Product Description
Book 3 in The Alaska Collection

A CBA Bestselling Author

Surviving the rugged frontier of Alaska is a daunting task. But even in that hostile wilderness, God allows the tender flower of love to bloom. Confident, independent Rita Eriksson travels to her hometown of Tok, Alaska, to enter the dogsled race - her Iditarod Dream. Her coach, Mark, hopes and prays against all odds that he'll become part of her dreams, too. The story of their love and future together continues in the novella Christmas Dream. ... Read more

Product Description
Ted Mattson tells a quarter-century's worth of tales of the volunteer pilots' exploits above the trail--some funny, some somber--about what happens when a team of rambunctious dogs decides to exit the cabin of a fabric-covered airplane, about landing on sea ice in whiteout conditions, about miracle rescues and tragedies. It's the story of a sidelight to the Iditarod race that can be as exciting and as colorful as the main event. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

These guys are crazy!
This book comes highly recommended!!!

If you enjoy hearing true tales of wild heroics this book is for you.I read it page after page and laughed as the author so vividly drew me into each scene with these crazy Iditarod pilots.

Some of the stories are incredible and it really makes you want to go to Alaska to encounter some of this wild west dog sled fanaticism.

Don't miss this one...it is very enjoyable.Worthy of passing on to someone else after it's read.

The Perfect Gift
I purchased this book for my father, for Father's Day, and it turns out he has a personal connection to one of the book's subjects.I could not have been more pleased!He has been reading it voraciously and enjoying everypage.Dad's are always hard to buy for and it's great to hit the nail onthe head once in awhile.

Pilot's Perspective
I like adventure books, especially those that deal with northern flying.This title clearly fell into that catagory.The autor gave us a perspective of the Iditarod race that only a pilot could.As a pilot whohas flown in Alaska I found all of his flying information to be accurate. But best of all the book was very well written.The author has polishedhis work.The chapters are all very readable and fascinating.I wouldrecommend this book to anyone whose interests run along the same lines asmine do; flying, Alaska, adventure and the Iditarod.My only complaint isa complete lack of pictures.

It is a good book on a subject not easy to record.
Ted acquaints the reader with stories that could only come from being a pilot himself.Having done some flying in the Alaskan bush, I became acquainted with the author and know of his intense love of the subject.Irecommend readers also read "The Eye of the Rainbow", TedMatson's first writing. You will have a greater respect of the Alaskanadventurer. ... Read more

Product Description
O'Donoghue tells what happened when he entered the 1991 Iditarod, along with 17 sled dogs with names like Rainy, Harley and Screech. O'Donoghue braved snowstorms, sickening wipeouts, and endured the contempt of more experienced racers. Narrated with icy elan and self deprecating wit, this is a true story of heroism, cussedness, and astonishing dumb luck. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Interesting read
I enjoyed this book about the iditarod and mushing, something I didn't know much about before.I found the book informative and interesting.It wasn't as humorous as I thought it might be (no laugh out loud moments), and the format was a bit confusing - the author flips back and forth to other mushers and other time periods - but it was a quick read and I learned a little about something new (for me).I also know that while I'll stay off the iditarod trail, I might check the race out online this year.It's an interesting sport, for a very special type of person.

No match for Paulsen
Every once in a while we go up to Ely, MN, and spend a day or so dogsledding.So, prior to this year's trip, I bought a few books on the Iditarod and mushing in general.

With the Iditarod in the news right now (especially with the legally blind woman competing this year) I figured I'd learn more about that particular grueling race.This was the first book I got, as the title caught my eye and the reviews were good.

About 1/3 the way into the book, the jumping around between the various mushers and their stories started to get annoying.While I was interested in the various stories, interspersing them in a sort of "time line" format along with O'Donoghue's own experiences was not something I, myself, particularly enjoyed.There were other things about his writing style that seemed to indicate the book was written for his associates and the people with whom he raced, rather than the public at large.As a reporter, it made sense that O'Donoghue would toss in some short human interest stories of the other mushers.But he also had a few nicknames and references that seemed to be for the benefit of those in the know.

Then I made the mistake of picking up Gary Paulsen's Winterdance before I had finished this one.What a huge difference!

