Windswept: Chitina Alaska Childhood

Aurora Hardy, Alaska Native author and storyteller, shares her fondest memories of the adventures she enjoyed while growing up in the Alaskan wilderness south of Chitina, Alaska, cross the Copper River from the Wrangell St Elias National Park and Preserve.

Aurora found great pleasure in the wonders of nature and the abundant wildlife around her home. From dancing mice to crazy bears to the mesmerizing carols of wolves at Christmas, her memories will captivate and entertain readers young and old.

Her childhood home on the bluffs of the Copper River stood below the gaze of the Chugach Mountains and was lovingly called Windswept. Aurora grew up without electricity or modern conveniences, but life was never dull. Hunting, fishing and gardening were necessary chores, but Aurora and her family turned everything they did into something fun and exciting.

Living too far from a public school, she was home schooled through a state correspondence program. Every month her family received a box of books from the State Library in Juneau and Aurora spent countless hours voraciously reading and developing her creative mind.

During 2020, Aurora reflected on life deeply as the entire world dealt with the pandemic. She wanted life to be enriched. Her son, Pyrce Raphael, urged her to write down the stories from her childhood in Chitina since they were so unique and would be lost to future generations. The result is Windswept: Chitina Alaska Childhood and Windswept: Tales for Children both illustrated by the author's son, Pyrce Raphael.

Windswept: Tales for Children

This companion read-along children's picture book tells stories of Windswept from the perspective of the nearby wild animals. Bears, moose and mice all played a special part in Aurora's childhood and have their own stories to tell. Children will enjoy the endearing illustrations, sweet stories and fun fact pages.