Running with the Big Dogs: A Sled Dog Puppy Grows Up in Denali National Park, Alaska [Paperback]

Wendy Brown (Author), Lori Yanuchi (Author)

Book Description

32 pp. four color illustration

"Running with the Big Dogs" invites children of all ages to mush along with the sled dogs in the heart of Denali National Park, Alaska. Share the wonder of a Denali sled dog puppy as you follow him through his first year of adventure and learning. Experience the special bond between rangers and sled dogs as they patrol to preserve the wilderness of Denali during the harsh Alaskan winter.

Editorial Reviews

Review

As a ranger at Denali National Park, Lori Yanuchi patrolled the wilderness with the park's sled dogs. She has turned that experience into an appealing children's book. "Running with the Big Dogs" follows the first year of life of a sled dog puppy who lives in Denali's kennel. The puppy admires the big dogs who carry the "two legs," the rangers on winter patrols deep into the park. He spends his days playing, napping and dreaming of "running with the big dogs."

. . . The book is illustrated with humorous, cartoonish drawings by another park ranger. Wendy Brown, who has a degree in graphic design, has explored Denali's wilderness as a seasonal ranger since 1991.

. . . A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Denali's National Park Service kennel. -- Debbie Carter, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Fairbanks, Alaska, September 26, 1999

I read "Running with the Big Dogs" by Lori Yanuchi. The story takes place in Denali National Park, Alaska, near where I live. It is where the tallest mountain in North America is. The rangers in the park use sled dogs to take them around when they patrol in the long, harsh winters.

. . . I like the book because it tells a lot about Alaska and Denali Park. I also liked the illustrations. For one, they were beautifully colored, and I also liked them because on each page they show something we have in Alaska, like fireweed and blueberries. The illustrations do a very good job in telling the story.

I wish the story was longer, but it really didn't leave any questions in my head. I think this book would be good for kids who don't know much about Alaska, but it's also pretty interesting for kids who live here. -- Maia Peirce, age 8, Fairbanks, Alaska. "Mushing Magazine" #71, Nov/Dec 1999

From the Publisher

Visitors to Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska are fortunate to visit with the only working sled dogs in the United States National Park system. As former park rangers working with the sled dogs at Denali, author Lori Yanuchi and illustrator Wendy Brown are able to introduce you to these hardy dogs though their delightful children's book. Their love of the dogs is obvious, and as an owner of twenty sled dogs herself, Lori accurately depicts the mind and emotions of a growing sled dog puppy.

Your child will find Wendy's cute depictions of the dogs endearing. Wendy has decorated each page of text with graceful illustrations of "Alaskana", from blueberries and snowshoes to animal tracks and snowflakes.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book is donated to the kennels at Denali National Park.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Ridge Rock Pr (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096701770X
• ISBN-13: 978-0967017709
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #990,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sled Dogs Run Away With Child's Heart........., February 17, 2000

By 

Christine Bushner (Northampton, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running with the Big Dogs: A Sled Dog Puppy Grows Up in Denali National Park, Alaska (Paperback)

I had the good fortune of growing up with Lori Yanuchi in a little place called Allentown, PA. What I didnt know back then was her talent for writing and zest for the outdoors! My hat goes off to Lori for capturing the hearts of young children and the young at heart with this great book "Running with the Big Dogs"! My boys were entertained and educated about Alaska and are waiting impatiently for her next book.....no pressure Lori! This book is not a dust collector!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sled Dogs Books, February 28, 2009

By 

Y Read "Deb" (Coopersburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running with the Big Dogs: A Sled Dog Puppy Grows Up in Denali National Park, Alaska (Paperback)

This book is a good introduction to the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The stories will inspire all ages to follow the race in March from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. All readers will gain an appreciation of the dedication and determination of both musher and sled dog. These titles will be used in an elementary school setting.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a book, January 3, 2011

By 

Caitlin Snyder (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Running with the Big Dogs: A Sled Dog Puppy Grows Up in Denali National Park, Alaska (Paperback)

Well. For not having many books for children on the subject, this book does fill a gap. But as a librarian, I wouldn't use this book in a storytime. The story alone is alright, but the voice of the dog is very juvenile-- more than necessary. It feels dumbed down for children. The rhyming scheme/rhythm is very inconsistent and a little distracting.

The illustrations are corny and don't give any sense of urgency or weather. A story like this would be much better served by realistic interpretations. I understand communicating that the dogs want to run, but they are actually grinning in every single picture. I enjoy the formatting, with the gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright-esque text boxes and the native flora and fauna on one page and the illustrations on the opposite.

I'm glad the author is trying to write books about a subject she very clearly loves. She gives a brief intro to how the sled teams are still used and how they are raised. This book could benefit from a more non-fiction point of view and more resources listed for children interested in learning more.

Also, to the reviewer who said it was a good book to get interested in the Iditarod, I have no idea how that could be. The Iditarod is not mentioned in the book, but rather how these sled teams are used to patrol for protection of wildlife.