I reluctantly came back to My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian and am still trying to finish it.After Paulsen, it just isn't the same.Not to mention his overuse of the word "lesbian" as an adjective, almost as if he felt it necessary to justify the title of the book.OK, the dog was "confused".We get that.But halfway through the book I started noticing he was referring to her as "the little lesbian" or "the lesbian" more often than anything else (like "my lead dog" or her name), and once that sort of thing is noticed, you know, it then just sort of jumps off the page at you.So it's gotten to the point where, when I read that description of his lead dog my eyes roll and I tend to flinch.Gahhh not another one!

I'm still stuck somewhere in the middle of the Iditarod with "O'D" and just can't quite bring myself to pick it back up.He doesn't convey anywhere near the appreciation or love of the dogs that Paulsen does, and it is, after all, all about the dogs.Or should be.

If you want objective, dry facts and figures, this is your book.If you want the soul of mushing, read Paulsen.

A must read
I thought the book was well written - I read at every opportunity, even my lunch time at work!I'm from South Africa, where winter day temperatures hover around 15 deg C (59 F) and I've seen snow maybe twice in my life, but this story was written in such a way that I'm burning to try mushing myself!Imagine that!I've ordered other books on mushing which, I'm hoping, will convince me that I shouldn't be so crazy.

Well worth the read and keep it on your bookshelf for future reading.

a lot safer than taking on the iditarod yourself
This is far from the best-written non-fiction book I have ever read.The journalist's experience writing in the shorter form of articles shows through in the disjointed feel of much of the narrative.This is still well worth the read if you have any interest in Alaska, mushing, or man's working relationship with dogs.Even without those interests you may well find the book enjoyable.
At the beginning I was first overcome by the romantic notion of this amazing race, and reading through his preparations deluded myself with the fantasy of doing such a thing myself (a real joke considering how much I dislike even camping).Once the race gets underway, my most common thought was "these people are ...insane!"It was terrific and I really wanted to know how it would turn out for each and every one of them.
The title can provide for some fun too.The other day I overheard from another room Child A ask, "What is a lesbian?" Child B responded, "It is a type of dog."After much laughter I had to call them in and correct it, although I had fun imagining the kind of conversation this could cause in public at one point if they were both left with their misconception.
Since you are on this page, and reading these reviews, you are probably interested enough in the subject that reading this book would be a positive experience for you.

I'll Just Read About It, Thanks.
Of the Iditarod books I've read this has to rank as one of the best. Apparently a good sense of humor and a high appreciation of irony is a necessary component of being a Musher. ... Read more

Product Description
The bleak wilderness of America's 49th state challenges three women in different eras: Julie, a nurse, who must serve victims of a 1925 diphtheria epidemic; Beth, whose Canadian-born husband is killed in World War II; and Rita, who takes on the ultimate test of endurance, the Iditarod dog sled race. Each must surmount the obstacles of her life, and perhaps, with God's help, find true love as well. As a special bonus, Alaska also includes Tracie Peterson's novella Christmas Dream. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Too much of the happy, sappy, goody-goody to be realistic.
I picked this book up because I'm going to Alaska and wanted to get myself excited for the trip; unfortunately, this book really didn't help much. Although it did get into the Iditarod, dog sledding, and blizzards, it really did not cover the culture of living in Alaska like I thought it would--and let's not even talk about the characters. As a Christian woman, some parts of the book (such as Rita Eriksson's fight to be independent of God) were definitely realistic; however, in the end it seemed as if every single character, even the less important ones, were model Christian citizens, and because of that these stories lost much of their [realistic] appeal.

A Magnificent Tale
I found this collection of novelas to be magnificent.I didn't want to put it down.At one point I acutally cried.The characters become so real to you that you are moved with their pain and elated in their victories.I also found them spiritually uplifting.Now I just wish I could go see the places that were so wonderfully discribed.

Alaska
Ido not read alot but I could not put this book down. I live in Alaska and have been in the same place as the charcterin the book.I liked the spiritual content too.Differently better than the trashy love novels you can buy.

IDENTIFY WITH THE CHARACTERS
I liked the second story the best, because it really made me ask myself "What would I have done if I were in her situation?Would I have put God first?Would I have denied myself a strong opportunity like thatbecause God said NO?"But I liked all four of them.They wererealistic romance but not mushy or improper.A MUST-READ...YOU WON'TFORGET THIS BOOK AND (HOPEFULLY) THE LESSONS YOU LEARNED THROUGH PRACTICALEXAMPLES OF SUBMISSION TO GOD.

