Iditarod    The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began in 1973 by enthusiasts who did not want to see dogsleds become obsolete. The race also commemorates the brave sled dogs and others who transported diphtheria serum in blizzard conditions from Anchorage to Nome in 1925. Today, dogsledding is the official state sport of Alaska. The race takes place every March. Copies of the books are available. To order call 1-800 469-2070 or use our on-line order form. Mention our Web site, and you will get a 15 percent discount off the list price. To See the Moon Ethel Bacon Illustrated by David Ray    Author Bacon loves the outdoors. She was a musher herself and it really comes through in this book. In this story, Diane goes to a neighbor to get her very own sled dog. Kimo, the runt of the litter, snuggles up to her and Diane decides that he is the one for her. In an almost poetic text, Bacon follows the pair month by month as they train for the upcoming one-dog sled race. The pictures, except for the race itself, are all night scenes showing the moon in its various phases. Diane and Kimo win the race, but the warmth of their relationship is what really shines through. 1996, BridgeWater, Ages 4 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto Natalie Standiferd Illustrated by Donald Cook    In 1925 Nome was threatened by a diphtheria epidemic. The medicine was hundred of miles away in Anchorage and the winter weather made airplane and train travel impossible. To solve the problem, the people of Alaska participated in a sled dog relay with twenty teams. In the next to the last leg, a man named Gunnar and his lead dog Balto took over. They ran through a blizzard, and avoided cracked ice, but when they reached the next to last stop, the relief dog sled team was not there. Exhausted they continued to Nome and delivered the medicine. An exciting Step Into Reading Book - Level 2. 1989, Random House, Ages 4 to 7, $11.99 and $3.99. Marilyn Courtot Mush! Across Alaska in the World’s Longest Sled-Dog Race Patricia Seibert Illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis    Beautiful pencil and watercolor illustrations help tell the story of the Iditarod. Seibert tells the history of the sled dogs and the sleds originally built and used by the Inuit, and then adopted by the settlers who came to Alaska. As modern transportation replaced the dogsled, one man, Joe Redington, wanted people to remember the heroic dogs who brought the medicine to Nome in 1925. Thus, the Iditarod was establish in 1973. The text describes training and some of the difficulties the intrepid racers and their dogs face. A good choice for younger readers. 1992 ,Millbrook, Ages 4 to 8, $5.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Dashing Through the Snow: The Story of the Jr. Iditarod Sherry Shanon    Photographer Shanon transports her readers to Alaska and the start of the Jr. Iditarod. The race is a shorter version of the major Iditarod race, 150 miles versus 1049 miles, but not easy. These teenage boys and girls face the same hazards, freezing temperatures, and strenuous tasks as their adult counterparts. Her photographs show the animals, humans, and equipment, and are augmented with a map of the course, a list of the mandatory gear a racer must carry, and definitions of mushing terminology. The photographs clearly show the beauty and vastness of the race terrain. A good introduction to the sport. 1997, Millbrook, Ages 8 up, $15.40 and $9.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Foxy’s Tale: The True Story of a Champion Alaskan Sled Dog Ed White and Donna Freedman Illustrations by Charles Lindemuth    Judy, AKA Foxy, was the runt of her litter and no one expected her to become a champion sled dog. She was sold as a pet, but she and her Mistress Kelly went on to win the Junior World Championship in the one-dog class. Foxy tells the story. Unfortunately, the art is mediocre and does nothing to enhance the tale of this brave dog. A portion of the royalties go to the Junior Alaskan Sled Dog and Racing Association. 1995 (1989), Whitehouse Publishing, Ages 8 up, $9.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Iditarod Dream: Dusty and His Sled Dogs Compete in Alaska’s Junior Iditarod Ted Wood    Every young person has a dream. Dusty's requires discipline, fortitude, and a winning spirit. A native of Alaska, Dusty follows his family's tradition of dog racing. We follow him along every icy turn on his second ever Junior Iditarod. The courage of both this young man and his loyal team should inspire other young dreamers. The photography gives us a feel for the effort involved in this adventure. 1996, Walker, Ages 8 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Leslie Verzi Julian Kävik: The Wolf Dog Walt Morey    A Lassie story set in the Pacific Northwest instead of Scotland, Kävik is a sled dog who is part wolf and part malamute. His owner recognizes his great strength and courage and uses him to win a major sled race. After his success, Kävik is sold to a rich man who wants to fly his winning dog to Seattle. The plane crashes and the dog is rescued and cared for by a young boy named Andy. He is returned to his rightful owner, but Kävik is not happy. The rest of the story deals with Kävik’s struggle to escape from Seattle and return to the boy he loves. Told from Kävik’s perspective, it is an exciting narrative of courage, perseverance, and love. 1997 (1968) Dutton, Ages 10 up, $15.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Racing Sled Dogs: An Original North American Sport Michael Cooper    The Iditarod Trail was an important supply route into northwestern Alaska, but it didn’t become well known in the lower forty eight until the famous trek to provide diphtheria serum to the residents of Nome in 1925. Michael Copper does an excellent job presenting the history of the sport and highlighting contemporary races, dog training, and glimpses into the races of several famous winners. He also weaves in a bit of Alaskan history. An informative and interesting book illustrated with black-and-white photographs. 1988, Clarion, Ages 10 up, $13.