Books published by Aurora Books

You are what you eat aren't you? Meet a Chef who becomes a food critic. He just happens to be a hippo. Come along on a taste adventure with "The Hippo Critic". Find out what's next on the menu & try something new!A Coloring book with poetry, for children and adults.Written by a Chef and illustrated by his son.

As terrorism sweeps the globe, religious differences seem impossible to reconcile. Spiritual leaders of the Islamic and Christian worlds are turning to time-altering water clocks to restore the peace between faiths that once existed in medieval Spain. Among them are the Tejedors-a progressive Muslim family from Andalusia who believe the solution is to hasten the flow of time towards Islam's prophesied Last Day-and the Order of the Libraries-a rogue band of Christian nuns who slow down time for their salvation. While both faiths are intent on defeating terrorism, their time-altering tactics fundamentally clash, drawing the attention of a spiritually advanced First Nations tribe in North America who believe they are the guardians of time. The Tejedors' only hope to turn the hands of time in their favor is to find Tariq Kamal-a Pakistani-American linguist born to create the ultimate message of reconciliation-and to locate the Clepsydra-a 1000-year-old technology capable of broadcasting Tariq's message across space and time. Finding the Clepsydra, however, will require a revelatory journey into Spain's mystical past.

Award-Winning Finalist in the the 2019 International Book Awards.A deeply moving multi-themed literary tale of a beloved, heroic dog,a woman with a dark and joyless history with dogs,and a ruthless feral pack with its own ideas about life and redemption.The Oregon Coast, 1992-2005Tracy has a dark and complicated history with dogs. She must confront her past when her new committed partner presses her to bring a rescue dog into their lives. A collage of memories raises feelings of guilt and loss regarding both her early life experiences, and about Feargus, a dog with whom she had once been acquainted, and who continues to haunt her thoughts.Feargus' life is unveiled in vivid and fascinating detail. He enjoys a rich but unstable early life and is at times subject to neglect and abuse, but his strength and integrity lead him to a life of faithfulness and heroism.Five previously domesticated dogs, all having suffered some form of abuse or neglect, have bonded into a feral pack. They learn to forage, stay safe, find food and eventually experience their first, but not their last, taking of blood. McDonald relates this trio of tales with an audacious, contemporary style. Her fully realized world is irresistibly imagined, and places love, loyalty and guilt at the forefront of the idea of dogs in contemporary life.Feargus is McDonald's debut novel.

In 1936, young Beverly Broy and her family relocated to Brussels, Belgium where her father was posted as American Consul. In 1941, all Americans were called back to the United States as World War II appeared to be on the verge of including America. In the time between, Bev, her brother Jim, and sister Anne, experienced loss, adventure, confusion, and change that forever shaped their future. Follow Bev, her siblings, and their young Belgian nanny on a journey, witness to countries at war and a family struggling to stay together.

Every Spring Doris enjoys working in her garden and drinking hot green tea on her back porch. However, this year a pesky little bumblebee interferes with those joys. The bumblebee continues to be a nuisance to Doris, who has had a fear of bees since her childhood. Then one day the bumblebee goes missing, and in her search, Doris realizes she must confront her fears. Follow Doris' journey to discover if she can overcome her fear of bumblebees, as you read along while sipping your own cup of tea.

This heartwarming story of a decades long international friendship began around a kitchen table in Moscow in 1989. As the Soviet Union was breaking up, five Russian friends got the improbable idea of traveling to America with three of their children to learn more firsthand about the West. They sent about 100 letters to randomly selected towns in the United States to express their interest in visiting. The small agricultural town of Garden City, Kansas, with an amazingly rich history of hosting foreign visitors, was among the first to respond and resulted in a memorable human connection that changed the lives of all of the visitors and host families, as well as the culture of Garden City. Their story of the adventure and growing understanding that followed is told from the point of view of one of the Russian visitors (Vera Penkova) and her host family (Barbara and Milton McMinimy). Their friendship continues almost 30 years later.

Poignant and poetic recollections of a mother after the death of her son. These vivid and fondest memories evoke a living presence and offer hope and consolation and inspiration to all who have lost loved ones. Anne Dupré writes, "These treasured memories tear down the cruel wall of mortality, and like the bright stars that illuminate a dark sky, their glow lights up my world." Our finest hope is finest memory. - George Eliot

Lighting the Earth2015 Family Choice Award Winner. 2015 Skipping Stones Magazine Honor Award Winner. Since Sashi can remember, her mother has told her that she was born to Light the Earth. Although a little too young to understand the full meaning, Sashi knows that her mother's words are important. Try as she may, year after year, Sashi struggles with this simple but profound wisdom. However through persistence and trust, she awakens to her mother's guidance, only to become the radiant expression of humanity she was meant to be. Through simple, easy-to-understand language and delightful, heartwarming illustrations, Lighting the Earth beautifully addresses Universal questions such as, "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" Children of all ages will feel truly inspired to follow their inner strengths, and adults will see the importance of lovingly guiding children as they follow their own journeys.

Long ago and far away, the great, great grandparents of pugs today lived in Buddhist temples high in the mountains of Tibet. On moonlit summer nights, the little pugs pressed their flat noses to white moon orchids, glowing like moths flying through a moonbeam. At dawn they lay by blue-green ponds where fat little toads leaped and splashed. The loving companions to the monks lived in harmony with everyone and everything around them.In the Buddhist tradition, The Little Pug’s Dreams illustrates the timeless value of mindfulness, compassion, and the awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings.The Little Pug’s Dreams offers a delightful and enriching story for young readers and an inspirational narrative for all ages. Certainly the universal message of compassion and mindfulness to the beauty that surrounds us is more important today than ever.