Good Book
This book seems to have all the love that the author has known in her heart. ..I really liked it and it made me think of my own life and loves. If youwant to read a book thatgoes straight to your heart, read StolenMoments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It isa beautiful story of unrequitedlove. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give thebook a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't putthe book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in theheart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growinglove for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death,makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches ofhumor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bitwhen emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving ofbeing published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readersthat life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has hadan impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. StolenMomentsis writtenwith so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It isa spellbinder.What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift!This bookwas edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latestinformation on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who startedcollege late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with anyillness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .Agift to becherishedforever. ... Read more

Product Description
Father and Son, in Michigan, trained to take their sled dog team to Alaska to run in the 'Last Great Race on Earth', the Iditarod.From the start line in Anchorage to the finish in Nome, Christopher hitchhikes by bush plane along the trail, recording the intensity and struggle of unfolding adventure in his journal on the family website. Jim, the oldest rookie, guides his team through the perils of back country artic travel to a 13 day finish against the odds because of unexpected injuries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Real dog-sledding book
A great book. If you like the works of Jack London, you'll love this modern true story of an elderly man trying to run the ididerot dog-sled race. It has all the drama of a great novel and the author thankfully does not confuse his readers by engaging in jargain that his readers might not understand. He spends less time on the actual race than you might like, but other than that, it is a perfect work.

A real page turner
This book is written by the father and son with the skill storytellers use to capture your attention and do not disappoint with the content.
If you want a good read and even if you haven't been interested in the Iditarod before, you will be now.

re: Jim & team
Jim & Chris Warren's account of the trials and tribulations of training for this GREAT RACE shows love and understanding for both the dogs and the great commitment it takes to get to the finish line.

I have an extensive library of Iditarod books and I put this book right up there on top.Many of the top FINISHERS have written books on the race but this comes from a common man.One without large corporate sponsorship trying to live out his dream and in doing that FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S DREAM.

I coudnt put the book down. The e-mails to and from family members and friends and fans gave the book a special touch.

The true bond between Jim & the dogs was so apparent.Their trust in each other was essential if they were to make it the 1100 miles.The way Jim & the dogs communicated with their body language shows what the expert training put into the team; all of them dogs and the driver.

Through the driver's physical pain and exhaustion, not to mention sleep depravation or poor diet, Jim managed to work through the doubt by taking it one check point at a time, some times managing the race one hill at a time.

In every mile of the race new perils are thrust at the mushers, whether it be a steep drop off or a blinding whiteout, or below zero temperatures with stinging snow creeping into your clothes, or just not being able to see the markers clearly.Anyone that even attempts this race is a special kind of person.

An older rookie's Iditarod
A compilation of blog postings, this book is a look at the Iditarod through the eyes of an older rookie dog musher and his family.It is very good, very light reading.I've read books about the Great Race that told about the big names.This book tells all about the preparation necessary just to get to the race, as well as the hazards of the race itself.I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Where others can only dream, others do.
This book is for anyone who has ever dared to dream.

Jim Warren, following his own father's dream of adventure, becomes the oldest rookie to participate in the 2004 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.Jim's father never saw Alaska.However, his life-long influence stirred Jim's soul.

Jim's son, Christopher, completes the trilogy of Warren men by finishing high school months early, with honors, to accompany his father to Alaska.

The easy to follow Journal format takes the reader along from the first decision to run the race, to the finish line in Nome. Entries by both Jim and Christopher tell the story in an impassioned manner.

With incalculable physical determination and mental toughness, Jim crosses under the famous burled arch in 13 days with a team of healthy dogs.

The respect and admiration between father and son, the bond of the dogs, and the sheer willpower to step out of one's comfort zone makes this book a must-have for everyone seeking adventure...or anyone who dares to dream.
... Read more

Product Description
Everyone who enters the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race wants to win, but victory comes in many forms. For a handful of the world's top mushers, winning is about being first to Nome. For others, success comes in joining the ranks of the Iditarod elite or progressing up the ladder toward the top. But for many, winning is about simply surviving the world's toughest race. Finishing is the sole dream. Along the trail, these mushers wage battle against the full forces of Mother Nature. They confront personal demons. They put their dreams in the care of man's best friend. This collection of stories is about them, the dogs they love and the land that is as raw as it is beautiful. The stories, woven into the fabric of the frozen trail of the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, document the real life struggles and travails of those who invested years of their lives and most of their money, then turned their hearts and sometimes their souls over to the Iditarod. Who made it to Nome and who didn't, and what happened along the way, takes readers on a compelling and heart wrenching adventure through the wilds of Alaska. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

ex-musher
Very accurate portrayal of middle and back of the packers. At some point you have to ask yourself when is it enough? When you're estranged from your family? When you've spent all your retirement funds? When you've lost your house? Your job? How big of a gambler are you?

