Iditarod Dream: Dusty and His Sled Dogs Compete in Alaska's Jr. Iditarod [Hardcover]

Ted Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996 | Age Level: 8 and up

Relates the story of the fifteen-year-old Alaskan boy and his dogs as they prepare for and then run the 158-mile course of the Junior Iditarod Race.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gary Paulsen fans might like to imagine themselves as this photo-essay's hero: 15-year-old Dusty Whittemore, winner of the 1995 Jr. Iditarod. Open to mushers between the ages of 14 and 17, the two-day race follows a 158-mile leg of the grueling, 1200-mile Iditarod course between Anchorage and Nome. Wood (A Boy Becomes a Man at Wounded Knee) follows Dusty from his log cabin home (shared with parents and their 17 sled dogs) to his school (he is the only boy in the six-student high school in his tiny Alaskan town), then watches him enter and run the race with his 10 trusty dogs. Large color photographs capture workaday paraphernalia: the sled, travel crates, lines, lists and maps, giant boots and puffy jackets, etc. Shots of the race and of the dogs give a sense of the physical obstacles, especially the endless snow and ice, and convey Dusty's rapport with the dogs, but few are crisp or intimate enough to suggest the thrill of it all. Rolling at a uniform pace, the evenly modulated prose muffles the excitement of winning under informative details. Even so, Dusty's stamina, courage and sportsmanship will shine through to young readers in the lower 48. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3 Up?This beautiful photo essay follows 15-year-old Dusty Whittemore of Cantwell, AK, through the 1995 Jr. Iditarod Sled Dog Race?158 miles from Lake Lucille to Yentna and back. A brief history of the original Iditarod plus two maps, one of the adult race route and the larger one of the Junior Sled Dog Race, begin the essay. Unfortunately, some of this introductory information is incorrect, but the errors do not deter readers from seeing what it's like to be involved in dog mushing firsthand. Dusty is an excellent model of a young Alaskan athlete, and the text shows his concern for his dogs, his "trusted partners," and his love for the sport. A nice addition is an inside view of family life and schooling in rural Alaska. The full-color photography is outstanding, capturing the whiteness of the terrain and the hardiness of those who challenge the wilderness in this popular winter sport. This book will appeal to anyone who yearns for an armchair modern day Alaskan adventure. Plus, how many books in the 798's do you have on dog mushing??Mollie Bynum, formerly at Chester Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, AK
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Walker & Co (J) (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802784062
• ISBN-13: 978-0802784063
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,773,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Iditarod Dream, January 27, 2008

By 

Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iditarod Dream: Dusty and His Sled Dogs Compete in Alaska's Jr. Iditarod (Paperback)

Boys will love this book about a young man racing in the Iditarod Junior Race. I liked it too. The book details the winning boy in the race from practicing for the race, leaving his home the day of the race and the experience of racing. It is very facinating and well written.

5.0 out of 5 stars books, December 31, 2011

By 

Susie Sterner "Susie Sterner" (Millville, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Iditarod Dream: Dusty and His Sled Dogs Compete in Alaska's Jr. Iditarod (Hardcover)

The book was in Perfect condition! It was a great big help with my sons project! the pages were in wonderful condition, like it was brand new! Thank you so much for the fast postage. it was here in no time. and by the way, my son got a A++++++ on his project.