Moonbeam Gold Medal Award (tie), for Picture Books, All Ages

"This exquisite picture book captures the magic that happens when people of any age suspend their ordinary routines and open their eyes to the joy and wonder of the natural world. The book invites us—whoever we are, wherever we live—to experience the health, healing, and hope that nature offers us as individuals, families, and communities. So snuggle up with a child you love, read this heartwarming story, then go outside and see what you can discover together."
—Martha Davis Erickson, founding board member of the Children & Nature Network, a group dedicated to reconnecting children and nature.

Winter has a special beauty for those living in northern climates—even for those who live in cities. And winter nights can provide the most spectacular sights of all! To her son's great surprise, a working, single mom breaks her routine one night and rushes her son downstairs to join their neighbors as they spontaneously celebrate the beauty of the northern lights—the aurora borealis. Nature is the central character in this story, and the spell it weaves provides this mother and son with a special moment they can look back on with great happiness.

Author Amy Lundebrek lives in Champlin, Minnesota, with her husband Ryan. She has a degree in biology and works as a research associate in a cell culture lab. She enjoys hiking and camping, canoeing and kayaking, painting and sculpture. This is her first children's book. For more about Amy: www.amylundebrek.com, www.twitter.com/amylundebrek

Anna Rich says her career as an illustrator began in kindergarten, where she much preferred coloring and drawing to her other classwork. She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and has illustrated many picture books, including From My Window by Olive Wong, Just Right Stew by Karen English, Annie's Gifts by Angela Medaris, Cleveland Lee's Beale Street Band by Arthur Flowers, and Saturday at the New You by Barbara Barber. She lives in Elmwood, New York, with her son and her husband.