Hard-luck tales from the Iditarod Trail
Craig Medred has been writing about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for three decades, from following the race as Outdoor Editor for the Anchorage Daily News to his latest gig as a staff writer for the online newsmagazine Alaska Dispatch. Most fans of the race who've been around for more than a couple of years will remember Craig's seemingly endless stream of articles about the numbing cold, trail hazards, breakdowns, lost dogs, sleep deprivation, overflow, and the entire panoply of challenges faced by each year's roster of intrepid mushers trying to get a team of dogs over the trail to Nome. Craig Medred has written about the Iditarod perhaps more than any other single writer, gathering numerous awards as he made the race come alive for his readers; in 1992 he was named one of the best sports writers in America for his Iditarod coverage.

Now Craig has added to his considerable writing accomplishments with his first book about the Iditarod, Graveyard of Dreams: Dashed Hopes and Shattered Aspirations Along Alaska's Iditarod Trail.

Writers have a special appreciation for the creations of other writers, and in reading his book I couldn't help but appreciate how smoothly Craig Medred turns a phrase. One of my favorites is early on, barely a dozen pages into the book, at the end of his introduction. He's writing about rookie Scott White, whose dogs quit on him barely 20 miles from the finish line. Scott started walking, and his dogs followed, and he won his finisher's buckle:

"`This race is crazy,' he said after. `I want to come back.'

"The `come back' theme resonates throughout these chapters: The come back from the brink, the come back from heartbreak, the come back time and again by those who should have quit. But one come back story bears telling first because it is a remarkable tale that spans both the despair and glory so exemplified by the Iditarod. It is the story of Lance Mackey and his Comeback Kennel."

It's the perfect segue. Vintage Medred.

The book tells the story of the 2010 Iditarod, those who made it to Nome and those who didn't, but it also tells the bigger story of the trail itself and the race and the people behind it all, as in this excerpt about Skwentna's venerable Joe Delia:

"Delia, the other Joe, was the consummate Alaska Bush rat. He is aging now and battling one health problem after another, but there was a time when he owned the wild places and was wildly admired for it. You could have dropped him out of an airplane in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a pocketknife, and in short time, he would have built a cabin, gathered enough wood and food for the winter, set himself up in business running a trap line, and maybe even started building his own electric generator so he could have light to read the books he would be writing in his free time."

And then he adds, "That is the Joe D. known to most every musher who has traveled the trail since the beginning of the Iditarod." And you know that's the Joe D. known to Craig M. as well, for he brings an insider's knowledge to the telling of his tales.

He also brings the authentic descriptions of one who has been out on the trail, taken its measure, and knows how to adequately convey what he's seen and experienced, as in this passage on the desolate trail between Ophir and Cripple:

"The trail thump, thump, thumps north over moguls interrupted only by big ka-thumps when it drops off three-foot tall lips at the edges of frozen, snow-covered ponds and creeks. Much of the countryside is covered with black spruce so thin and scraggly it can't really be called forest, but something more like tundra with a sprinkling of miniature trees that look to be dying. They only add to the sense of foreboding. The occasional creek bottom, where trees do grow, comes as a welcome change of scenery. Veteran mushers, who know the country, will often take advantage of these thin bands of vegetation as places to camp, maybe build a fire, and give their team a break on the long trail that seems to grow longer even as one moves along it."

But the bulk of Medred's book, the real marrow in the aforementioned bones, is his stories of the individual mushers and their teams. Not the front-runners who were in the news day after day during the race and remembered long afterward, but those who ran into insurmountable difficulties and scratched from the race for various reasons. Their hard-luck tales are woven into the larger story of the race in a way that illuminates what author Gary Paulsen termed `the fine madness of running the Iditarod.'

