borealis, the glorious dancing lights of the northern skies. But Dwyer's original tale, Aurora, is sure to take young readers on their own special journey of discovery as they prance over the flowery tundra with Aurora, get lost with her (without losing hope), and encounter the colors she collects from the sky which comfort her.

The bright, luminous illustrations that accompany the story of fanciful, young Aurora make the magic of the northern lights seem as simple as a gift to a young girl.

Editorial Reviews

"The bright luminous illustrations that accompany this charming story make the magic of the northern lights seem as simple as a gift to a young girl. Aurora is a beautiful story, beautifully told."
—Children's Bookwatch

"Dwyer has magic, and she wants to share it with the rest of us. Take her up on her offer. Neither you nor your children will ever forget the result."
—Statesman Journal

From the Publisher

K-Gr 2This picture book is satisfying in many way. It offers a fanciful explanation for the origin of the aurora borealis and whimsical, colorful illustrations. "In a long ago northern land" of perpetual sunshine, Aurora goes in search of a place of darkness described to her by her grandmother. The girl follows a lone caribou there but as she travels, she pockets the colors of the sunshine from the pink glow of early dawn to the midday light of silver blue to the luminous green of twilight. When she reaches the total darkness, she flings the saved lights into the sky, thus enabling her family to follow the dancing curtain of color and find her. The illustrations are lovely, and the story line, while predictable, is effective. Aurora's ethnicity is not clearly defined, although she is clad in a wildly wonderful kuspuk, or summer parka, which resembles Alaskan Inupiat dress. The arrangement of the text and artwork varies and is a bit jarring at times due to inconsistencies in placement. Occasionally, the text is printed over an illustration making it difficult to read. Overall, a worthy addition to most collections.Mollie Bynum, formerly at Chester Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, AK

School Library Journal