Kids will love Aurora Periwinkle. She's Santa's polar opposite, a quiet scientist living at the South Pole. It's a peaceful life -- but that's all about to change. One day, Aurora notices a bright red jewel lying in the snow. "What is that doing here?" Using her scientific curiosity, she discovers that the jewels contain children's dreams! Eventually she teams up with none other than Santa Claus himself to spread joy throughout the world. The book is perfect for parents or grandparents to read aloud as a bedtime story, or relaxing beside the Christmas tree. It's a classic holiday tale with a modern twist. "Sparkly, dreamy, and delightful; a whimsical tale bursting with magic, holiday cheer, and the power of dreams." --The Prairies Book Review Amazon customers say: "A wonderful Christmas story"... "Delightful"... " "A lovely story with an important message"... "Aurora is a gem." From the author: "I have big plans for this book. I'm hoping that someday it will be made into a holiday TV special, right up there with Frosty and Rudolph." Order "Aurora" for your family today! You'll be glad you did. Sparkly, dreamy, and delightful; a whimsical tale bursting with magic, holiday cheer, and the power of dreams. Morykwas merges science and holiday enchantment in the thrilling tale of Aurora Periwinkle, a scientist stationed in Antarctica. While studying the frigid landscape, Aurora stumbles upon magical jewels containing children's dreams. As the Dreamweaver of the South Pole, she teams up with none other than Santa Claus himself to spread joy through gifts and dreams. Morykwas' prose is engaging and thoughtful, particularly in how it weaves themes of loneliness, curiosity, and kindness into a narrative fit for children. Aurora's journey will inspire readers to see that even in the coldest corners of the world, warmth can be found through compassion and dreams. The integration of science and magic adds a unique twist, encouraging young minds to explore both the wonders of our world and their own imaginations. Phoebe Cho's illustrations beautifully capture the magic of both poles, with soft, glowing colors that enhance the dreamlike atmosphere of the story. With its seamless blend of holiday cheer and science, this book delivers an important message about finding one's place in the world and using kindness to make it brighter. Perfect for children who love Christmas magic, science, and stories about unique, empowered characters. --The Prairies Book Review Ed Morykwas's "Aurora and the Whispering Jewels: A South Pole Christmas Story" is a Christmas picture book story enhanced with vivid illustrations by Phoebe Cho. It opens with a letter from Santa Claus to the children of the world. Santa explains that, the rest of the year, he enjoys observing life on earth. This is how he comes to inspect and present the life of Aurora Periwinkle, who lives with her parents on an Australian farm. They live in poverty and work very hard, yet Aurora dreams of becoming a scientist one day, harboring a scientific curiosity about the world that is based on her love of solving puzzles. Her childhood interests grow even stronger as she becomes a young woman, moves to the South Pole, and reaches for her dreams against all odds. Aurora's story is presented in a series of succinct chapters. This will invite either adult read-aloud or the reading abilities of kids just moving from picture books into chapter books. It's a standout in Christmas stories for the young. --D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review Ed always loved creative writing. He was an English major and aspiring poet at UCLA in his undergraduate years. For 23 years, he taught Language Arts classes to middle school students in California and Michigan. "Writing is a perfect way to connect with our shared humanity." Phoebe Cho has illustrated many children's books. She was born in South Korea but now resides in London, England. Her delightful style and artistic skills are a perfect match for Aurora's timeless story.