And yet, for all the sorrowful stories it tells, Graveyard of Dreams is an engaging and inspiring book, and it goes a long way toward explaining why mushers return again and again to invest themselves in the running of this race. Describing one musher's "ultimate dream," which at times "looked to be tantalizingly close to within reach," Medred surmises, "If Lance Mackey could win, how hard could it be?Mackey was as laid back as anyone you could find in sports today. Some might go so far as to say he sometimes appears a wee bit disorganized, even goofy. If Mackey can win the Iditarod, it should be easy for a well-organized, masters-degree-holding, sled dog businessman..."

Ah, if only.

(This review first appeared at Northern Light Media: [...])

Graveyard of Dreams suffers from numerous deficiencies.
Graveyard of Dreams suffers from numerous deficiencies. According to Medred, only people who have seen the Iditarod are qualified to discuss it. But it's obvious that Medred himself never saw much of what he describes in the book. He has never seen the Iditarod in its entirety. The Iditarod is so spread out, with mushers and dogs at many different places on the trail, no one can see the whole race at any one time. The Iditarod isn't like a NASCAR race where people can really see the entire event.

It's bizarre that Medred, who for the last 30 years earned his living as journalist, discounts what people learn through reading. Maybe that's why, other than one reference to the New York Times on page 91, Medred doesn't cite any sources for his historical "information."

We are told that Graveyard of Dreams is about people who hoped to finish the 2010 Iditarod but didn't. Yet, the book is peppered with history about Iditarod checkpoints, which adds nothing to the stories about these people.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (17)

Cold Hands Warm Heart
What a truly, wonderful true story of a young man who falls in love first with Alaska, then with dog sledding and then with a very talented artist
wife.A warm story of love on several levels.Well written, beautifully illustrated, great read.

Humorous and Delightful Stories of Alaska
This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Iditarod, sled dog racing and life in Alaska.I had the opportunity to meet Jeff King this summer in Alaska, and he is a charming, caring and fun individual who is a magnificent storyteller.All of those characteristics come out clearly in this book, a collection of stories from his life, which serve as sort of a mini biography.Some of these stories will leave you in stitches of laughter, while others will thrill you as amazing tales of survival under brutal weather conditions on the trail.The stories will relate information about sled dog racing, dispel certain myths about these wonderful dogs, and introduce some remarkable people. In the end, you will understand King's deep love of his family, of his dogs, and of Alaska.As a bonus there are some wonderful illustrations by King's wife Donna, an accomplished artist.

Great read
I met the man at his home, the "Husky Homestead".I bought his book.On my way home I started it and put it down only when I had to go through airport security.Great read.

Awesome book.
If you are interested in the Iditarod Race or just in animals in general, this book is a must read.It is heart warming to read of the antics of the dogs, people and especially the tender heart of Jeff King.Great book for kids also.

Cold Hands Warm Heart, by Jeff King
excellent story of Jeff's life with mushing, to this point.He recounts of the real life stories are amazing, and also hilarious.Great book, I've lent it to friends and they all love it too.. ... Read more

Product Description
Cotton's Tale, new author Herb Brambley's debut for young readers, shares the fascinating and true story of Kim Darst, a musher from New Jersey who trained for over ten years to compete in the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Having invested over $50,000, Kim makes the trip from one side of the continent to the other in order to be pulled 1,049 miles across Alaska by her team of Huskies. As she makes her way to Nome with the goal of capturing a coveted Iditarod brass belt buckle and patch, she and her team are caught in a blizzard. Darst is forced to make tough decisions in order to survive subzero temperatures, blinding whiteouts, and gale force winds. Vivid photos help tell the dramatic, inspirational tale and give readers a taste of what many call the "Last Great Race on Earth." ... Read more

