Seeking an Aurora

by Elizabeth Pulford (Author) Anne Bannock (Illustrator)

Seeking an Aurora
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

In the quiet of the night, a child's father bundles them up and shows them the majesty of an aurora. This book is perfect for those who love Owl Moon.

A father wakes his child from sleep to beckon, Come--we're off to find an Aurora. Through the silent frost, across fields, and up hills they climb...And then they wait. Together they share an unforgettable moment and the majestic splendor of the northern and southern lights. This moving and lyrical story is paired with scientific information about the awe-inspiring northern and southern lights to further inspire readers to seek their own natural wonders. Printed on FSC-certified paper with vegetable-based inks.

"A magical experience." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Select format:
Hardcover
$17.95

Kirkus

Starred Review
A magical experience.

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review

The hand-drawn, soft-pastel artwork uses rich colors, varied textures, and subtle lighting effects throughout the book, while the climactic scenes are vibrant and luminous. A memorable picture book that captures an unforgettable experience.

Publishers Weekly

In this lyrically written tale from author Pulford, a tan-skinned child's father wakes them in the middle of the night: "Come on," he says. "We're off to find an Aurora." Pastel drawings on colored paper by Bannock glow with the red of the father's coat and the warm yellow-orange of the child's jacket. The two tiptoe through the door and walk to the top of the hill. The child, not sure what awaits them, looks back at the house with its "warm, buttery light" and the footprints they leave in the frost. The father offers reassurance (" 'Is it scary?' Dad shook his head") but no further clarity until they cuddle up and watch: "wide wings of light flew over the sky." Bannock pulls back to show the duo as small black silhouettes against the magnificent colors of the aurora, "dancing light, glowing... and glimmering, shimmering and shining." The child's experience of seeing the spectacle with no preparation or preconceptions adds drama to Pulford's story, which stays tightly focused on the family's quiet outdoor adventure, and on the aurora itself. An endnote provides facts. Ages 3-7. (Jan.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

This quietly thrilling picture book chronicles the late-night excursion of a father and child."—Wall Street Journal

"I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights, and maybe one day I will, but for now I've this beautiful picture book... a hushed, reverent story... eloquent...with evocative phrasing." —Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"It's a tribute to bedtime rituals and the occasional deviation—and a loving parent willing to say yes."—The New York Times
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781733121279
Lexile Measure
550
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Blue Dot Kids Press
Publication date
January 19, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013060 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Parents
JUV009050 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Senses & Sensation
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
JUV032170 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Camping & Outdoor Activities
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Fathers and daughters
Auroras

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