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Susan Butcher and the Iditarod Trail Ellen M. Dolan    Their names are a part of Alaska's history - “Wild Bill” Shannon, Seppala, Evans, Nollner, McCarty, Olson, Rohn, Kaasen and their dedicated companions like Togo and Balto. These are the heroes who traveled 600 miles in five days to save Nome's children from “Black Death.” Many years later, a persistent dreamer named Joe Redington created the toughest race in the world, a 1,000 mile trek through nature's most impressive elements--the Iditarod. Among those who chose to challenge blinding snow, collapsing rivers, sub zero temperatures, and hungry wildlife was Susan Butcher, now known as a top Iditarod champion. These individuals are at the heart of the Iditarod, a haunting name which conjures images of adventure, danger, mist-covered trails, wilderness, mountains, and encounters with the past. Their stories will inspire any reader to be the best he or she can be. 1993, Walker, Ages 10 to 13, $14.95 and $6.95. Reviewer: Leslie Verzi Julian Also of interest A Sled Dog for Moshi Jeanne Bushey Illustrated by Germaine Arnaktauyok    In a remote Alaskan village, Moshi, a native girl, and Jessica, a young newcomer from New York, become friends. The girls have fun playing with Jessica’s pet dog, but come to appreciate the value of work dogs when they are stranded by a sudden spring blizzard. It’s a chilling environment, but there’s a lot of warmth in this story about friendship, family, and devotion. Much of the warmth comes from the pastel pencil drawings by native Inuit artist Arnaktauyok. An added bonus is a glossary that defines and pictures those words which may be foreign to non-Alaskan natives. 1994, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh Northern Lights: A Hanukkah Story Diana Cohen Conway Illustrated by Shelly O. Haas    Sara Israel joins her doctor father on his rounds. Sounds like an old fashioned prairie story, right? But this doctor is in Alaska, and their “sled” is a plane. Grounded by bad weather, they stay with their pilot’s family. Sara tells them about Hanukkah--that it’s a special holiday for families, and that tonight is the first night. The old woman is interested in the Jews’ use of oil--she says that she used to use oil in lamps. When she creates an Eskimo menorah, Sara doesn’t mind being away from home on this special night. A lovely story that brings two races together. Haas’ illustrations capture the cold of Alaska and the warmth of the family and the eerie beauty of the Northern Lights. 1994, Kar-Ben Copies, Inc., Ages 5 to 9, $14.95 & $5.95 paper. Reviewer: Judy Silverman Toughboy & Sister Kirkpatrick Hill    Two Athabascan children are left to survive by their own skills when their drunken father suddenly dies. Eleven year old Toughboy and his younger sister have not really recovered from the recent death of their mother when they head out with their father to their remote Alaskan fishing camp. Their abilities to cope with the hardships and dangers and the strengths and weakness of these siblings make a captivating story. 1992 (orig. 1990), Puffin, Ages 8 to 12, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Animals Who Have Won Our Hearts Jean Craighead George Illustrated by Christine Herman Merrill    Ten true stories showcase the wonder of some very famous animals who exhibited great courage, intelligence, loyalty or perseverance. The stories range in time from 1804 to the present day and relay the exploits of animals such as Balto, the half-wolf, half-Malamute sled dog who delivered much needed medicine to snowbound people in Alaska, to Koko, the gorilla who learned sign language, to the orphaned and badly burned Smokey the Bear cub. Daring adventures reveal the true nature of these very special representatives of the animal world. Both full-color and black-and-white illustrations grace the pages of this worthwhile book, which also has a bibliography. 1994, Ages 10 up, HarperCollins, $15.00. Reviewer: Barbara Disckind Happily May I Walk: American Indians and Alaska Natives Today Arlene Hirschfelder    Historically accurate information about Native Americans that does much to dispel myths and stereotypes make this an excellent choice. The message conveyed is one of respect for the cultural diversity found among Native Americans. Also includes current data and facts about these groups. 1986, Scribners, Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs Gary Paulsen Paintings by Ruth Wright Paulsen    In a sense, this is another of Paulsen's survival stories. Far from being fictional, however, it is a thoughtful extended essay on the joys and sorrows of raising sled dogs in Minnesota. Paulsen uses Cookie, his favorite lead dog as a guide into this world of exuberant puppies and grown dogs who formally school the youngsters. Paulsen sees his dogs very much as people and, by the end of his memoirs, has his reader believing the truth of his claims. From birth throes to death, Paulsen skillfully and lovingly guides us through his lost and much lamented world. It's a fine book for all ages. 1996, Harcourt Brace, Ages 10 up, $15.00. Reviewed by Kathleen Karr Child of the Wolves Elizabeth Hall    Granite, a Siberian husky puppy, escapes from being sold from the kennel in which he was raised to the Alaskan wilderness, where he must search for food and defend himself from unknown dangers. His chances for survival turn for the better when the white wolf Snowdrift, grieving for her pups taken by hunters, saves his life from an attacking lynx and takes him in. But Granite now faces the challenge of finding his place in a tribe of cold, sometimes hostile wolves and continually struggles to gain acceptance in the pack. This wonderful story for animal lovers is most remarkable in the realistic portrayal of its animal characters. 1996, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 12 and up, $14.95. Reviewer: Tim Whitney Cowboys of the Sky: The Story of Alaska’s Bush Pilots Steven C. Levi    Ever since aviation came to Alaska, planes have been far more important than cars or trucks to the residents of the remote bush communities. Accompanied by authentic black-and-white photographs, the text traces the evolution of the use of bush planes from the 1920’s to the present decade. The humorous and amazing anecdotes of the bush pilots through the years are a major strength of the text. A glossary, bibliography, and index are also included. 1996, Walker and Company, Ages 13 and up, $17.95. Reviewer: Tim Whitney To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.