Product Description
Why would anyone run more than a thousand miles through some of the world's most untamed arctic wilderness? What makes the sled dog a stand-out athlete? Can 16 dogs carry a man all that distance? Eowyn and Linus on the Iditarod Trial: Two Alaska Sled Dog's Adventure on Alaska s Iditarod Trail to Nome gives a dog's eye view of the last great race on earth with breath-taking photos taken straight from the trail. Join Eowyn and Linus on their first trek through the great white north. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book for kids of all ages
Read this with my school age kids. It's an informative book abut the Idierod as well aswhimsical fun for kids and dogs alike. Many of my co-workers are planning on buying this for their kids and grandkids for Christmas. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1978, Dick Mackey claimed the most dramatic victory ever in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, crossing the finish line in Nome a mere one second ahead of Rick Swenson after a two-week, 1,149 mile-run from Anchorage. Many years later Alaskans still shake their heads in amazement. In One Second to Glory, Mackey shares this and many other adventures: Making a home in the forntier state in the heady first day s of Statehood; Surviving the 1964 earthquake and helping rebuild Alaska; Mushing against ""Doc"" Lombard and George Attla in the heyday of sprint racing; Helping Joe Redington organize the Iditarod Trail SLed Dog Race; Experience 82 degrees below zero at Coldfoot, his famous Arctic Circle truck stop; Mackey's colorful stories are told in his own words in interviews with Lew Freedman, outdoor adventure writer for the Chicago Tribune and longtime former sports editor of the Anchorage Daily News. Freedman has written seventeen books about Alaska. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fantastic dogs
After seeing the fantastic iditarod race this year, you can see how the Mackey family has racing in the blood.Great book!Inspiring family.

One second to the next makes you a hero
Wow. After 29 years it is still vivid to recall those 2 guys neck 'n neck pulling their teams down Front Street in Nome. I woke to the radio alarm clock to get ready for my shift at the airport and heard they were inside of Safety (22 miles East of Nome). I got up and out of the apartment and walked down to Front street, and low and behold, there they were, stumbling, tugging. It was a bright, clear, cold day and the dogs looked so tired! What a hullabaloo that morning!
Mackey relives this and other moments in this book and he brings it all back. Thanks, Dick!

Mackey Attacks
Mackey sums it all up: "People who are content to stand still irritate me.I feel the same way about people in every profession... always try to improve your work... try to be the best you can be."

This is a record of accomplishments of one man who came from New Hamphshire.He was a young, successful entrepreur until an accident changed his life...bankruptcy.He was young, married and a father.He lost it all... but not for long."I knew nothing about Alaska, but it was as far as I could drive."

Alaska is a better place for men like Mackey.He has left his mark as a Iditarod Hall of Fame.The founder of Coldfoot, AK.
and the list goes on and on.

Mackey, you brag a lot... but it's not really bragging... you did it.

Self-made man's public autobiography
A well written and extremely entertaining autobiography of Dick Mackey who won the Iditarod Race in 1978 by a second. In some ways, the book almost read like the history of Iditarod and as the founder of Coldfoot, Mackey probably won his place in Alaska history. I regards this more like public autobiography because Mackey mostly relates to his public life. What seem to be missing are stuff about his personal life outside of few mentions of his kids and his three wives. It would be bit more interesting to know the man behind his accomplishments and the cost.

But overall, I highly recommended this book about an extraordinary Alaskan who did extraordinary things. As a fellow Alaskan, I hope there will be more chapters to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Iditarod Curriculum - The Last Great Race to Nome
As a second grade teacher, I have been teaching my classes about the Iditarod Race for many years.Until recently, it has been difficult to find support for this wonderful unit of study.Shelley Gill has done a fabulous job of showing how this exciting race is the best example of integrated curriculum to be found.She covers ideas for all disciplines of study from mapping skills to science projects.She has captured the heart of the race and understands why teachers choose to teach the Iditarod. Her book will fill your classroom with wonderful hands-on ideas that are great fun to use and enrich the children's understanding of this exciting race. ... Read more

Product Description
Balto, the great Alaska sled dog, has been dead since 1933. But he still stands larger-than-life on Dogdom's Mount Olympus, where the world's great canines are immortalized. Yet few people know Baltos true story. Only one small part has been told, and even it has been distorted. Several Balto books have been written. There's even a Balto animated movie, but it, too, is largely fiction. (Balto was NOT part wolf!) Like the books, the movie leaves off where this book begins ­— and tells the best part of the story.

Balto was only three years old when he helped carry serum across Alaska from Nenana to Nome to save the town's children from diphtheria. As leader of the last dog team in the life-saving relay race, he became an overnight sensation — a BONEa fide international celebrity.

But much more happened after that. Balto lived for eight more years. His days unfolded like a sled expedition to the North Pole, carrying him in an exhilarating rush over smooth snow one minute, an icy hummock the next. And how does the new story end? With a heart-thumping surprise that you can't imagine — and neither could have Balto.

