My Review:
Wow. All I can say is Wow. This is such a great childrens' story. I honestly
cannot wait to read it again. The story itself is beautiful with wonderful
flowing rhymes and a great lesson for old and young. I cannot wait to share it
with my nieces and nephews. I think this really could be the next The Grinch
Who Stole Christmas. I wish it had been written when I was younger because I
know it would have been my favorite story.
The illustrations are also beautiful, Donald Vanderbeek is wonderful and the
they match the story amazingly.
I think this will be a classic quickly and really recommend it for young and
old.
Aurora of the Northern Lights Reviewed By Andrea Coventry Of Bookpleasures.com
Aurora of the Northern Lights is a beautiful and touching story that is
destined to become a Christmas favorite amongst young and old alike.
The story is written completely in verse that flows on paper, as well as when
read aloud. You cannot help but be filled with a variety of emotions as the
story ebbs and flows through the happiness and the heartache.
Illustrations by Donald Vanderbeek add to the beauty and poetry of Holly
Hardin's words. They are beautiful and elicit as much emotion as the story
itself.
Children will be held captive by the words and the pictures when this book is
read aloud to them. It inspires visions of families cuddled together on the
couch, wrapped up in blankets on a cold December night, sipping hot chocolate,
as they share the story. It could even inspire young authors and artists to
create their own story.
A New
& Refreshing Children's Fairy Tale For Christmastide
Aurora Of The Northern Lights is a new and refreshing children's fairy tale
for the Christmas season. Full of elves, fairies, sprites and even Santa Claus
himself, this book is written in rhyme verse and reads well silently or aloud
to your children. Aurora is a seven year old elfin girl who has lost her
parents and her way in the world. As she searches, she finally finds out what
it means to be accepted for who you are and how important family is. All in
all, a very well written, fairy tale like story with great colorful
illustrations by Donald Vanderbeek. Any child would love this book in his or
her stocking this Christmastide.
Happy Reading!
Sheila Chilcote-Collins
More Aurora!
The story written by Holly Hardin is a wonderful tale of
adventure and acceptance. I found it a nice twist on the normal holiday
stories. As Aurora searched for a place to call home, Ms. Hardin's poetic
nature intrigues the reader. I found myself wanting the story to continue for
several pages. The book will find its way in to many stockings I stuff this
holiday. I am looking foward to Ms. Hardin's next release.
Sara Skinner, September 3, 2009
Wonderful! A magical fairy story with a beautiful message,
Adults will appreciate the lush, magical quality of the
artwork and the underlying message of tolerance. Children will love the vivid
illustrations and the lyrical rhyming text. It's a simple fact that children
love rhyme. And research shows that rhyming stories encourage reading and
language development. That said, it can be difficult to find original,
high-quality rhyming picture books. The rhythm and repetition in this story
bounces off the tongue, moving the story along beautifully. As a previous
reviewer mentioned, this is not simply another Christmas story. It is a story
that can be read in any season.
Trisha Slay, September '09
From Miss Remmer's
Reviews
This is a great Christmas
story! It's the first book I've accepted for review in this "children's
literature" genre - and I'm so glad I did. A quick read for you and I -
but a beautiful story about accepting others and finding your own path. I
highly recommend this book to any one with a young child learning how to read.
The rhymes are fun and the pictures are vividly beautiful to look at.
I will not be passing this book on. I will add this to my collection for my
'future' children or cousins who will be learning to read. Really - this is a
great children's story. Santa Clause even makes an appearance! But if you
wanted to delve deeper into the analogy, you could. Highlighting three
different cultures - this book could potentially be a great diversity read as
well for children of a young age. Highly recommend.
Has extended appeal to elementary age children (8-13
"Aurora
of the Northern Lights" is a Christmas tale of an orphan girl born of a
mixed marriage of human father, William, and a Northern Fey mother, Mistletoe.
Though Aurora is rejected by the townsfolk after her parents die of illness, a
witch gives her a beautiful crystal charm to protect her, and tells her to seek
her home and destiny in the forest. In the forest Aurora meets the Woodland
Fey, who also reject her as not like them, but their queen directs Aurora to
the far north and gives her a warm woolen cloak and an oaken staff. Aurora trudges
northward into the frozen cold white and she finds a miraculous castle. Inside
she is welcomed by Santa Claus to the Great Elf Hall, where she finds a woman
with dazzling white hair who remembers her mother, Mistletoe. The great white
elf lady is Aurora's grandmother, and she welcomes Aurora to a whole new world
and a new life. The touching story of Aurora is told in extended verse, and the
lush, contrasting dark and light paintings illustrate the story perfectly.
Themes of prejudice, intolerance of difference, and courage and strength in
adversity are explored. A paperback also available in ebook form, "Aurora
of the Northern Lights" has extended appeal to elementary age children
(8-13).
Delightully illustrated story of a childs life through
many changes,
October 12, 2009
A
delightful and very well illustrated children's story. Aurora's parents lived
in a far north area of the world, the same world they had met, fallen in love,
and married. They decided to move to a warmer land to make life better for
them. Shortly the move, Aurora was born. After seven more years Aurora's
parents became ill and passed away. Aurora was then led to move away to a better
home. The story continues with Aurora's trip to her new home and her new
friends and makes startling discoveries as she goes and settles in a new land.
I would say
this story would be great for young children that are starting to learn what is
shown in pictures and can understand the written word as they read it
themselves or read by another to them as they increase their knowledge.
Definitely a keeper, October 6, 2009
I LOVED this story! Wonderful illustrations bring the verse
to life. Mythical and magical, it tells the story of a little girl finding her
place in this world. My daughters adored the story and this book definitely
goes on the shelf to read each Christmas.