Hook up your harness, step into Balto's booties, and mush off to Balto's true story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Amazing Dog
Balto, a story every child would enjoy, and a good read for adults. The movie ends and you are left wondering about the rest of Balto's life. This story answers most questions.

Not great for young kids
We are big Balto fans, and were excited to see a book about the rest of his life. This book, while filled with facts, did not tell them in an interesting way. Much of the language and writing style would only be interesting to adults or older kids 14-16. ... Read more

Product Description
Alaska's Iditarod fascinates people around the world.June Price, author of "Backstage Iditarod", has taken her camera behind the scenes to capture some of the events of not just the race itself, but events leading up to and after the race.You'll see not just the Ceremonial Start in Anchorage, Alaska, and scenes from Nome, where the race ends, but shots taken at qualifiers, the vet check, musher sign-up picnic and more.It's a fascinating look behind an event that, despite its popularity, takes place in a place most will never visit.This is your chance to get as close to the action yourself as possible without actually traveling to Alaska. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

For Iditarod Fans and Those Who Don't Yet Know They Are
June's new book is a wonderful collection of photographs depicting all aspects of The Last Great Race. She has compiled an excellent group of photos from her extensive Iditarod collection. In my opinion,some of her photographs will become classics in the coming years.My personal favorite is the one of the Iditarod's Chief Veternarian, Stu Nelson, holding a sweet puppy at the ceremonial start a few years ago.

What a great gift for anyone on your holiday list who is an Iditarod fan or even for someone who doesn't yet know that they are a fan!

My brother, who drove up to AK with me when I moved up this spring, had never seen a dog team in action until I took him to ITC Headquarters the day before he went back to Georgia.He was amazed at the enthusiasm and strength of the "little" dogs.He is one of those folks who doesn't yet know that he is already a fan. A copy of June's book is destined for his "stocking" this holiday season.
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Product Description
Meet Crimp, the star of Crimp! On-By!!, as he tells you his fascinating life story, from the puppyhood accident which defined his life and gave him his name, all the way through to the 2008 Iditarod. Crimp is a happy soul who s taken in stride all the challenges life has thrown his way, and come out with his tail still waggin'! All he wants to do is GO!Crimp s inspiring story details what can happen when you don t take no for an answer. When you put your mind to doing what you know you were born to do. And what can be accomplished even when you re not perfect, and even when things don t always go your way.The book is arranged both as a compelling story for youngsters and adults alike as well as a reference for information on sled dogs and the Iditarod. Sidebars provide detailed information which augment the story and provide additional context. Crimp! On-By!! can be utilized to increase 3rd 5th grade reading skills as well as develop understanding of sled dog heritage. Crimp chose "Crimp! On-By!!" as his title since that is his very favorite command..."on-by" means keep on doing what you re doing, no matter what! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I Love Crimp
This is truly a wonderful story about a sled dog, named Crimp, and he was meant to be a house pet but his lineage told him otherwise. He struggled to live when he was only 4 weeks old. He even broke his toe later on in his dog life. So no one expected him to be the lead dog in a very important race and that he was! Crimp is the hero dog and teaches many lessons He ever gave up and continues to work hard and achieves all his goals. This book is for young children and I love the Fun Facts. These little facts give great information and tidbits about dogs, sledding, and other helpful things.

I really do recommend this book to children of all ages. It is fun to read as well and education and informative.

Inspirational for all ages!
Perfect for kids of all ages.A truly inspirational real-life story that iswonderfully illustrated.Just wish I had kids &/or grandkids of my own to share it with.

great story for all ages!
this is a wonderful story written in the words of a great dog named crimp that beats all odds when an accident as a puppy seemingly handicaps him. as the story moves on, he becomes the lead dog in the biggest dogsled race in history. crimp is an inspiration to any reader both young & old! one of the authors, liz parrish, inspired me as well by racing this over 1000-mile dogsled race in alaska, the iditarod, for her 50th birthday. by training her own dogs and by being the littlest iditarod musher, she finished the race with the help of crimp, teamwork (of both musher & dogs) and persistence. this is a wonderful accomplishment for both dogs and mushers alike given the challenges presented. crimp is a very unique dog and you will fall in love with him!! even my cat, bandit, did! although this is a children's book, it is a story anyone at any age will enjoy! ... Read more